Pooka's Page for Grownups 18 issue.doc.pdfPooka's Nap Pooka was a little bit grumpy. Okay, make that a lot bit grumpy. But, honestly, who could blame him? Naps are very serious things

Pooka's Page for Grownups

We have a few new contributors in this issue...

Hope Mayo is someone Pooka remembers as one of his friends frommany years back when he was just a tiny scribble on an artist based

website called "Elfwood". Elsie was thrilled to hear from her again after all these years and hercombined story/coloring page/craft project is something we think kids (big and small) will enjoy.

Katherine Sunderland-Nelson is an artist who contacted us on our Facebook page. We're sureyour kids will enjoy coloring her lovely Imbolc illustration.

Amber is also a new contributor. She started a couple of issues ago at Samhain and, becauseshe creates crafts for her little sister, specializes in craft projects for our littlest witchlings.

Important Announcement: Facebook is changing it's algorithms - those mysterious things thatdetermine what you see in your feed page...and what you don't. This is already affecting ourability to see your posts on our Team Page and, besides that, we don't want you to miss an issueof Pooka Pages. (From what you've told us, the little pagans in your life may never forgive you!)

But we have a solution! Right after this issue is out, we'll be starting a Group Page just for YOU,our Readers.

It will be a closed group for members only, but all you have to do is click on the "Join" buttonand then answer a question or two so we know that you really our one of our Readers. This willhelp to keep our page a safe environment, not only for grownups, but kids as well.

On this page, you'll be able to post your own things to share with others - like photos of yourfamily's sabbat celebrations, your familiars and your children's artwork. Kids can ask questionsand get answers, not just from Elsie or Pooka, but from an entire community of parents,grandparents, aunts, uncles and other kids. Heck! We can even swap Sabbat Recipes over theback fence!And, of course, it will be an additional place for you to get news from Pooka and learn wheneach issue of the magazine is posted .

I have high hopes for this little community and sincerely hope that you'll join us.

As soon as it's up and running (which shouldn't be long) I'll announce it on our Facebook TeamPage, on our website and, of course, in our Ostara issue.

Meanwhile... Pooka, the entire Team and I all hope your Imbolc is peaceful, magical and blessed!

ImbolcFebruary 2nd

Other Names: Candlemas, Imbolg, Feast of Torches, Oimelc, Brigid’s Day, Lupercalia,GroundhogDay, Feast of Waxing Light

Imbolc means “in the belly”. Even though it is still winter, Spring is coming soonand, all over the world, new life is already growing in the bellies of mother animals.Deep within the belly of Mother Nature, below the snow and frozen earth, new life isstirring there also.

ContentsThe Storybook Chair – Pooka's Nap

Coloring Page- Imbolc by Liliane GrenierElsie’s Kitchen – Vegan Imbolg Florentine

Elsie’s Herb Garden – Starting Seeds IndoorsColoring Page by Katherine Sunderland-Nelson

Letter from Scotland by Fiona TinkerA Baby Sun Candle by Hope Mayo

Poem - the Last Imbolc Snowflake by CarmenColoring Page - Finish the Candles by Liliane Grenier

Who Am I - Symbols of the Holiday by MamaWitch CarmenWitchCrafts - Salt Dough Sheep & Candles by Amber

Wee Witchling’s Read-Along

Pooka Pages (unless otherwise noted) is written and illustrated by Lora Craig-Gaddis. “ Pooka Pages” ispublished 8 times a year just prior to each Sabbat. To get the current issue, go to: pookapages.comThis Pooka Pages issue is © Copyright January 2018. No portion of this newsletter may be used withoutthe author or artist’s permission. To contact an author or artist or for general inquiries, write [email protected]

Pooka's Nap

Pooka was a little bit grumpy. Okay, make that a lot bit grumpy.

But, honestly, who could blame him? Naps are very serious things to a cat and all day Pooka'snaps had been rudely interrupted by the Elsie's activities.

He'd burrowed into his soft pillow on the hearth where the red glowing coals and flickeringflames warmed his back and neck in the most comforting way. Just as he was drifting off tosleep, a series of clanks and thumps jolted him awake.

