A Spell to Combat the Winter Blues

The weekend that ends Daylight Savings time is always a difficult weekend for me.

This evening the sun was well on its way to sinking below the horizon when the clock read 5:05pm.

I felt like the day had escaped me completely. It was time to get into pajamas and go to bed. That's dramatic, I know, but nightfall triggers the idea that the day is over for me.

By 6pm, there was no sun, and the inky darkness was closing in fast. My mood sank with the sun, as it always does with the time change.

To combat the winter blues, I went to my trusted friend for advice; My BOS, and turned up this little gem of a spell that I've used many times. Maybe it will help some of you as well.

Needed:

• Anointing Oil
• Sunflower oil is choice, but olive oil or vegetable will work just as well.
• Candle
• Choose a color that symbolizes sun or brightness. I use yellow, orange or gold - but white has worked wonderfully for me in the past.
• A piece of citrus 
• Orange, tangerine, clementine - or another fruit if those are not available to you. Pick a fruit that you can envision growing under sunny skies.
• Awl, needle, screwdriver - something sharp.

Use your sharp object and inscribe words like "sun", "light", and "happy" on the candle. One word is enough, but infuse the candle with thoughts of happy, sunny days as your inscribe it.

Lightly anoint the candle with the oil, infusing the candle and oil with thoughts of the sunny skies the sunflowers, the olives or the corn, safflower or soybeans grew under. (depending on the oil you're using)

Place the candle in a holder on your altar. Place your fruit before the candle. Light the candle and say:

Dark winter's night

Soon to be overtaken by the light

Under fair skies with sun

My mind does run.

Take a bite of the fruit and visualize the days with long sunlight that helped the fruit grow. Imagine the warmth, the breeze - anything associated with how the fruit might have grown. 

Swallow the bite and repeat.

Focus on the flame, visualize it growing as bright as the sun.

When the fruit is half gone, visualize positive scenes, the bounty of things growing in your yard; acknowledge that their time of rest in the winter will provide them with strength for the long days of growing to come.

By the time you finish the fruit, you should feel uplifted and positive. 

Let the candle burn down naturally if you have the time, stopping periodically to focus on the flame and its symbolism of growing light to come.

Repeat as often as necessary. I've performed this as often as three times a week in the darkest parts of the winter, and it does help me to focus on the necessity of the winter, and to remind myself that after every dark winter comes the bright green of spring.

I hope it helps you, too.