February 2023 – WILD MOON

Today we’re learning how about opening the heart chakra! What better way to celebrate Valentines Day and share the love than with some beautiful and nurturing self-care. Our busy lives often take over and we run away with ourselves, busy doing, planning, rushing onto the next thing. It’s important to take some time, especially within the theme of love, to do some self-loving! We’re going to talk through some beautiful activities you can do alone or with a partner or friends, to open up your heart chakra and spend some quality time with yourself.

What is the heart chakra?

The heart chakra is the fourth of seven chakra points in the body, with the heart chakra positioned at the middle of the spine in line with where your heart is. In itself, the heart chakra is the chakra responsible for unconditional love, for both oneself, for others and the world around you. It’s also the centre of empathy, care and loving compassion, so it’s a very beautiful chakra with a very emotional role in every day. It is a huge part of what makes us human. Sometimes it can be easy to forget that we need to pour love back into ourselves sometimes – that’s why we’re going to look at ways for opening the heart chakra. Perfect for Valentines Day

Now we’ve learned what the heart chakra is, let’s find out how we can unblock and open it!

Self love activities you can try:

Show gratitude for loved ones and strangers alike

Gratitude is such as beautiful emotion that is very powerful in itself. Take some time to express thanks, whether verbally and in person, or through a meditation or journaling session, to your loved ones. We are all capable of boundless love; appreciate those warm feelings and extend your gratitude to those around, be thankful for strangers and the beauty of individuality. Spend time alone and send love to those who bring you joy and comfort.

Prepare a cacao ceremony

Valentines Day is notorious for chocolate, but did you know that raw cacao has been believed for centuries by the ancient Mayans to open the heart? Cacao ceremonies are important rituals that focus on the process of preparing, enjoying, and being thankful for the cacao. This is not to be confused with the chocolates that you’ll find in the supermarket, high grade cacao is much more potent than regular chocolate, but it is excellent for you and will provide a beautiful experience. Grab some friends and a slab of cacao and have a beautiful evening of gratitude, contemplation and discovery!

Eat and drink heart-opening foods

Other things known to open the heart chakra include rosewater, leafy greens, red fruits such as strawberries and raspberries. The colours to eat for the heart chakra is predominantly pink and green; green vegetables are excellent at healing. Our Welsh Witch Beltane Edition Gin was formulated with high quality rosewater, in order to help open the heart chakra when drinking. Pour a glass to enjoy with your partner, friends, or to enjoy for yourself at the end of the day.

Practice yoga or simple stretching

Yoga and chakras go hand in hand, don’t they? You very often hear of people chatting about chakras when complicated yoga moves are involved. But, it doesn’t have to be difficult, and you don’t need to be a contortionist to get the heart-opening benefits of yoga. Just sitting cross-legged, breathing, and focusing on your breath is a form of pranayama yoga. It’s all about being mindful. If you are able, try out some simple poses if you like; but remember that it doesn’t need to be perfect. Take some time to feel your body moving and notice how it empowers you, focus on your breath and this will cultivate self-love and self-care, just by simply stretching and breathing.

Meditate with light, crystals, or gentle music

If you know anything about crystals, you’ll know that rose quartz is the stone of unconditional love. It comes as no surprise then, that rose quartz is an excellent crystal for opening the heart chakra. Combine some crystal work, with candles or gentle music and there’s a self-care evening worth staying in for! Lighting your space with candles or incense is a great way to make things cosier, more comfortable and invoke feelings of peace, calm and love. Maybe grab a journal or list out all the things in your head that you love about yourself; remember how magical it is to be unique and what it means to be you. Find out Welsh Witch candles on the shop, if you’re in the market for a divine smelling new addition!

Our Welsh Witch candles ready to add some magic to any evening!

However you choose to spend Valentine’s Day, whether you’re spending it with just your beautiful self, perhaps a fur baby, a partner, or with friends, it’s important to remember how loved you are. We all have a special place in this world, and having an open and flowing heart chakra makes that unconditional love pour out even easier. With an open heart chakra, you’ll find yourself filled with compassion and adoration for even simple things, something which we need now more than ever. Make sure you take some time for yourself this Valentine’s with some self-care; no matter how small – because you are worth it too!

