Imbolc Crafts: Ice Candles

Imbolc is fast advancing and with this everlasting snow we seem to be getting, I for one can’t wait. I normally love winter, its clean cold crispness which eventually moves away to reveal new life with buds of snowdrops peaking through the ground is a lovely sight. But to be fair, I have had enough this year. I’m a wimp I know and I’ve been done in by it all. The walking constantly last week saw me end up with a horrible cough and cold, fast on the heels of the one I’d just got rid of, and a wrenched knee. Now swollen and stiff making life a little tricky in a house which is 3 levels! So I have been searching for fun things to do in the warm with Littleun. I came across this candle idea and we have given it a try, not as warm in the preparations as you’d have thought but a good afternoon anyway. Just be warned it can get a little messy.

Ice candles are a lot of fun and easy to make during the winter months. Since February is traditionally a snow-filled time, at least in the northern hemisphere, why not make some ice candles to celebrate Imbolc, which is a day of candles and light?
You'll need the following:
· Ice
· Paraffin wax
· Colour and scent (optional)
· A taper candle
· A cardboard container, like a milk carton
· A double boiler, or two pans

Melt the paraffin wax in the double boiler. Make sure that the wax is never placed directly over the heat, or you could end up with a fire. While the wax is melting, you can prepare your candle mould. If you want to add colour or scent to your candle, this is the time to add it to the melted wax.

Place the taper candle into the centre of the cardboard carton. Fill the carton with ice, packing them loosely in around the taper candle. Use small chunks of ice - if they're too large, your candle will be nothing but big holes.

Once the wax has melted completely, pour it into the container carefully, making sure that it goes around the ice evenly. As the hot wax pours in, it will melt the ice, leaving small holes in the candle. Allow the candle to cool, and then poke a hole in the bottom of the cardboard carton so the melted water can drain out (it's a good idea to do this over a sink). Let the candle sit overnight so the wax can harden completely, and in the morning, peel back the entire cardboard container. You'll have a complete ice candle, which you can use in ritual or for decoration.

Patti Wigington, About.com Guide

2010 International Year of Biodiversity

Over the years I have tried to limit the damage that I am creating all be it unintentionally just by my existence. This is includes changing the types of products I use to not tested on animals, cutting back on using fossil fuels/electricity or eating food that hasn't been soaked in chemicals, to name a few. I have also tried to think long term about what effect my actions might have elsewhere, not just in my immediate surroundings.

A bit deep you might think but it is a fact that not only is the climate changing our everyday weather but it is also changing and challenging the lives of plants animals and their habitats. And surely if somewhere along the lines we could help what is an essential part of our existence survive then that is good? The following is the opening Welcome statement for this years United Nations Action, a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. If it interests you and makes you want to find out more then please click on the logo to the right (big green thing "2010").

Welcome to the International Year of Biodiversity

You are an integral part of nature; your fate is tightly linked with biodiversity, the huge variety of other animals and plants, the places they live and their surrounding environments, all over the world.

You rely on this diversity of life to provide you with the food, fuel, medicine and other essentials you simply cannot live without. Yet this rich diversity is being lost at a greatly accelerated rate because of human activities. This impoverishes us all and weakens the ability of the living systems, on which we depend, to resist growing threats such as climate change.

The United Nations proclaimed 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity, and people all over the world are working to safeguard this irreplaceable natural wealth and reduce biodiversity loss. This is vital for current and future human wellbeing. We need to do more. Now is the time to act.

The International Year of Biodiversity is a unique opportunity to increase understanding of the vital role that biodiversity plays in sustaining life on Earth.

On the pages of this website, you will be able to find out a bit more about the International Year of Biodiversity. Visit the pages to find out:
The important role biodiversity plays in our lives and what is happening to it.
What people are doing around the world to combat biodiversity loss
How people are celebrating the International Year of Biodiversity

Some of the resources available to you in your celebrations Take Action in 2010 and beyond, because

Biodiversity is life
Biodiversity is our life

The Pixies

Have e’er you seen the Pixies, the fold not blest or banned?
They walk upon the waters; they sail upon the land,
They make the green grass greener where’er their footsteps fall,
The wildest hind in the forest comes at their call.

They steal from bolted linneys, they milk the key at grass,
The maids are kissed a-milking, and no one hears them pass.
They flit from byre to stable and ride unbroken foals,
They seek out human lovers to win them souls.

The Pixies know no sorrow, the Pixies feel no fear,
They take no care for harvest or seedtime of the year;
Age lays no finger on them, the reaper time goes by
The Pixies, they who change not, grow old or die.

The Pixies though they love us, behold us pass away,
And are not sad for flowers they gathered yesterday,
To-day has crimson foxglove.
If purple hose-in-hose withered last night
To-morrow will have its rose.

by Nora Chesson 1871-1906

The World is Ending

No seriously if the local supermarket is to be believed it is! Popped in to get a few ordinary bits and bobs to find that the masses had descended and were buying anything and everything. Whether they needed it or not. I can’t believe that this town has ground to a halt, we’ve only had an inch at most of snow, the main roads at least are clear and even quite a few of the side roads look fine too. Madness!

On a better note I’ve done 7 miles out of my predicted 11 for today and am now having a well earned cup of soup before heading out again. It was a nice walk really, bit arduous (I’m so unfit!) but fun watching the kids in the local park use anything that would slide on the ice if they hadn’t got sledges. I particularly liked the initiative of a kid who had found a blow up crocodile and was bravely balancing on its back down a 1:3 slope! The trees are very pretty in this snow too, though I think the swan might be thinking it’s rather chilly.

