Crafting Cozy Magic: Handmade 12” Pentacles for Spring Equinox Celebrations

As the spring equinox approaches, there's no better time to reconnect with the outdoors and channel your creative energy into crafting beautiful objects for your home and personal practice. In this DIY blog post, we'll walk through the creation of 12” pentacles made from sticks, feathers, leaves, and found objects in nature. I’ll also explore the symbolism of pentacles, the difference between pentacles and pentagrams, and their significance for Wiccans and Pagans.

The Magic of Spring: As the earth stretches and awakens from its deep winter sleep, the spring equinox marks a time of balance and renewal. Taking walks in nature becomes a delightful ritual, a breath of fresh air for our bodies and minds, allowing us to gather inspiration from the blooming flora and the vibrant energy of the season. What better way to celebrate this magical time than by bringing a piece of nature into our homes through handmade crafts?

Pentacles vs. Pentagrams: Before diving into the crafting process, let's unravel the mystery behind pentacles and pentagrams. While the terms are often used interchangeably, pentacles typically refer to the five-pointed star enclosed within a circle. In contrast, a pentagram is the star itself, symbolizing the elements and spirituality.

Symbolism for Wiccans and Pagans: For Wiccans and Pagans, the pentacle holds profound symbolism, representing the five elements—earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. It acts as a protective talisman, harnessing the energies of nature and the divine. Crafting your own pentacle allows you to infuse it with intention, making it a powerful tool for ritual and magic.

Crafting Your 12” Pentacle: To begin, head outdoors to collect twigs, leaves, feathers, and other found objects that resonate with the energies of spring. Look for items that speak to you, as each piece will contribute to the unique energy of your pentacle. As a reminder, take only what won’t be missed by the plants themselves and other beings.

Materials:

• Twigs (about 12 inches in length)

• Natural found objects (leaves, feathers, herbs, dried flowers, etc.)

• Twine or natural fiber for binding

• Water-based Glue

• Optional: Paints for decoration

Instructions:

1. Arrange the twigs into a circular shape, forming the base of your pentacle.

2. Secure the twigs together using twine or natural fiber, ensuring a stable structure.

3. Adorn the pentacle with found objects, placing them intuitively to create a harmonious design.

4. If needed, use glue to secure the objects in place, allowing your creation to come to life.

5. If desired, add a touch of color with paints - incorporate sigils or other designs.

As you complete your handmade 12” pentacle, take a moment to appreciate the magic you've created. Embrace the mysteries of the craft, knowing that your creation is not just a decorative piece but a symbol of connection to the natural world and the energies that surround us. May your spring equinox be filled with creativity, magic, renewal, and the joy of crafting your own treasures.

Crafting Cozy Magic: Handmade 1” Back Flow Incense Cones for the Sabbats

As the winter months continue on, it's the perfect time to embrace the cozy vibes and immerse ourselves in creative endeavors. One of my favorite winter pastimes is crafting handmade, 1” back flow incense cones. There's something enchanting about working with our hands and creating magical elements that enhance our living spaces.

Getting Cozy with Handmade Magic: In the midst of January, finding warmth and joy in our homes becomes essential. What better way to do that than by crafting something magical? They're not just any incense; they're a reflection of your craft, intention, and connection to the natural cycles of the year.

Crafting for the Wheel of the Year: As a craft enthusiast with a touch of magic, I love to make incense cones around the Wheel of the Year. Whether it's Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh, Mabon, or Samhain, each Sabbat brings its unique energy. Crafting incense cones tailored to these holidays creates a harmonious blend of nature, magic, and DIY spirit.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup ground herbs (choose according to your desired scent and magical properties)

• 1 cup binding agent (mixture of water and makko powder)

• 1 tablespoon powdered resin (for a longer-lasting burn)

• Essential oils (to add a personalized fragrance)

• Shape them by hand

Suggested Herbs & Resins:

Imbolc: Chamomile, Heather, Bay Leaves, Rosemary

Ostara: Rose, Lavender, Thyme, Daisy, Yarrow

Beltane: Hawthorn, Mugwort, Violet, Lily of the Valley, Cowslip

Litha: Sunflower, St. John’s Wort, Cedar, Copal, Orange

Lughnasadh: Vervain, Mint, Juniper, Sage, Sandalwood, Oat

Mabon: Cinnamon, Apple, Marigold, Elderberry, Licorice

Samhain: Tobacco, Pumpkin, Vetiver, Clove, Chrysanthemum

Yule: Pomegranate, Bayberry, Evergreen, Holly, Laurel, Mistletoe

Instructions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine the ground herbs, powdered resin, and essential oils. Mix well to create a fragrant and magical blend.