Welsh Witch HQ x

What is Imbolc?

Celtic pagan wheel of the year

To know how to celebrate Imbolc, we first need to know its origins and why it is an important time of year. Celebrated on the first days of February every year, Imbolc is a celtic pagan holiday in the Wheel of the Year which marks the halfway point between the winter and the spring equinox. It brings the hope of warmer weather to come, and is symbolic of Saint Brigid bringing new fertility, creativity, and the promise of spring. The patron saint of smithwork, Brigid, is celebrated during these times; both in terms of human fertility and the fertility of the land and nature becoming more fruitful as the climes begin to warm.

The Imbolc tradition is celebratory of change; the seasons and weather transforming are honoured to embrace this in-between period. We can use this time to deeply reflect on the winter time that has passed and be inspired about the future. There are many ways how to celebrate Imbolc; this is our Welsh Witch Craft Spirits guide to the pagan celebration.

How to celebrate Imbolc this year:

There are many ways to honour the Imbolc celebrations, and everybody’s way may be different – that is okay. Finding ways that attune with your values, what is accessible to you and what feels right is paramount to making the celebrations enjoyable.

Clean your space ready for the new season

Spring cleaning is an age old tradition – what better time to start preparing for the warmer months ahead than by cleansing your sacred spaces?! Ancient Imbolc traditions paved the way for the fertile agriculture and farming seasons, so people would prepare for the bountiful harvests to come by cleaning and preparing. Maybe a modern alternative would be to have a wardrobe declutter, sell, or donate old toys or books, or even deep clean your kitchen. Whatever you do, try and do it with intention – releasing things that no longer serve you to make room for better things to come.

Visit or bathe in a body of water

Brigid is known for her power of rivers and wells; so it comes as no surprise that Imbolc traditions often include water. Finding a body of water, the ocean or a river for example to bathe in (if you’re brave!) or just to visit and reflect. If the water is frozen, it is also a sign that warmer times are coming, and to give thanks for the changing seasons. Take a cold dip in the ocean and be mindful while doing so – use this cleansing ritual to shake off the dust of winter and embrace the coming of spring with open arms.

Light a fire and set intentions

Our Welsh Witch candles, perfect for intention setting

Bridig is also known as the fire Goddess. Use this time to light candles, set a bonfire or write a letter of intention and burn it. Join up with loved ones and sit around a fireplace together, set intentions for the new season ahead and connect with your community. Our Welsh Witch candles are filled with intention and handmade with love; try lighting one while meditating on how you envision this year to work out for you – what you want to achieve, what you want to feel, etc. Perhaps write a letter of your desires and dreams for this year, then burn it (carefully!) to send it out into the universe.

Be in nature and connect with others

After the cold and harsh winter months, sometimes we find ourselves having become quite solitary. It’s important to use this time to reconnect with the outdoors, enjoy the crisp air and winter sun: head out on a fresh morning walk with a friend or connect with a community group for an activity you enjoy. Finding a group of people you can speak with and discuss your goals and intentions with is a great way to build motivation for the year ahead while also bonding with likeminded individuals.

Try our Welsh Witch Imbolc Edition Gin!

Our magical Welsh Witch Imbolc Edition Gin

Enjoy some magical witchcraft goodness with our beautiful Welsh Witch Imbolc edition gin. This handcrafted gin is filled with natural botanicals and all the love and intentions of the Welsh Witch. Honouring the goddess Brigid, notes of angelica, wormwood and a delectable helpful of blackberries make this the perfect tipple for welcoming in the warmer spring weather.

However you choose to enjoy your Imbolc celebrations, well intentioned activities are perfect for this time of year. Settle in with a good cup of tea or a glass of botanical Welsh gin and reflect on the magic of the cyclical seasons, the wheel of life constantly turning, and know that things are always shifting and changing.

Let us know how you’re spending Imbolc by messaging us at @welshwitch_craftspirits on Instagram!