"Sorry, Pooks," said Elsie as she swung the iron arm out from the stone hearth and hung hercauldron on the hook. "I have to melt the wax to make my candles now."

"Now?" growled the cat.

"Yes, tonight is the Eve of Imbolc," Elsie replied.

Pooka sighed and went upstairs to finish his nap on the bed. However, it seemed like he'd justfallen asleep when he felt the ground moving out from under him. Alarmed, he dug his claws inand opened his eyes to find Elsie gently tugging on the quilt he was laying on.

"I'm sorry," his witch said contritely, "but I have to wash the quilt before I lay it outside forBridget to bless."

Pooka knew that Elsie spread the quilt over the hydrangea bush by the door every Imbolc evefor the Goddess to bless with her healing magic. But, did she have to wash it NOW right whenhe was sleeping on it?

The cat glared at her, jumped off the bed and stomped downstairs where his unsuspectingcatnip mouse was about to receive a very thorough beating.

The mouse was cowering behind the sofa. Pooka was all set to pounce and move in for the killwhen suddenly the sofa moved away from the wall. Pooka glanced up and saw Elsie standingover him, her broom in hand.

"Move, Pooks," she said. "I have to sweep here."

"NOW?" exclaimed the exasperated kitty.

"Yes. Everything must be cleaned and purified before Imbolc - including the cottage."

Pooka rolled his eyes. He picked up catnip mouse and went into the kitchen. He and mouseboth agreed that they were to sleepy for their game anyway.

Pooka's basket was waiting for him next to the warm stove. He dropped mouse in a corner of itand then climbed in himself. He turned three times in a circle, plopped down and was snoringbefore his chin even hit the cushion.

Suddenly, Elsie was in the kitchen, rattling pots and pans, bustling about and stoking the fire inthe stove.

The cat cracked an eye open. "What now?" he sighed.

"I need to make the butter for Imbolc," the witch smiled apologetically.

Pooka grabbed his catnip mouse and stomped back to his basket on the warm hearth in theparlor. But a few minutes later, he was woken yet again...this time by a pounding on thecottage door followed by gay loud voices.

"Father made this Saint Bridget dolly for you from some of the rushes growing by our stream,"one of Farmer Gellis's daughters was saying.

"I collected the rushes!" piped up an even younger daughter proudly.

"Yes, well, Mama and I made the dress for her!"

Pooka's ear was twitching irritably by now. He heard Elsie saying: "She's lovely - Thank you!"

"Has she got a proper bed?" asked the youngest, eagerly.

"It's in the attic. Why don't you girls get some oatmeal cookies from the kitchen while I find it?"

Pooka had heard enough of all this excited chatter. He decided to move into the nice, quietherb room at the back of the cottage. This time, he left his catnip mouse behind to fend foritself. The little cat was tired!

There was another small stone fireplace in the herb room so the room was nice and toastywarm. Pooka leaped onto the wooden work table, again circled three times, and cuddled downfor his nap.

Within moments, however, his peace was once more invaded by feminine voices.

"That's okay, just bring the cookies with you," Elsie was saying. "I've all the stuff for decoratingBridget's bed in here."

"I can't believe we get to help!" squealed one of the girls enthusiastically. "This will be suchfun!"

Elsie placed an oval wicker basket on the table next to the cat. "Oh, hi Pooka!" she smiled."What are you doing in here? Did you want to help decorate Bridget's bed too?"

Pooka sat up and glared at her. She had to be joking!

"Look!" said the oldest girl as she gazed at the herbs and flowers hanging from the raftersoverhead. "We can use some of this blue and white statice and I see yellow strawflowers..."

"May we add some of those dried rosebuds?" asked her sister.

Pooka's sleepy eyes blinked and he thought and thought. There weren't any rooms left in thecottage except the bathroom. Given the quantities of tea the girls had consumed along withtheir cookies, that didn't seem like a very safe place for a nap. The little cat sighed, tucked hispaws into his chest and watched them decorate the Goddess's bed.

Eventually, the girls left and Elsie placed the bed in it's traditional place on the parlor hearth. Ittruly was lovely, rimmed with ribbons and dried ferns and flowers. A soft white velvet pillowembroidered in red thread was placed inside the basket and the Bridget corn dolly, all dressedin white, was laid on top of this.

