Merry Meet!
Welcome to The Rabbit’s Haven, the official newsletter of Rabbit Stew! We are delighted that you’ve joined us. |
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The stillness and chill of winter demand that we rest during this time. Know that this period of regeneration is necessary for you to be ready to sow the seeds of your future life and self. What will those seeds be? How will you nourish them? Take this time to plan and prepare for what you’d like your harvest to be.
Imbolc, celebrated on February 1st-2nd, is a traditional Gaelic festival marking the beginning of spring and the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox. It honors the goddess/saint Brigid, focusing on purification, fertility, and the return of light.
Meaning “in the belly,” Imbolc is a celebration of potential. The earth begins to thaw and the first signs of life return. It’s a time for cleansing, blessing, and planting spiritual seeds.
Every witch’s path is unique, but here are some of our favorite Imbolc traditions: make a Brigid’s Cross to hang in your home make a corn dolly to honor Brigid do early spring cleaning to prepare for the magic to come pour new candles using old stubs cleanse and re-consecrate your tools and space take a ritual bath bake bread or seed cakes make blackberry jam make an Imbolc simmer pot to fill your home with warmth. journal your plans and goals for the new year. plan a garden nurture wildlife: make birdseed cakes or apple feeders to help birds through the cold take a winter walk and collect items for your altar have a bonfire & practice fire scrying
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BRIGID Imbolc is most commonly associated with Brigid, a Celtic goddess and a powerful symbol of feminine creativity and empowerment. Invoked to inspire creativity and craftsmanship, she is the patroness of the arts, especially poetry and smith work. She promotes creativity and artistic expression. The peaceful times spent at your craft, when concentration and meditation meld, are when her effect is most noticeable.
OTHER DEITIES Aenghus Og: Celtic God of love, young beauty, and poetry inspiration Anu: Irish Mother of All Things Arianrhod: Celtic Goddess of fertility, rebirth, time, and fate Aphrodite: Greek goddess of love Bast: Egyptian cat goddess of protection & guardian of mothers and childbirth, a hearth goddess Dian Cecht: Irish God of Healing Faunus: Roman God of the Forest, associated with Lupercalia Februa/Februus: Roman goddess/god of Purity Gaia: Greek Mother of All Things Hestia: Greek goddess of the home and family, a hearth goddess Inanna: Sumerian Goddess of love, fertility, sexuality, and warfare
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ANIMALS/CREATURES Bear: re-awakening Bees: hard work, harmony, light Serpents: wisdom, rebirth, cycles Sheep and lambs: fertility, renewal, Brigid’s sacred animals Swans: grace, transformation
COLORS Brown: the re-emerging earth Green: growth, fertility, renewal Pale Gold: sunlight, inspiration Red: life force, fire, transformation White: purity, light, new beginnings
HERBS/PLANTS Angelica: protection, healing Basil: clarity, purification Bay: wisdom, vision, manifestation Blackberry: protection, prosperity, sacred to Brigid Chamomile: calm, renewal Heather: cleansing, fertility Lavender: peace, clarity Rosemary: memory, cleansing, fire energy Snowdrop: new growth, return of life
TREES Birch: new beginnings, purification Hazel: wisdom, creativity, divine connection Rowan: protection, insight, inspiration Willow: intuition, cycles, water energy
STONES/CRYSTALS Amethyst: spiritual growth, intuition Garnet: passion, vitality, regeneration Moonstone: new beginnings, feminine energy Onyx: healing, decision making Peridot: releasing that which no longer serves
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Brat Bhríde
Brigid's Cloak (Brat Bhríde) is an Irish tradition associated with St. Brigid’s Day (Feb 1st), where a cloth or ribbon is left outside on St. Brigid’s Eve (Jan 31st) to be blessed by the saint for protection and healing. It is believed to cure illnesses, ward off evil, and protect homes and livestock throughout the coming year.
Key Aspects of the Tradition: The Ritual: A piece of cloth (the Brat Bhríde or Ribín Bríde) is left on a windowsill, door, or hedge on the evening of Jan 31st. Healing Power: The blessed cloth is kept throughout the year and used as a remedy for headaches, sore throats, fevers, or to aid in childbirth. The Legend: According to legend, St. Brigid requested land from the King of Leinster, asking only for what her cloak could cover. The cloak miraculously grew to cover the entire area needed to build her monastery at Kildare. Symbolism: It symbolizes protection, compassion, and the transition from winter to spring (Imbolc).
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BLACKBERRY SCONES
Ingredients 1 cup fresh blackberries, huckleberries, or blueberries 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cubed 2 tablespoons vanilla extract 3/4 to 1 cup well-shaken cultured buttermilk 2 to 4 tablespoons turbinado sugar
Instructions About 2 hours before making the scones, scatter the berries or fruit on a cookie sheet and put it in the freezer. (If using large berries, cut them in half.) Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and drop in the cubed butter. Put the bowl in the freezer and leave it there for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat and set it aside. Using a pastry cutter or two knives, work the chilled ingredients together in the bowl until the butter cubes are the size of peas. Make a well in the center. Combine the vanilla and 3/4 cup buttermilk in a separate bowl, and pour the mixture into the well. Mix the ingredients with a wooden spoon to form a shaggy, slightly crumbly mass. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes to let the flour absorb the liquid, then fold one more time. If the dough seems simply too dry to come together, add 1 tablespoon buttermilk at a time until it just barely comes together. The dough should not be too wet; the scones will spread too much. Add the frozen fruit and gently mix them in, trying not to crush them. To shape the scones, scoop a small handful into your palm and press it into a tall, fat puck and put it on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat, leaving enough room for the scones to double in size. Sprinkle the tops of the scones with the turbinado sugar. Bake for 15 minutes or until they are golden brown around the sides but still tender in the middle. Carefully transfer the scones to a cooling rack and let them cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Cool completely before storing in a loosely covered container. Store for up to three days.
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NOW AVAILABLE FROM RABBIT STEW
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Return to a time when receiving mail was magical with Rabbit’s Round, our new Sabbat-based collection of curated paper ephemera and tactile items to use in your journal, book of shadows, grimoire, art journal, commonplace book, and more. Sent eight times per year, Rabbit’s Round is a treat for those who believe in slow wonder. Imbolc 2026 is available now! |
We hope you enjoyed our Imbolc edition of The Rabbit’s Haven and we look forward to joining you for Ostara! |
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