I enjoy keeping art journals for seasonal manifesting, you could call them a spell book or a book of affirmations. A mood board of sorts that often morphs into all sorts. It really doesn't matter what you call it, some mystics and witches have fancy names like "Book of Shadows" or "Grimoire." I don't tend to call mine anything, although perhaps if they had names they would be easier to call and find!
My family keenly join in too and it's not unusual for us to spread out all our art supplies on the dining table after dinner, close to the warmth of the fireplace and have an arty session late into the night. We're great fans of Molly Roberts, author of "Art Magick - How to Become an Art Witch and Unlock your Creative Power". She often posts on Instagram, YouTube and has a Patreon too.
I'm hoping to regularly share some of my own creative prompts for different seasons or sabbats and ideas that ignite a flame for my journalling. My practice of art journalling isn’t to become a great artist, but to record ideas and feelings in a fun playful way. Often I’m not “in love” with what I produce. Sometimes it’s frankly quite cringeworthy. It is however an expression or emotion I can “let go of” (somewhat) once it’s out in the physical world.
The Yule Sabbat, and cold season following the Winter Solstice perhaps unsurprisingly is when we do more baking than any other time in the year. As well as all the regular bread and sourdough, savoury pies and quiche, we bake cakes, fruit mince pies, fill all the biscuit tins and some! We find more ideas and inspiration than one family can possibly eat, even after sharing with friends, with delectable festive books like Nigel Slater's "The Christmas Chronicles." Anja Dunk's "Advent" and Luisa Weiss' "Classic German Baking" there is no end to our festive biscuit desires. To help get our fix I came up with...
A journal page or spread with a Winter Solstice / Yule, or Matariki inspired biscuit assortment - to manifest more sweetness in our lives. Remember that an illustrated (or a poetically written!) assortment doesn't need to be edible, or even relate to anything edible.
Build your assortment with all the Wintery things that are special, important and resonate with you. Think about shapes, textures, experiences, feelings and moods, as well as tastes and scents. Add spices or essential oils to your art mediums, or use citrus peels to make and print stamps. Burn a festive incense or simmer a pot of fruit and spices as you journal. Maybe you would like to design your biscuits around the Matariki star cluster and the legends of the 7 sisters, or the 9 stars. (My Matariki newsletter is coming soon!!)
Hide secret messages, inspirational quotes, poems, codes, dreams and wishes under each biscuit or cookie. Decorate your sweets with sigils or hidden spells. Layer your biscuits in a box frame or arrange them on a tray in your journal like a German Bunter Teller / colourful plate of plätzchen. Stick them down or not, you may prefer to make a pocket “biscuit tin” as I did, so I can lift each one out and hold it.
Make your biscuits as wild, crazy and loud as you like - use all the food colouring without the fear of hyperactivity poison. Or stick to natural, subtle and refined tastes, the choice is yours!
You have the power and soon you'll have the sweetness!
If this art witching prompt resonated with you and you go on to make a Festive Assortment, and if you are willing I would love you to share it with me. You can tag me publically or message me privately on Instagram I’ll be sharing more photos of my own assortment there too.
Seasons Blessings 💫
Bron