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Yule is celebrated at the winter solstice which can occur between December 20th and the 23rd in the Northern Hemisphere. It marks the longest night of the year bringing about the promise of the returning strength of the sun. This Sabbat is celebrated with much joy as the Sun God, otherwise known as the Oak King, is reborn upon the next morning.
Some of the traditions known to Yule include the battle of the Oak and Holly Kings. The Holly King reigns over the dark half of the year and the Oak King reigns over the light half. During many Yule celebrations one can witness the reenactment of this duel between these two aspects of the God. The Oak King defeats the Holly King within battle taking his rightful place upon the throne until the return of the Holly King at Midsummer.
Another tradition (and my personal favorite) is wassailing. Wassail is a traditional Yule beverage which contains cloves, cinnamon, apples, and oranges. It’s a cider which one can either create with or without alcohol. My top choices for alcohol would be spiked cider, mead, or wine. However, rum and whiskey would be a close second. Below, is one such recipe for Wassail.
Other traditions include decorating the home with holly and ivy. This was thought to appease the Nature Sprites and create an inviting atmosphere for them to celebrate as well. Within my own tradition, we cast a sprig of holly upon the fire created from the Yule log and make a wish. The Yule log is traditionally made from Ash. It is said that the log must never be bought but should be either harvested from the land of the owner or given as a gift. Before setting it afire, the log is decorated with holly and other greenery, sprinkled with cider, and then dusted with flour or the ash from the previous Yule log.
Modern practitioners of the Craft and Paganism tend to use the Yule log as a base to hold three candles. These candles can be white, gold and silver, red and green, or representative of deities. The base of the log is then decorated with ivy, holly, berries, and other decorations for the season.
Many may recognize these symbols of Yule being represented within the Christian holiday of Christmas. These symbols include decorating a tree for the home as well as using holly, ivy, and mistletoe. Even Santa Claus, reindeer, and gifting presents are linked to Pagan roots. Below are some correspondences associated with Yule for your next ritual!
Symbolism: Yule Tree, Yule Log, Rebirth, Darkness and Light, Wassail, Holly and Oak King
Yule is about celebrating the Sun’s long journey back towards the Earth. During the time leading up to Yule, it’s a good idea to do some deep cleaning and de-cluttering, followed by a cleansing ritual so you have a fresh space to celebrate.
Before Yule - A time for preparation
Knit or sew new clothes
Prepare for winter
Store food and herbs for winter use
Take in potted plants and harvest the last of your herbs
Arts & Crafts
Make stove top potpourri
Make witch balls and hang them around your home or on a tree
Make a wreath using herbs that correspond with your intent (peace, happiness, prosperity, etc)
Use birch branches to craft a besom
Cleaning & Cleansing
As you do any cleaning, visualize removing all of the negative energy from your life
Clean your bathroom – scrub toilets, wipe down counters, clean out the bathtub
Clean your mirrors
Clean your windows
Finish all your cleaning with a good smoke cleanse using sage, sweetgrass, pine needles or mistletoe, along with your other favorite herbs. Start at the front door and move the incense around the doors and windows of every room, following the lines of the walls.
Get rid of all the extra clutter in your house
Replace your home’s air filter
Sprinkle carpets and rugs with baking soda and vacuum, making sure you move all your furniture to get underneath. Vacuum walls, baseboards, ceiling fans and all the other hard-to-reach places
Use a broom to sweep up dirt
Cooking
Bake and cook with family and friends, blessing the food with intent of prosperity and happiness
Brew cider infused with herbs and fruit that correspond with prosperity and happiness
Cook a feast of wintery foods
Decorating
Add comfy white pillows filled with herbs to your sofa for a sacred space to meditate
Decorate your tree and bless all of your ornaments
Hang golden suns around your house to welcome back the sun
Hang mistletoe for love and protection
Hang a sprig of holly in the house for good luck and safety
Leave out birdseed ornaments
Light lots of candles to symbolize bringing light back into your life
Spell-casting & Divination
Cast spells for peace, introspection, wishes and new beginnings.
Do a winter solstice tarot spread for yourself
Cast spells for light, purification, renewal and rebirth
Divination centered around messages and omens
Other Activities
Burn a Yule log in honor of the sun, and toss in a sprig of holly to burn away the troubles of the past year. note: use only a small amount of holly if burning indoors, as the fumes are toxic
Give gifts
Go carolling
Make holly water by soaking the leaves overnight in spring water under the full moon
Play in the snow and collect some to use in spells
Take a walk under the full moon and record any important thoughts or visions you receive
Tie up any loose ends in your life
Volunteer in your community or donate old belongings
Write about your reflections of the past year and what your goals are that you’d like to achieve by the end of the coming year. Bless the page with motivation and love.
