Punxsutawney Phil

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Note: This article was originally published by @gritchenwitch on Instagram. To learn about me and my practice, including more info on folk witchcraft, mountain magic, knot work, and hearthcraft, please visit gritchenwitch.com or join my Patreon at patreon.com/gritchenwitch.

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If you’re interested in hearing some wild-ass folklore, let me tell you about Punxsutawney Phil.🌲

Groundhog Day originated in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and is based on Celtic tradition that states if an animal casts a shadow on Imbolc, winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow is seen, spring will come early. Punxsutawney Phil, a local groundhog (there is only one!), has been predicting the weather since 1886. He lives so long by drinking groundhog punch.

Every year on February 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil awakens from his burrow on Gobbler's Knob (yep) and is helped to his stump by the Inner Circle, a group of dignitaries dressed in tuxedos and top hats. The President of the Inner Circle can fortunately speak Groundhogese and interprets Phil’s message for the crowd. Yesterday, Phil predicted six more weeks of winter as we hunker down for an ice storm.

Since I’m 100% a Pennsylvania girl, I made sure to include a mini Phil on my altar (swipe to zoom). I didn’t do a full tour this round since everything is kind of in transition, but here are some of the correspondences I’ve added since last time:

-Mini Phil
-White and green candles (and white and green flowers) for purity and life
-Hyacinth bulb
-My 8-pointed star cross stitch for renewal
-Snow for the passage of winter
-My new floofy witch’s ladder
-Honey and sun candle for solar energy

I also have crystals and small items in a general arrangement for protection (obsidian, black tourmaline, clear quartz), which is my main focus right now.