Though I live in Texas, the short window of time where it actually feels like winter and we have access to snow and ice is magickal nonetheless. Of course, I'm all for cozying up in my favorite sweatshirt and blanket by the fire, but at the same time, I deeply love the quiet, peaceful, and cleansing magick of snow during the death season of the year.
What is winter magick?
Winter magick is a seasonally based practice centered around the "death" portion of the year and the tools that are readily available, such as snow, ice, frost, etc.
During this season, the days are shorter and nights longer, inviting reflection and inner work. It's a time for spells focused on protection, healing, and endurance, drawing upon the stillness to foster clarity and insight. The energy of winter aligns with the themes of rest and renewal, making it perfect for setting intentions for the coming year. Rituals that harness the power of the earth's dormancy can help in shedding old habits and preparing for rebirth in the spring. Winter's quietude also supports divination practices, allowing practitioners to tap into deeper wisdom.
What are some simple ways I can embrace winter magick?
With Snow
Make Snow Water — Collect fresh snow, let it melt, and charge it under the moonlight. Use this water for purification rituals, as water for painting or creating art, as an offering in your magickal practices, or whatever you might traditionally use moon water for.
Take a Cleansing Snow Bath — Collect snow and add it to a ritual bath with the intention of melting away anything that is no longer serving you. If it is actively snowing outside, you can also stand in the flurries and visualize the snowflakes carrying away anything that is no longer serving you to its final resting place on the ground.
Create Snow Sigils — Draw sigils in the snow with a stick or your finger. Focus on your intention as you create each symbol and visualize the energy being absorbed by the snow.
Make Food with Snow — Use snow melted into water if you're cooking or baking OR make snow cream (similar to ice cream but made with fresh snow, milk, vanilla, sugar, and salt all mixed together). Food made with snow can symbolize sustenance during the winter season, an abundance of food and wealth, and internalizing the energy of rebirth, purification, and peace.
With Ice
Perform an Ice Meditation — Gather ice from outside and hold it in your hand while meditating on its transformation from solid to liquid. Set your intentions on strengthening your own ability to change and adapt in life.
Do an Ice Ritual — Write down anything you wish to release during the death season on slips of paper and place them outside (while it's freezing temps) in a jar of water to freeze overnight. Set your intentions throughout the evening on what you're releasing turning to ice, freezing them in time, unable to affect you in the future.
With Frost
Cast a Frost Spell — Cast a spell based on your intentions outdoors in the cold air so that you can see your frosty breath. Visualize your intentions dispersing into the universe as your breath vanishes once again.
Make Frost Sigils — Draw sigils in the frost on the windows around your own home to protect it through the weather, the winter season, or whatever your specific intentions are.
Other Winter Symbols and Tools
Pinecones — Symbolizing longevity and wisdom, pinecones can be used in spells for protection and prosperity.
Holly — Known for its protective qualities, holly can be incorporated into charms or wreaths to ward off negativity.
Evergreen Branches — Representing eternal life and resilience, these branches are ideal for creating altars or decorations that invite strength and renewal.
Cinnamon — Often associated with warmth and abundance, cinnamon can be burned as incense or added to potions for prosperity.
Ginger — Adding ginger to rituals can invoke energy and stimulate action, perfect for overcoming winter lethargy.
Crystals — Stones like clear quartz for clarity, garnet for grounding, and hematite for protection are powerful allies during the winter months.
Get creative! Magick requires the practitioner to tap into creative, raw energy—so if you have a word, idea, or picture come to you for how you can use frost, ice, or snow in your craft—do it!