Fire in the Belly
Talk of Imbolc… and thriftiness??
By: Khouzhan Morgan
Hello readers and welcome! One of the 8 traditional Pagan sabbats of the year is almost upon us and during my reading in preparation to write for you fine folks I stumbled upon the most intriguing concept for Imbolc, which will be upon us on February 2nd-the concept of thriftiness!
Now stay with me…as we are just coming off of our latest fireside chat with our beloved Mambo Sam where the focus was letting go of a whole lot of icky stuff like resentments, insecurities and old ideas that no longer serve us, I thought the topic of household thriftiness felt like a great closer-after all, rearranging some furniture or organizing the closets helps clear our minds and can help give us a happier healthier environment to partner with our new freedom from the shackles of negativity!
Minimalism is all the rage these days, but the concept is really not new. Any of us with depression era grandparents can attest that there was a time when people used simply whatever they had on hand for whatever they needed. Coffee cans were used to hold old screws and buttons “just in case” we needed them, old blankets were cut into quilting squares, clothing patches or cleaning rags, and any jar, carton or container might be used to hold leftovers in the refrigerator.
After you do some housecleaning on your mind, body and spirit, it is a great idea to use this time indoors to inventory your immediate environment.
Sure, it’s great to purge and give some unused clothes, household items, etc. to charity so they can be a blessing for someone else but how can we make the most of what we keep?
Imbolc loosely translates as “fire in the belly” or the place on your body where the most creative chakra resides-the sacral or orange hued chakra. This chakra is strengthened by allowing our self expression to run free and by doing things that give us pleasure. And what is more fun than to channel your inner domestic Goddess (or God, respectively) than to create something fun and beautiful?
Maybe it is using old teacups and bowls to start seedlings to plant later in the spring, or to feed your cat, Whiskers. Maybe it involves cleaning and rearranging a shelf to be a little altar space to a lwa you feel connected to, a cherished ancestor, or for a meditation place. Old mirrors, picture frames or small tables are great projects to repaint or bedazzle. And speaking of bedazzling-why not use some old costume jewelry to make some new and interesting creations?
Do you have a really cool candle you’ve been saving to burn? Build a little sacred space around the theme of that candle and spark it up! I know-some will say you are waiting for a special occasion. But if the past 2 years have taught us anything, perhaps the takeaway can be that the here and now is a special occasion!
Maybe you have some old oils or incense that have been tossed in a drawer or closet? Bust them out and use them now! Oils can be worn as a perfume (with a bonus of course) , used in your bath or shower or to dress candles or even used in a simmer pot to fill your home with a magical scent that is sure to bless your abode with good mojo! Incense can be burned to help foster a calm environment or help you keep a goal in mind to make change as we enter this first sabbat of the awakening springtime. Chango’s Mystic Chrysalis incense is a great choice to use the creative force of fire to transform your wintertime plans into burgeoning reality!
Each January, a friend of mine takes the decorations off of her tabletop Christmas tree, keeping the lights intact, and fills that tree with little pink and red hearts and upcycled valentines cards – essentially rebranding it a St. Valentine’s tree! Our inimitable spirit of love, Erzulie Freda would surely approve! 😉
If you have bought products in the past and not used them, use them now! Mambo Sam has a wonderful and easy reconsecration ritual for spell kits and products that have been unused for more than a year. Reconsecration is not mandatory but it can really punch up the potency of your items.
Of course it is always a great time to go with the Imbolc theme of emerging new born from the blanket of cold and snow with some figure candles or 7 knob wishing candles. After all- the full name of the day is Imbolc Brigantia and honors St. Brigid’s sacred flame.
Just as the phoenix rises from the ashes of the old to burn as bright as the sun, now is the time to utilize what you have and make it into a space, an experience or a thing of beauty that stokes your inner fire so you can let your little light shine!
We love to see your awesome ideas and creativity at work and you can send pictures to customerservice@spellmaker.com.
“From ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadow shall spring. “-JRR Tolkien; The Lord of the Rings
Love,
Khouzhan Morgan
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