"I'm going to start dinner now," a smiling Elsie told Pooka, "and then we can begin our Imbolcritual."

As I said in the beginning: Pooka was, by now, a LOT grumpy!

He eyed the Bridget Goddess doll resting on her soft velvet pillow in blessed peace next to thewarm, cozy hearth. He then did a Very Naughty Thing. He stomped over and deliberately lifteda single paw.

"Move over, Toots!" he growled.

A moment later, the little Goddess doll had sailed across the room and landed on the rug byElsie's desk. And the smug little cat was happily curled up and snoring in Her bed.

Traditional foods of Imbolc usually contain milk, cheese and butter. If your family is Vegan, thiscan be a bit of a head-scratcher. But, how about a nice hot bowl of creamy, cheesy soup that'sdairy-free? Young Tristan think it's pretty darned good and, even though Pooka's not a vegan,he likes it too!.

Imbolg Florentine

In a deep pot, sauté 1/2 of a diced onion and 2Tbs. minced garlic in a bit of olive oil.Add 6 cups of water, 1 1/2 cups of cauliflowerflorets and 1 1/2 cups of cashews. Bring this to aboil and let it simmer while peeling and choppinga large zucchini. Add the zucchini to the potalong with 3 grownup sized handfuls of freshspinach.

Simmer for 15 more minutes then puree it all in a blender. Pour it back in the pot and addanother handful of spinach, salt & pepper to taste (I thought it needed a fair amount!) a gooddash of paprika and 4 Tablespoons of Nutritional Yeast.Serve with thick slices of fresh hot bread and your favorite vegan butter spread.

Just because it’s still cold and frosty outside, doesn’t mean you can’t start a garden now. Infact, many herbs will do better if given an early head-start indoors.

Some herbs, like lavender and rosemary, grow better from small cuttings taken from a“parent” plant in the fall. But others, like basil,cilantro, chives, parsley and dill, are all easy tostart from seed now.

You can use all sorts of things for pots…even old egg shells which are good for herbslike dill and cilantro that get grouchy if theirroots are disturbed. When Spring comes, andthe earth outside warms up, you can just plantyour seedling, shell and all, in the ground!

Elsie, who learned recycling from hergrandmother, sometimes plants her seeds inleftover vegetable cans that have pretty, colorful labels. Just be sure to poke some holes in thebottom for drainage. And a long, shallow styrofoam meat or vegetable container works greatas a tray under your pots when watering your seedlings.

Fill your containers with moist (not wet) soil and then sprinkle a few seeds on top. Coverthis with a little more soil (Just a little!) and press down gently with your fingers like you’retucking the baby seeds into bed.

Water them either with a gentle spray bottle or by filling your sink with an inch or so ofwater and setting your container in there until you see that the top of the soil is damp. Thencover the top of your container with some plastic wrap to hold the moisture in.

Put the seeds in a sunny window sill and check in about a weekfor their little green heads to pop up out of the soil. (Some seeds,like parsley, take a longer, so be patient!) Once they immerge,remove the plastic wrap and remember to check every day to see ifthe soil is moist, but not too wet. As they grow, feed them once aweek with fish emulsion (a natural plant food). Talk and sing tothem too. Baby plants love that!

A Letter from Scotland

Dear Little Witches,

Imbolg is almost upon us and I hope you are seeing the firststirrings of spring wherever you are.

This is the Feast of Bridget, the Goddess of poetry, of crafts, offertility and of healing. We know this Goddess well in Scotlandand Ireland; she is the daughter of the great Dagda and sister to Angus Óg.

But in some old Scottish stories, she takes a different form and is not Angus’s sister, but his wife.It might be that these are two separate Goddesses of Spring and over time they’ve flowed intoone – or it may be the way that the Gods organise their personal lives is beyond the ken ofmortals and none of our business! Whatever it is, let me tell you a little about the ScottishGoddess, Bride.

In our old stories about Imbolg, Bride is kept captive by the Great Goddess of winter, theCailleach. As long as Bride is captive, it will always be winter. The land needs Bride’s return sothat spring can begin.

