Midwinter is here
Brig
milk breath and
warm belly
full of ember
sigh first gasps
of air as
tendrils through
roots silent deep
she hums
quiet songs
reminds us of
life’s sweetness
births from
tender hearts
and hot tears
in each
flaming
soul
-CP 2021
Imbolc: “In the belly of the mother” “ewe’s milk”
Midwinter, Candlemas, Imbolc, Groundhog’s day, Aquarius season
Selfishly, this time of the year is my favorite. My birthday falls on or close to Imbolc each year (February 2). I was born a winter baby and I still feel in sync with winter. I’ve always felt drawn to the moon, maternal, internal emotions keeping in my own emotions until a fiery personality decides to show itself…as well as flashes of insight.
Originally, Imbolc was to hold space for the Gaelic goddess, Brigid, eventually becoming St. Brigid when Christianity started to take hold in Ireland. She corresponds to mothers, fire, milk, lamb’s, birth, creativity, poetry and more. We honor this time looking towards sunnier days, as we creep closer to spring, yet are still drawn inward around warmth and comfort.
This year it falls right after the Aquarius new moon: that balance of fire and vapors of steamed milk. A warm cup of breath. The creation of life from dark to light. The moon and sun will be straddling Saturn on each side, the constant and traditional ruler of Aquarius. Meanwhile they square Uranus, the modern ruler of Aquarius, the sudden snap and spark from fire.
The questions to ask currently are:
What warms your soul?
What do you keep hidden until it is time to reveal itself?
Have you given birth to inspiration and ideas?
What is your solid grounding and what inspires your change?
Each year I light a candle for Brigid and myself. I thank her for her wisdom and passion. This year I will be making a few recipes to join closer to her. I’m leaving these recipes below for readers to try if they like. So, enjoy your warmth and let the milks wash over you.
Mother’s Milk Bath:
- 1 cup of ground whole oats
- 1/2 cup Powdered Milk or Powdered coconut milk
- 1/2 cup Epsom salts
- 1/2 teaspoon of Sandalwood oil blended with 1/4 cup of milk or coconut oil
- candles
Blend all dry ingredients well together. Light your candles. Run a warm/hot bath. When the tub is half filled, run the dry ingredients under the faucet until all is mixed into the water. Soak. After you’ve taken bath and dried fully, take your milky Sandalwood oil and massage into skin. End with the tea below…
Brigid’s Milk Tea:
- Milk of choice
- Honey
- Honeybush Rooibos tea
- pinch of Saffron
Steep the honey bush rooibos tea and saffron for 5 minutes in a large mug. Heat your milk in a small pot until simmering. Add a teaspoon of honey and stir until dissolved. Once the tea is done, blend in your milk mixture and enjoy.
Milk Cake:
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1/4 cup yogurt of choice
- 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons of butter (melted)
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 1/4 cup milk of choice
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 and 1/2 cups of Flour of choice
- 1 cup of Almond flour
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 1 cup cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 4 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of Vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put a glass or metal bowl and beaters in the fridge to make cold.
Mash bananas and blend with yogurt, eggs, vanilla extract, butter, coconut oil, honey and milk.
In separate bowl, mix dry ingredients.
Blend all together. Pour into 2- wax paper lined 8″ cake tins or 12 muffin tin with cupcake liners.
Bake for 30-40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a rack completely.
Beat cream cheese, butter, salt, vanilla and maple syrup until smooth. Frost cake with this and enjoy.
