A little about Blackberries
The common blackberry, Rubus allegheniensis, and the American Blackberry, R. villosus are also called Brambleberry and Brummel.
Blackberries are often associated with the sabbats of Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Mabon.
They are sacred to the Goddesses Brigid, Danu, Freya, and Hathor. The Gods that correspond to these yummy berries are Bacchus, Dionysus, Dagda, Manannan, Osiris, and Poseidon.
Metaphysically blackberries are often used to help with attachments, death, envy, communication, fertility, grounding, growth, healing, harmony, happiness, peace, intuition, luck, clearing the mind, abundance and prosperity, protection, connecting to the fae or spirits, and inner purification.
Blackberries for Protection
These little fruits grow on bramble bushes, which are with thick sharp pointy thorns. I can promise you that those thorns serve as a very effective protection for those precious berries!
When blackberries are used in magic (or in meals with intention – wink, wink) they lend that protectiveness to all those who partake of them.
Blackberry Crumble Recipe
In honor of Imbolc and Brigid we found a yummy recipe you are sure to enjoy!
Ingredients
- 12 ounces blackberries fresh or frozen, about 3 cups
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour or all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 pinch sea salt
Instructions
First, remember to set your Intention!
- Preheat the oven to 375.
- Prepare an 8 inch square or 9 inch round pan by lining it with parchment.
- Place the berries in the lined pan.
- Next, place the butter, sugar, oats, flour, cinnamon, and salt in a medium sized bowl. Stir vigorously until the ingredients have formed into small clumps. At this point, there should be no loose flour or sugar in the bowl and no visible bits of butter.
- Using the back of the fork, compact the mixture firmly into the bowl until it sticks together in one large clump. Then, use the tines of the fork to gently break it into clumps of various sizes- some large, some small. Carefully tip the bowl sideways over the pan of berries and use the fork to scoot the clumps out of the bowl evenly over the top of the berries.
- Place the pan in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Let cool until just slightly warm so that the topping can firm up properly.
- Serve with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and Enjoy!
Notes:
- To make a blackberry crumble that serves 10-12, double the quantities of all the ingredients and bake in a 2 quart casserole dish or a 13 by 9 baking pan.
- Gluten free: Substitute your favorite gluten free baking flour. (I have used at least 4 different gluten free flour mixes and they all worked fine.)
We hope that you are able to bake up something awesome for your Imbolc Celebration and to Honor Brigid too.
Check out our article on the Herbs and Oils for Candlemas / Imbolc for other ideas for this holiday!
Many Blessings, Tribe!