Angus Óg finds Bride and, with his help, she manages to escape from the Cailleach. After manyadventures they marry and rule the land in summer time. There’s a great story that, as she runsaway, Bride dips her finger in the river and this starts the ice melting. A few weeks later shedips the palms of her hands in the water and that’s when spring truly begins and the land wakesup. There’s a lovely Gaelic saying about this - Bride binn nam bas ban – Melodious Bride of thefair palms. Isn’t that pretty?

Snakes are also linked to Bride’s day, but I don’t think they are real snakes, not in cold, windyScotland. The earth has lines of energy, called ley lines, running all over it. These paths ofenergy are well-known and our ancestors liked to build stone circles or erect a megalith atimportant places where ley lines meet. We can still follow these lines of energy with apendulum or dowsing rods and walk the paths our ancestors did. Some lucky people canactually see these lines and they say that the lines move like a serpent. I think that’s reallyinteresting because another thing connected with Bride is this little charm that people used tosay:

Early on Bride’s mornThe serpent shall come from the hole,

I will not hurt the serpent,Nor will the serpent hurt me.

The adder is the only snake in Scotland now, though what slithered through many centuries agoI do not know. The adder is poisonous but it’s not going to come out when it is freezing cold still,no snake is. This pretty little charm is probably about praising the earth’s energy – the ley lines -as they awaken after their winter sleep and move through the earth again.

Folk in the past had a lot of really interesting ways of celebrating the return of Bride, somewere done by the grown-ups and others by the children. I bet you’d like to have joined in withthis one:

All the girls in a village made an image of Bride from corn or wheat stalks, whatever was leftafter the winter. Once the doll was made, they dressed her in the most beautiful clothes theycould make. Then they decorated her with the small flowers that still grow in the winter andwith stones, crystals and shells. Bride was as beautiful as the girls could make her. Once Bridewas dressed, they placed the prettiest stone or shell over Bride’s heart. This symbolised the fireof love in each of us and in Bride. The girls thendressed themselves all in white and brushed theirhair out loose.

Once all these preparations were completed, thegirls visited every house in the village and thevillagers were glad to see them bring the blessingsof Bride to their doors. They gave Bride gifts: shells,flowers, greenery – whatever they had. The womenof the house also gave Bride gifts of food: bannocks,cream, butter or cheese.

When all the houses had been visited, the girlsretreated to a chosen house and locked themselvesin. A beautiful bed would be made for Bride and allthe things collected for her would decorate the bed.The food collected was displayed on a table.

What about the boys?

Well, they were involved too but the first part of the Celebration of Bride was only for the girls.However, when the girls locked themselves away, the boys would gather outside the house andmake a bit of a pest of themselves asking to be let in. The girls and boys had a bit of to-ing andfro-ing with words and playful nonsense but eventually, the girls let the boys in. And then theyhad a big party that lasted all night, with much music, singing and dancing.

But one of the really nice things about the party is that the children did not pig out on all thefood they had collected – they only ate enough to satisfy their hunger. The rest of the food wasshared with the old people of the village the next morning and that was considered anotherBlessing of Bride for everyone.

The return of Bride was so important there were many, many ways to honour her. She broughtthe spring, she oversaw the lambing, she woke the land up so new crops could be sown and sheprotected women having babies too. When you lived on the land as closely as our ancestors did,it was important to honour the Gods and Goddesses of the land, the sea and the sky. Nonemore so than Bride who banished winter.

One way the grown-ups taught the children how to respect Bride was through the recital of herfamily. The knowing of who you are and where you come from is still very important in Celticsocieties and in earlier centuries no King or Queen of Scotland would be crowned without aDruid reciting their family line. Therefore, the children learned the family line of Bride and inturn, taught it to their children so that an important part of welcoming Bride – who becomesQueen of Summer at Beltane – was never forgotten:

This is the family line of our Blessed Bride,Radiant flame of gold, noble Queen of all,Bride, the daughter of Dougall the Brown,

Son of Aodh, son of Art, Son of Conn,Son of Crearar, Son of Sis,

Son of Carina, Son of Carruin.

Every day and every night thatI name the family of Bride,

I shall not be killed,I shall not be harried,

I shall not be hurt.Nor will Bride leave me in forgetfulness.

