Last night’s Full Moon on snow infused potent magic into today’s ancient holiday of Imbolc. Imbolc/ Mid-winter marks the halfway point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. I always know when the light makes a marked return, it’s when my hens start laying eggs again. Our land-based ancestors celebrated Imbolc as a time when the lambs were born, and milk was available for cheese and butter again. The magic of eggs in the coop is a sacred thread connecting me back to the land and the simple rhythms of animals and nature. Most importantly, it brings me hope and belief in renewal. On hope, I am writing this note to offer that, along with connection, which can be hard to come by, always in winter, and especially lately. Watching the Grammys last night, my heart lifted to hear a wave of voices calling for love over hate, and it helped me anchor into the knowing that intention is widespread and connected beyond my community.
We can also grow connection and healing by honoring our ancestors, their lived experiences, and the innate knowing that they passed on to us. On that note, I’ll be presenting a special workshop at Arbor Vitae Herb School in New Paltz this coming Sunday, February 8th. This workshop is for anyone, beginner and experienced herbalist, seeking a deeper connection to lineage, land and plant allies. We are still accepting participants for this herbal tea making circle and afternoon of embodied learning. Click here for all the information you need to learn more and register. The tickets are on a sliding scale so use the drop down menu to select the exchange that aligns best for you.
Rituals for Hope at Midwinter
- light a white or yellow candle & speak out loud what you hope to grow in your life over the coming months (or write it on a small piece of paper & burn it)
- read poetry from inspirational poets like Amanda Gorman & Mary Oliver
- vision board (a collage of pictures and words that help you visualize your dreams, goals & prayers)
- place an egg under tonight’s waning full moon and offer an intention for yourself, a loved one, or the world
Nutrition & Herbal Support
At midwinter, the body benefits from foods and herbs that restore warmth, resilience, and vitality. Slow-cooked meals, soups, stews, and root vegetables provide grounding nourishment, while healthy fats support the nervous system and hormonal balance. Warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom gently stoke digestion and circulation. Getting enough vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin best taken with K2 when in supplement form, is important for immune and bone health. If you’d like to discuss individualized support, including food, herbs, supplements, movement, and mindfulness, I am currently welcoming a small number of new clients for individual care, which you can explore here.
Radical Care
Radical care at midwinter is not about productivity or self-improvement; it’s about choosing gentleness in a culture that often rewards depletion. This may look like honoring earlier bedtimes, reducing sensory input, creating simple rituals of light, or allowing rest without justification. Radical care is the practice of listening to the body’s cues, to emotional fatigue, to the need for warmth, connection, and safety. In this way, care itself becomes a form of hope: a quiet, embodied belief in the importance of tending the relationships we cherish, including and especially the one we have with ourselves.
Mid-Winter Decoction
For a hope-infused, heart-nourishing tea this Imbolc, try blending 1 Tablespoon of each of the below in 32 ounces of water in a small pot on the stove, bring it to a boil, and then turn down the heat to let it simmer for fifteen minutes, before straining and drinking:
Cardamom – for warmth and connection
Pine Needles – for the sweet loving medicine of the Pine tree (and some vitamin C)
Rosehips – the seed of the rose is the very essence of heart-centered action (also rich in vitamin C)
Ginger root – for warmth and vitality
Enjoy by candlelight in your favorite mug, at any time of day.
With Love,
Ashley Lathrop MS
Clinical Herbalist & Board-Certified Health Coach
