Brigid, Creativity and Almond Crescent Cookies...

Feast of Brigid Imbolc Offering

One of the most wonderful things about children is their pure creative spirit. They draw, sing, write, dance, play make believe and create just for the sheer pleasure of it. Watching them in action you can see just how immersed they become in whatever they are doing. They don’t concern themselves with what other people think. They don’t worry about whether what they are doing will eventually reap financial rewards. They don’t have doubts around what they create – they proudly give their pictures to their parents to stick on the fridge or they show off their latest dance routines for their grandparents. For them it is all about having fun and getting lost in that magical moment of creativity.

I long for those moments in my adult life. Now I am too self conscious to dance in public. There is no amount of money that would get to me to sing out loud for anyone. My husband (an art teacher) recently signed me up to a local college life drawing class. Already I am worrying about other people seeing – and judging – my work. Today I have decided to banish these negative thoughts from my mind and to be more supportive of myself. I realized it’s time to nurture my creative spirit and have some fun!

Today is Imbolc the feast day of Brigid, the Goddess of Art and Healing. She has a particularly strong connection to writers, poets, storytellers and metal workers (smithcraft) as well to those who practice the healing arts. Although today is Her feast day she is watching over us all the time. If ever we need clarity, support or inspiration all we need to do is ask for Her guidance. Lighting candles or using specially blended Aromatherapy oils while sitting in quiet reflection can help connect us with Her powerful energy.

There are other ways to connect with Brigid and celebrate Her presence in our lives. Don’t wait for Imbolc to come around again – start today and remind yourself how wonderful it is to lose yourself in the magic of creativity!

• Write! Write! Write! Poems, short stories, songs or letters to friends and family. Just put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) the main thing is getting your words onto paper.

• Consider crafts. Have you ever thought about taking up knitting, scrapbooking, decoupage or crochet? There are so many different types of crafts out there to explore and have fun with.

• Listen to some of your favourite music (you may even be tempted to kick up your heels and have a dance around the house)

• Sing. Sing a song. Sing it loud. You get the picture! You don’t have to do this in front of an audience. Just do it for yourself and to express yourself through your own voice.

• Find inspiration in nature. Get outside for a walk. Breathe in the fresh air, listen to the birdsong and let your mind drift.

• Draw. Doodle. Colour in. Have some fun with pretty coloured pencils, pens or paints. When you’re done – stick it on the fridge!

• Get in your kitchen and bake!

The kitchen was my first port of call this morning. I found this recipe for Almond Crescent Cookies which I was eager to try. I set up a little altar by the hearth and left some of the cookies and a small glass of Cointreau out as a thank you to Brigid (and my ever so helpful house fairy). I sat for a few minutes and thought carefully about everything I want to achieve in the upcoming months as well as those things I need to let go of. Now I am going out for a walk. I feel the need to listen to birdsong and walk off the 4 cookies I just ate. They really are tasty!

I wish each and every one of you a happy and magical Imbolc.

Here is the recipe courtesy of Squidoo.com

Almond Crescent Cookies for Imbolc

Ingredients:

• 1 cup finely chopped almonds (or other nuts) (I used ½ cup almonds and ½ cup walnuts)

• 2 sticks (1 cup) softened unsalted butter

• 3/4 cup powdered sugar plus extra for coating

• 2 teaspoons vanilla (I used 1tsp vanilla extract and 1 tsp almond extract)

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).

• Lightly grease two cookie sheets.

• In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until well blended. Add in the 3/4-cup powdered sugar and beat until combined. Add vanilla and almonds and stir until blended. Add the 2 cups flour gradually while stirring. At this point, you will have to knead it until well blended with your hands.

• Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to make the dough easier to handle.

• Shape the dough into crescent shapes (see picture) using 1 tablespoon at a time. To make it easier, roll into a string shape first and then shape into a crescent. Place onto cookie sheets and bake for 12-16 minutes until the edges are slightly browned.

• Remove from oven and let cookies stand for a couple minutes until firm enough to remove from the sheet. Remove from the cookie sheet and place onto a rack. Let them cool for 10 minutes. Sift the extra powdered sugar over the cookies for the topping and let cool completely.

• If you want to skip the crescent shaping process, just roll them into tablespoon-sized balls and bake the same as above. When the balls have cooled for 10 minutes, roll them in powdered sugar to coat evenly and let cool. You can also skip the nuts in case of possible allergy. They will simply taste like delicious shortbread.

Enjoy!

Almond Crescent Cookies for Imbolc

Imbolc: The Maiden Returns....

The beginning of February, in the Northern Hemisphere, is a time to celebrate the ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc. We are just beginning to feel the first stirrings of Spring. The days are lengthening, there are signs of growth in the earth and the birds seem to sing more loudly and cheerfully. Brigid the Goddess of Spring has returned and has brought with her the sun, whose rays are warming the earth, bringing it back to life after the cold dark days of winter.

Food wise Imbolc is linked with milk, specifically ewes milk as it’s around this time of year that they begin lactating. For a special Imbolc supper you could have a cheese plate with a hearty salad and some crusty bread on the side. Any type of cheese will do, it doesn’t have to be sheep’s cheese if that isn’t to your liking. Just make sure that it’s natural cheese, nothing coloured or artificial.

As this time of year is about celebrating the return of fertility to the Earth, make time to connect with nature. Go for walks and get out in your garden. It may be too early to start sowing seeds outdoors but you can certainly plant bulbs; crocus, daffodils and tulips are a beautiful addition to any garden. If you don’t have access to a garden, consider buying a house plant. Just make sure that if you share your home with an animal companion the plants aren’t harmful or toxic to them.

Another way to celebrate is to create an altar for your home or garden. I love altars because they give me a special place where I can focus and meditate on my intentions for the upcoming days, weeks or months. They also keep me mindful about the earth, help strengthen my connection to her seasons and remind me of my own unique place in the world.

There really are no hard and fast rules when creating an altar. Have fun and be creative. For Imbolc I tend to use colours that remind me of the lengthening days. I also like to include food which I leave out for the Fairies and birds afterwards. Apples are always a favourite and I make sure I only buy organic ones. I also buy something for my garden and this year I bought some grape hyacinths which I can’t wait to plant.

Over the coming weeks, find ways to honour the earth and reconnect with nature. Whatever you choose to do enjoy yourself, have fun and remember that Spring is on her way!

For my Indoor Imbolc Altar I used;

• A bright yellow scarf that belonged to my grandmother (she always made me happy).
• A Goddess figurine my sister made for me many years ago (thanks sis!).
• A white candle.
• 3 lemon and rose Turkish delights (my grandmother loved them but they also seem to be a particular favourite of the Fairies)
• A glass of organic milk with honey, cinnamon and nutmeg (once again for the Fairies)
• My newly purchased Grape Hyacinths.

Imbolc Altar

Garden Offerings