Today my Green Man was a decidedly unhealthy shade of green and was off work and so the day seemed to go at its own pace and take its own path. Leaving my books and writing aside for a while I decided to have a baking afternoon and work some magic in the kitchen. Imbolc has been very inspiring for me this year, full of creative ideas and hope for the future and I wasn’t quite ready to let those energies pass. Cooking has always been a magical pursuit for me…when I’m tuned into the right energy, relaxed and maybe even in a slightly meditative state, cooking is a good way to tap into the seasons. I have always celebrated the wheel of the year through food and in recent years I’m pleased to admit that I’ve made my own traditions to pass onto future family. I make blackcurrant jam in August, Harvest Moon Cake in September, toffee apple muffins in October, sloe gin in November, Kringle and mulled cider in December, Beltane bread in May and so the list goes on…
I honoured Imbolc and Brigid today in a subtle way. I baked a honey and ginger cake, filled with winter spices as a nod to the winter and then a victoria sandwich sponge as an early reminder of the warmer seasons to come (I always equate victoria sandwich with the spring and summer, picnics and afternoon tea in the garden).
And so, I suppose the Cailleach and the young maiden both got their cake this afternoon as the seasons hung in the balance on this silent and grey day in February. I’ll leave a little of each under my oak tree in the garden as an offering to say thank you for this peaceful afternoon; that timeless moment as the baking smells permeated the house and I felt a special kinship with my gran (the baker extraordinaire!) who may just have been smiling through the veil.
Yummy! This looks amazing! =D
Many thanks for the feedback! I got back into the house after being out most of the afternoon and only a small piece was left so I think it went down well with the man of the house and a few others too…