2. Slowly add the binding agent to the dry mixture until you achieve a dough-like consistency.

3. Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes to let the ingredients meld together.

4. Take small portions of the mixture and shape them into 1” cones using your hands. Ensure they have a hollow space in the center for the back flow effect.

5. Let the cones air dry for at least 24 hours or until they are completely solid.

6. Once dry, your handmade back flow incense cones are ready to enchant your space.

Crafting handmade incense cones for the Sabbats is a delightful way to infuse magic into your living spaces. As you delve into the world of DIY incense making, let the cozy winter atmosphere inspire your creativity.

So, gather your ingredients, light those candles, and embark on a journey of crafting and enchantment. May your DIY incense cones bring warmth, mystery, and a touch of witchy magic to your winter days. Happy crafting!

Altar Wreath | Imbolc Craft

In the wheel of the year, Imbolc is the festival of lights; the time between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, usually February 1st or 2nd. As we move through Winter, we can sense the promise of Spring. This is the quickening of the year; a time to honor our fertile creativity, in all aspects of our lives.

To honor the festival of lights this year, I made a winter pentacle wreath to use as an altarpiece and candle holder. I also want to be able to hang it on my wall when not in use.

Supplies:

• A base - I used a store-bought, flat birchwood 12” pentagram. I’d been wanting one for a while and felt like this ready made shape would best suit my needs. For other options, you could weave a few strands of jewelry wire, or sticks together to form a circle. This one came in a natural light birch, and I dyed it with walnut ink.

• Decorations - seasonal leaves, herbs, beeswax, glitter, anything else you want!

• Water-based craft glue (if needed)

Instructions

1. Start with a base: you can weave one from a few strands of jewelry wire, or purchase one. Set up your work on a surface that can get messy - lay out some newspaper or a drop cloth.

2. Choose your decorations! Found, or store-bought is fine.

   Typical herbs & other plants associated with Imbolc are: Blackberry, basil, bay, clover, heather, iris, rosemary, violet, ginger, willow, evergreen.

   Colors related to Imbolc are: gold, white, green, red.

   I tapped into my collection of oak leaves left over from last year’s summer solstice ritual. I also included tree moss (for crossing thresholds and healing), Mugwort (to aid in scrying), rose petals (for portals, divination, and protection). Get creative and use what inspires you and aligns with your intention.

3. I typically prefer wire and leather wrapping, or using beeswax to secure elements when I create tools. Wrapping and dripping are such meditative processes. During the repetition we get to focus and internalize our intentions.

   If you’re wrapping, you can secure the leaves and any other decorations to the ring by wrapping a base layer, following one direction. Then continue around until you have the desired layers and thickness. I chose to secure my herbs with wax. I lay a loose layer of herbs and slowly dripped my beeswax candle, holding it about 6 inches above the base. Like anytime you work with an open flame, be VERY aware of your surroundings and never leave a candle unattended. I also usually keep a glass of water nearby when I’m getting creative with candles, just in case.

   If using a lot of smaller elements that aren’t possible to wire wrap, you can use small amounts of the craft glue to secure to the base. I like water based glue for ritual tools, to maintain a less abstracted connection to the elements.

4. Listen to music or just focus on whatever spirit, intention, vibe, you want to imbue in the piece. The time and space we create around these rituals help us clear our minds, focus our intentions, and manifest our ideas. Move around the circle of the wreath add more or remove as needed! I strategically left four areas empty, leaving space for candle holders.

5. When finished, anoint with any ritual oils and cleanse in your preferred way. I usually cleanse my tools with Palo Santo smoke, then leave the tool in the moonlight overnight. Sound baths are very powerful, too.

6. Enjoy! Treat your tools with respect, cleansing periodically and storing with care. When not on my alter or used in ritual work, I hang mine on the wall.