No fire, no sun, no moon shall burn me.No loch, no water, no sea shall drown me.

No arrow of fairy or dart of UnseelieShall wound me.

And I, under the protection ofMy Blessed Lady, flame to guide me,

My beloved Bride.

Whether you think Bride is different from Bridget or another part of the same Goddess, winteris starting to go away.

Imbolg blessings to you and enjoy La Bride breith an earraich – The Day of Bride, the birth dayof spring.

Till next time,

Fiona Tinker

Fiona in Scotland is having a birthday on Feb. 23. (Pooka has toremind her. Otherwise, she'll forget!)And, thanks to photos his Auntie Fiona has shared with him, Pookahas been able to watch the lovely and spirited Juliette grow up overthe years. On Jan. 30th, she'll be 11 years old. A great big HappyBirthday to you both!

Happy Birthday, Jack! Your mommy has been Pooka's friend since she was just a kid. He can'tbelieve you'll be 4 already on Feb. 10.The Young family had a huge splash of birthdays all at once! Little Arilyn turned 4 on Jan. 8, herbrother Daegan was 11 on Jan 26, her other brother Caelan will be 10 on Feb. 7 and both momand dad have birthdays during this time as well. That's a lot of birthday cake!Anna's daughter, Heather, wanted Pooka to know that her mom's birthday is Feb. 17. Heathersays her mom introduced her to the stories when she was little and now she reads them to herdaughter. Happy Birthday, Anna!Owen was 12 on January 15th and Lilliana (who looks a lot like Elsie) will be 5 on Feb. 28.Eris will be 9 on Feb. 22 and her little brother, Gwydian, turned 3 on Jan. 14. (Pooka knowswhat a wonderful big sister Eris is!)March 13 is Bodhi's birthday and Pooka's pretty sure the young Pagan Scouts he mentors willbe helping him to devour his cake!Satori will be 10 and 1/2 on Feb. 20th and, Luke, it's so cool that you'll be 12 on Feb 1. Imbolceve - What a special birthday!Kate is a big kid at heart and her birthday is Feb 22. Happy birthday, Kate!If anyone deserves to kick her heels up, it's Jaime! Her birthday is Feb. 10. Rowan was 5 on Jan.22 and his brother Milo will be 8 on March 11th. Happy birthday, boys!Austen will be 26 on Feb. 22 and Alexis L. will be 8 years old (and probably taking her collegeexams) on Feb 9. Logan... Wow. Ten years old on March 4!

A Baby Sun Candleby Hope Mayo

The baby Sun God sat up and stretched, rested and happy from a good night’s sleep. Thewoods around him blazed with sunlight as he ran, and by the time he came to a beautiful, calmpond in the middle of the forest, all the birds were singing their ‘good mornings’ to the sky. Heleaned carefully over the little pool, and saw that YES! Yes, his halo of sunlight had grownovernight! What yesterday was a pale candle flicker of fire above his head was now a blazinghalo of sunbeams. With a joyous cry, he ran off to show his Mother, the Earth Goddess. Soonhe would be big enough to bring the light of Spring back to the sleepy world, and throw backit’s heavy blanket of snow.

Imbolc is a celebration of the coming of Spring! It’s not here yet, but this time of year we canbegin to see the very first signs of it--from baby lambs soon to be born, to tiny green shootscreeping up from beneath the snow to watch the snowflakes fall and wait for warmer days toget bigger.

You can help the Baby Sun God grow stronger at Imbolc by lighting a candle to help him! Yourcandle’s flame will be a bright beacon to add strength to his halo of sunlight.

Baby Sun Strengthening Candle

You will need:

-A yellow, gold or white novena candle, or candle in a glass container (jar, candleholder or vase)-Printer paper or parchment-Tape-Glitter or small gemstones (for inside the candle)-Stickers, stick-on gems, and charms (for outside the candle)-A toothpick

Have an adult scratch sunbeam lines or petals into the top of the candle, to make the flamelook like a sun. When they are done, sprinkle fine or food-grade glitter onto the top of thecandle to make it extra shiny, and add tiny chips of pretty stones, being careful not too get tooclose to the wick, or it will smother the flame.