Snowed In

My car is currently snowed in and as life has to go on this means I am walking everywhere. I work with accounts and this time of year is very very manic for me and as the tax return deadline fast looms I am having to go out and see clients snow or not! This has meant that so far this week I have managed to walk about 20miles, approximately 19 miles more than normal and I'm so very tired. Tomorrow I have two more clients to see, at complete opposite ends of the town and from littleuns nursery so I'll be covering roughly 11 miles. As anyone who knows me knows, this just ain't good! It's also my excuse for the lack of posts over the next few days, I sadly just won't either have the time or be awake to do regular daily ones. Please forgive me and I'll see you soon!

Magical Animal Symbols, the Answers!

Ooh no-one played :o( . Anyway here are the answers:

1. No; In Britain a black cat crossing the road or entering your house is considered good fortune. in Yorkshire, fishermen's wives keep black cats at home to ensure their husbands return safely home from sea. in Southern England, a black cat crossing a brides path is said to bring a fortunate marriage.
2. The Wolf
3. A pixie in disguise
4. Falcon; The Falcon also symbolises magick, healing and releasing the soul of a dying person.
5. Dragonfly; Dragonflies symbolise dreams, illusions and mystic messages of enlightenment.

I'm off out for now so hope you all have a good day...

Magical Animal Symbols

A friend sent me this quiz from trivia website. I got 3/5 (still learning!), how well can you do? I'll post the answers tomorrow so you won't hopefully get too frustrated, unless of course you're a brainiac and know all the answers already.

1. Is a black cat always considered unlucky?
2. According to the Native Americans, Wind was created by; The Horse, The Buffalo, The Wolf, The Snake?
3. According to the Irish, what is a hedgehog; A pixie in disguise, a Cursed Mortal, a Satyr, a Vampire?
4. Which bird symbolises astral travel; The Phoenix, Eagle, Crow, Falcon?
5. Which insect is also known as "the Devil's Darning Needle", "The Bee Butcher" and "The Mosquito Hawk"; Dragonfly, Butterfly, Scarab Beetle, Honeybee?

Now no cheating!

Pagan Parenting ideas

It’s quite difficult sometimes for me as a newbie pagan to know how to do things with Littleun. Some of it is easy, just follow your heart and reinforce the need for respect and kindness. But some off it can be tricky. How much do I tell him, I teach him about all faiths, after all as I’ve mention previously he should be free to find his own way.

Recently I have stumbled across various WebPages which have helped. Some are about the spiritual aspects and some like Pooka-pages are about a bit of spiritual and a lot of craft. I know it centres on Witches and that we aren't particularly Wiccan but I find it a helpful place and full of drawings and stories which the Littleun loves. If you have time, take a wander over, I think it’s worth the visit...

A cold winter’s day

I don’t mind it being cold, in fact I much prefer it to rain but blimey it was very very cold yesterday! We decided to take the Littleun out and about over the last couple of days to try and get some exercise in and get rid of the lethargy the head-cold bug had given us.

On the first outing we re-visited a favourite haunt called Bedgebury where Littleun played pixies in the trees. Running around enjoying himself he would peak out from the woods to see if we have found him, calling to us at the same time. I don’t think he has quite sussed out the rules of hide and seek!

On our second visit we went to a local reserve where you can enjoy the views of the sea and surrounding hills at the same time as quietly studying the lovely birds on their way to far off places. Normally an enjoyable trip this time it was sadly marred by a large groups of twitchers who seriously lacked manners. Dropping their rubbish and marching 4-5 abreast they pushed their way past all the different children who were out on new bikes and scooters, just so they could take pictures of the birds which by now had taken cover from this mad lot. Shame on them! Still once they had gone we had the last laugh as being so quiet the birds came back out and we sat watching them till the cold beat us and we retreated to the warmth of the local.

Lovely times...

Midhir’s Invitation

Would you follow such sweet descriptions...

A year to the day after winning his last bet with Eochaid, Midhir returns to take away Étain. Standing in Eochaid’s great hall he sings the song to her setting out the pleasures of the Gods enchanted hills.

“O fair lady! Will you come with me
To a wonderful country which is mine,
where the peoples hair is of a golden hue,
And their bodies the colour of virgin snow?

There no grief or care is known;
White are their teeth, black their eyelashes;
Delight of the eye is the rank of our hosts,
With the hues of the fox-glove on every cheek.

Crimson are the flowers of every mead,
Gracefully speckled as the blackbirds egg;
Though beautiful to see be the plains of Inisfail
They are but commons compared to our great plains.

Though intoxicating to you the ale-drink of Inisfail,
More intoxicating the ales of the great country;
The only land to praise is the land of which I speak
Where no one ever dies of decrepit age.

Soft sweet streams traverse the land;
The choicest of mead and of wine;
Beautiful people without any blemish;
Love without sin, without wickedness.

We can see the peoples upon all sides;
But by no one can we be seen;
The cloud of Adam’s transgression it is
That prevents them from seeing us.

O lady, should you come to my brave land,
It is golden hair that will be on your head;
Fresh pork, beer, new milk and ale,
You there with me shall have, O fair lady!”

Translation by O’Curry, Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish

Painting by Willy Pogany (1882-1955)