Last week I was sick. Bronchitis, pink eye, cold – you name it. Even got excused from jury duty  – that’s how bad it was. So, naturally, missed most of Imbolc rituals happening over the weekend.  Mid-winter darkness… what else can I say.

But not all was wasted – have at least one to write about and well, some memories of the past to dwell in.

On February 2nd WFT had a small circle on this occasion at LGBT community center in West Village. The altar was decorated with wreath holding 8 white candles and bed of greens prepared for God and Goddess. The cauldron to banish, almond seeds as promise of new life and plenty of candles as fires of inspiration.

Any remaining past (and present) year’s troubles were banished with burning sage. Almond seeds of new intents were planted in the bed. An songs were sung as our problems whooshed way from smoking cauldron.

And now the dwelling:) While working on the photos for this post I wondered through year 2015 archives and found this photo taken after Imbolc ritual at LATEA last year and decided that is a perfect mood setter for a mid-winter post.

The evening snowfall colored by the city lights and my friend standing in a lonely room with her face lit by the phone screen. The coziness of the room even though it’s dark and empty opposed to the raging mother nature outside. Does it ever happens to you that sometimes you just remember that one little half-second feeling from the whole day or even the whole month? Can’t find the logical reason for sharing it here, just something emotional I wanted to come back to on this gloomy winter afternoon.

Let’s light candles as an act of magick to embrace the growing light and help it to grow. And while we banish all the bad and send intentions for all the good, let’s be also grateful for the good we already have: be it a warm home, delicious supper, the blessing of good health or a beautiful love. And all the other good you wished for will seem closer:)

Blessed be!