Print out our included picture and color it, using lots of yellow and other bright colors. Put a bitof tape on one edge. Wrap it around your candle (be sure it’s a candle in a vase, holder, or jar,we don’t want to do this with a bare candle!). Secure the picture with tape and decorate withstickers and stick-on gems to make it shine!

Have an adult light the candle, and watch as the glitter shines, making the flame look evenbigger! You can say an encouragement to the Baby Sun God as well, to help him see your flame!

Baby Sun Cheer:

Under snow’s blanket,The land calls out for you

“Baby sun, Baby sun, so precious and so new!”“Our seeds need warmth, our animals too

What are we to do?!!”Take this flame, O Baby Sun, and with the morning dew

Bring the spring, to warm bird’s wingsAnd little lambies too!”

You can light the candle whenever you want to encourage the sun to be brighter and warmer!

The Last Imbolc Snowflake

by Mommawitch Carmen

The last Imbolc snowflake was happy as could be,

Floating along in the sky, dancing happily.

He felt the sun come out and knew it was getting warm.

So he prayed to the God and Goddess for a cold, snowy storm.

But the God and Goddess knew that Imbolc was coming to an end.

They felt a little sad for their icy, snowflake friend.

Through sobbing tears he sadly said, "I don't want to fall, I want to just keep flying!"

And then that precious snowflake, well he just could not stop crying.

He was falling faster now as the sun kept rising high.

The God and Goddess said, "Precious snowflake, you don't have to cry."

"Let yourself fall, and don't be afraid to float down."

"Another life awaits you when you fall to the ground."

"You will blanket mother earth and keep her from being cold,"

"As her buds push through the warming ground, nature's beauty will unfold."

"Just know that you, a single snowflake, can make a difference and it is ok to fall!"

"You are helping to add a spring carpet of flowers to be enjoyed by one and all."

Sabbat Symbols - Guess What or Who I AmThe Passing of Winter to get Ready for Spring

by MommaWitch Carmen

Imbolc is celebrated on the 2nd of February in the northern hemisphere and to those of uswho live here it is celebrated as the time between winter and spring. Imbolc is a festival of fireand light and we honor the Goddess Bridgid. It is also a time of looking forward to winter's endand new life in the animal kingdom.

Imbolc comes from a Gaelic word for “sheep’s milk” also and this is the time that sheepand cows are having their first babies and they are ready to be nourished by their mother's milk.As we look forward to winter's end and light our candles for the sun's continued warmth, thereis another holiday celebrated on Imbolc - Groundhog Day, which is a seasonal ritual todetermine how soon winter will end. I think it is a perfect and fun way to celebrate Imbolc.

It comes from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from itsburrow on this day and sees a shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winterwill last for six more weeks. If the groundhog does not see its shadow, due to cloudiness, springwill arrive early.

I am particularly fond of this tradition as it began in the state I live in. Every February 2nd,in the small town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, a strange tradition is honored. A group ofmen wearing top hats (no one knows why) put a groundhog on a log in front of hundreds ofpeople and everyone patiently waits for it to notice or not notice its own shadow.

The only way we really know if this little, furry, seasonal forecaster is pointing us in theright direction is when we see the tiny buds pushing up through Mother Earth. This is nature'sway of saying, "Farewell Winter God, the Spring Goddess is about to return."

Now it is time for you remember what you have learned about Imbolc today. So many waysto celebrate by learning, coloring and play. Color your groundhog and give it a name, then getready to unlock the codes below. And enjoy the days of Imbolc, be they cloudy, sunny or whitewith snow. Blessed Be your Imbolc celebration of warmth, light and a bit of groundhog folklorefun.

Pooka's friend, Emilie will turn 5 on March 1. Pooka has so enjoyed watching Emilie grow upand now she's getting so big!Zoe Artimis will be 2 years old on March 7th, the day before her mommy's birthday. What anawesome celebration that will be!Emma's birthday is on March 4 and MaryLou will be 50 years young on Imbolc!On Feb 4, William will be 4 years old. On March 3, Trinity will be 8 and Jordan will be 10 on the13th of March. Pooka's friend, Jan, will be celebrating her birthday on March 3.Taran will be 6 years old on Feb. 20 and Luna will turn 6 on March 7. Happy Birthday, kids!Aoife will be 10 on March 14. Kyrie is turning 17 on Feb. 6 and Alexis...Wow! Nine years old onMarch 7th.Hope was 14 on Jan. 31. Do you know how much that is in Kitty Years? Pooka bows beforeyour Great Wisdom!Atlas will be 4 years strong on March 6 and, on Feb. 18, the adorable Rose will turn 3. Gabriel isgoing to be 4 on Feb. 13 which, according to Pooka's Auntie Fiona, is the proper "old school"date for Imbolc. That's pretty cool!

