It's Yule Time

It's Yule time and that means snow, holly and mistle-toe. But do you know what else?

Lesser Sabbat – Winter Solstice, circa Dec 21

Other Names:
Jul (“wheel”, Old Norse), Saturnalia(Rome ~December 17 & 18), Yuletide(Teutonic), Midwinter, Fionn’s Day, Alban huan, Christmas (Christian~December 25), Xmas, Festival of Sol, Solar/Secular/Pagan New Year

Animals/Mythical beings:
yule goat (nordic), reindeer stag, squirrels, yule cat, Sacred White Buffalo, Kallikantzaroi-ugly chaos monsters(greek), trolls, phoenix, yule elf, jule gnome, squirrels, wren/robin

Gemstones:
cat’s eye, ruby, diamond, garnet, bloodstone

Incense/Oils:
bayberry, cedar, ginger, cinnamon, pine, rosemary, frankincense, myrrh, nutmeg, wintergreen, saffron

Colors:
gold, silver, red, green, white

Tools,Symbols, & Decorations:
bayberry candles, evergreens, holly, mistletoe, poinsettia,mistletoe, lights, gifts, Yule log, Yule tree. spinning wheels, wreaths, bells, mother & child images

Goddesses:
Great Mother, Befana (strega), Holda (teutonic), Isis(egyptian), Triple Goddess, Mary(christian), Tonazin(mexican), Lucina(roman), St. Lucy (swedish),Bona Dea (roman), Mother Earth, Eve(Hebrew), Ops(roman Holy Mother), the Snow Queen, Hertha (German), Frey (Norse)

Gods:
Sun Child, Saturn(rome), Cronos (Greek), Horus/Ra(egyptian), Jesus(christian-gnostic), Mithras(persian), Balder(Norse), Santa Claus/Odin(teutonic), Holly King, Sol Invicta, Janus(God of Beginnings), Marduk (Babylonian)Old Man Winter

Essence:
honor, rebirth, transformation, light out of darkness, creative inspiration, the mysteries, new life, regeneration, inner renewal, reflection/introspection

Dynamics/Meaning:
death of the Holly (winter) King; reign of the Oak (summer) King), begin the ordeal of the Green Man, death & rebirth of the Sun God; night of greatest lunar imbalance; sun’s rebirth; shortest day of year

Purpose:
honor the Triple Goddess, welcome the Sun Child

Rituals/Magicks:
personal renewal, world peace, honoring family & friends, Festival of light, meditation

Customs:
lights, gift-exchanging, singing, feasting, resolutions, new fires kindled, strengthening family & friend bonds, generosity, yule log, hanging mistletoe, apple wassailing, burning candles, Yule tree decorating; kissing under mistletoe; needfire at dawn vigil; bell ringing/sleigh-bells; father yule

Foods:
nuts, apple, pear, caraway cakes soaked with cider, pork, orange, hibiscus or ginger tea, roasted turkey, nuts, fruitcake, dried fruit, cookies, eggnog, mulled wine

Herbs:
blessed thistle, evergreen, moss, oak, sage, bay, bayberry, cedar, pine, frankincense, ginger, holly, ivy, juniper, mistletoe, myrrh, pinecones, rosemary, chamomile, cinnamon, valarion, yarrow

Element:
earth

Threshold:
dawn

Get out and enioy this beautiful time of year.

Blessed Be

Grayce

The Snow Moon making her appearance

Today the Moon is a 7% Waxing Crescent. When it is full (approximately November 9th) it is known as the Snow Moon. Also known as the Beaver Moon or Tree Moon.

It is a good time for workings for abundance, prosperity as well as bonding with your loved ones. It is also a time for divination to see what is to come. Remember that Winter is coming, but as with all things, the cold and darkness will not last forever.

In days past, it was of great importance to prepare and store crops and meats for the coming winter. Now with the convenience of super markets this is not as important. But if you had a harvest from your garden, now is a time to store those properly.

Hopefully next year, I will have a great harvest from my newly planted garden.

With or without a garden it is time to prepare for the cold months ahead. Check your house and vehicle for winter safety. Make sure you unhook all water spickets and roll up hoses and store for winter. Also protect trees and scrubs by wrapping them with proper tree wrap. It is also time to replace your filter on your furnace for winter use. If you have exposed pipes in the basement, it might be a good idea to wrap those too, so they don't burst.

As for the car, make sure your tires are in good working order, if not it is a good time to replace them. Also add de-icing windshield washer fluid for those icy mornings and check those wipers, replace if needed. And don't forget to check your antifreeze.

As for ritual, it is a good time to cast a spell for a safe winter for you, your family and your house.

When all this is done, sit back and enjoy the cooler nights and wait for that falling snow.

Blessed Be

Grayce

A visit from the Snow Faery

Today we were treated by a visit from the Snow Faeries!

First snow of the season.

I'd like to introduce you to some Snow Faeries:

"We are the Winter Faeries. We contain the ancient energies of all winter beings. While most creatures are in slumber, we are awake and walk quietly amidst the snow. We are elves, gnomes, gossamer winged fairies, Unicorns, Pegasus, pixies, hobgoblins, and animal totems. You see, we inhabit the Faery Realm but come out of our realm and into yours when there is a deep silence upon your world. Such times include the "fairy hour" of 3:00 AM; the times when snow is falling quietly and humans are staying warm inside of their homes; and when a strong storm appears we float amongst the air and over the frozen life on Gaia. If you encounter us amidst these times, you may see us as ORBS of light or in full "faery form". We have a deep warmth within us that keeps us warm no matter how cold the "outer" world may appear to be. We are unaffected by weather, as we ARE the weather itself. We come to you today merely to say "Hello".



Oh! the snow, the beautiful snow,
Filling the sky and earth below,
Over the housetops, over the street,
Over the heads of the people you meet.
Dancing, Flirting, Skimming along.
(J.W.Watson)

There is so much information about the Faery or Fae out there, may I recommend you take a look. Since I am Irish, I would recommend you start with Irish Lore, here, but there are many stories and accounts of Faeries, you will have to find what right for you.

Blessed Be

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