Seth, you're getting pretty old. Pooka hears you'll be 5 on March 15. And Debbie will be just alittle older....59 on March 2.Hope turns 12 on Feb. 20 and Dax will be 10 years old on March 4.Damien...pretty cool. You'll be 8 on March 5 and Justine turns 5 yearsold on Feb. 24. Taryn will be 12 on Imbolc eve. That's a lot of Imbolccandles, Taryn!Frida will be 11 on Feb. 9 and young Amelie will be 6 on March 12.Galicia turns 55 on Feb. 25th Jayce will be one year old on Jan. 31.Taj will be 6 on March 10 and Evelyn... 6 years old on Feb. 9. HappyBirthday, kids!Tyler Allen turns 12 on Feb. 7 and Diederick be 11 on Feb. 23. OnMarch 15, Sarah Bear will be 11. You guys are all getting so old!And on Feb. 19, Pooka Pages artist Katherine Sunderland will be 37.

WitchCraftsSalt Dough Crafts

by Amber

Two of the symbols of Imbolc are candles and sheep. However, noteveryone can go see sheep and candles have a tendency to melt away.So for this issue, we will be making candles and sheep out of saltdough. You can ask a grown up to help with these crafts.

Salt Dough Recipe: Mix together2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, ¾ cup water and 1 tablespoon oil.Make what it is that you want. Bake for 3 hours at 200˚F. Let it sit overnight before painting.

Candles That Last

To make “candles” that last, take some of your salt dough and roll it into a cylinder or snake.Flatten the ends and put a toothpick in one of the ends to be the “wick.” Bake as instructed.Once it has set overnight you can add decorations.

Cut out a flame and glue it to the toothpick. You can make a flame out of copy paper,construction paper and even colored tissue paper. You can paint the candle any color you wantand you can add little drops of wax by using hot glue.

Cute Little Sheep

The sheep were made by making an ovalshape (the body) and a ball (the head).Insert a toothpick into one end of the ovalthis will help to hold the head on. Nowput the head on the end of the toothpickthat sticks out of the body. Lay the sheepon its back and insert toothpicks orbamboo skewer pieces for its legs. If itstarts to get flat on its back don’t fret, justput it in the oven for 30 minutes then

remove and let cool. Once cool flip the sheep over on to its feet and put some more dough ontheir backs and make it rounded. Put the sheep back into the oven for the remainder of thetime. Once they have sat overnight you can draw on faces and add cotton to make it wooly. Tomake it look like it has wool: take a cotton ball and unroll it; then put a little white glue on thesheep and tear off pieces of cotton to put on it.

Elsie was getting the altar ready for Imbolc.

She put a wreath of flowers and candles on it

then went to get some incense. Pooka

jumped onto the altar and saw a perfect spot to

sleep. He knocked the candles off and lay on the

flowers. Elsie came back with the

incense. "Get down, Pooka." She picked up

the candles and fluffed the flowers that

Pooka had squished. Then she went to get a bowl

of milk. When she returned, Pooka was

sleeping on the flowers again. Elsie

sighed, put down the milk and went to get a little

plate of cheese and butter.

Pooka woke up and saw the milk. He drank it and fell

asleep again. Elsie came back with the cheese and

butter. She saw the empty bowl and the

sleeping cat. Once more, she sighed and took the

bowl to get more milk. Pooka woke and

saw the cheese and butter. Oh good! A snack. He

ate it all and went back to sleep. Elsie came back

with the milk and saw the empty plate. She picked

up the plate and went to get more cheese and

butter. When she returned, Pooka woke up.

He yawned and asked: "Are we ready to start the ritual yet?

What's taking you so long?"