Gather small tools for a mini ritual kit if you’re going to be away from home this season.
Cleanse your house with Yulecentric scents like citrus fruits, frankincense, pine needles, cedar, sandalwood, juniper berries, etc…
Craft a wreath and weave your intent into it.
Tis’ the season of flu and colds; brush up on your herbal remedy knowledge.
Consider making a special Yule dinner for a pet (before giving them ANY food they don’t usually have, ensure to research whether it is safe for them to eat.
Explore the world of clay crafts; make decorations with protective intent, carve sigils into them.
If you don’t have clay at hand, salt dough is the next best thing. Explore creating ornaments with herbs baked into them for extra magical zing.
Consider environmentally friendly routes of doing your wrapping this year. I’ve often wrapped a gift within another gift. (for example, wrapping an ornament up in a blanket)
If you can’t afford to donate to homeless shelters or any charity of your choice, do volunteer work. Nonprofit organizations are always short-staffed this season.
Create new traditions. Tell stories, insist on weird party games before opening gifts. It’s the small things that your family will remember fondly for years to come.
If you are alone this season, don’t isolate yourself any more than you need to. Look out for events going on in your area. Have a good phone call with a friend. Settle down and watch your favourite film. There’s no reason to force yourself to wallow.
Hotlines are there for a reason. If you need to, use them.
Get your research game on; learn the history of Yule!
Don’t stop there. Search the winter traditions of all cultures and faiths. They can inspire you with new ideas for your own practice.
Practise an old tradition you wouldn’t usually have considered.
Mourn the loss of the sun on the longest day… yet celebrate too, as he returns sooner than you think :)
Yule is a great time to pay homage to work with earth and fire alongside each other in balance. If you’re lacking a meaningful connection to either of these signs, now is the time to make that bond!
Pay homage to the tale of the Holly King and the Oak King by hanging both above your fireplace.
By Tess Whitehurst - October 31st is not just Halloween. It’s also Samhain: an ancient sabbat and powerful point on the wheel of the year.
Divinatory and protective practices connected with this time abound, as does lore about the realm of the dead and the realm of the Fae.
Here are 10 such beliefs:
Spirits and fairies walk among us - At Samhain, the veil between the worlds lifts, which means all usually unseen creatures are free to dwell in our human realm.
Dressing up like an animal or a fearsome creature may trick the fairies into not kidnapping you - If you would prefer not to be kidnapped by a fairy, this gives you one more reason to dress up for Halloween.
Jack-O-Lanterns help guide lost spirits to the light - No matter what vegetable was employed to create Jack-O-Lanterns (they were originally made from things like turnips and beets), their flickering light was said to guide trapped or gloomy spirits into a brighter and happier realm.
A bonfire will protect you from unfriendly fairies and ghosts - As such, many ancient peoples in the British Isles lit a bonfire in the center of town, at the edges of crops, and near their homes.
Thoroughly cleaning and tidying your home will help welcome in beloved deceased ancestors and friends - Burn some sweetgrass and copal incense afterwards for extra magical power.
Two sticks of rowan tied together to form an equal-armed cross will protect you from fairies - Red thread is apparently the best thing with which to tie them.
A bat in your house means a ghost got in - On Samhain, a bat in the house means at least one ghost is probably in there too.
Two nuts, thrown in a fire, can provide romantic insight - First, name the nuts after yourself and your partner. Then throw them in the Samhain fire. If they burn brightly, expect a happy relationship. If they don’t ignite, it’s a sign of future unhappiness. Or if they jump apart, separation (or at least acrimony) may be in your future.
A pair of shoes over a house on Samhain will reveal future travel plans - In short, you’ll know by the direction the toes are pointing.
Seeing a spider on Samhain means you have a loyal ally in the realm of the dead. Whether it’s a friend, a close family member, or a more ancient ancestor, seeing a spider is a message that someone on the other side is looking out for you.
make a cup of tea/coffee and leave it on your porch, on your windowsill, or by the fire for a night. sprinkle coffee grounds or tea leaves outside your home.
☾ beer or wine
leave a small chalice of wine/beer at your altar or by your door.
☾ breads or baked sweets
when eating at the table, leave an offering of bread on a plate and leave a seat open for spirits.
☾ apples or pears
cut an apple in half; eat half and leave the other half outside your home to share a blessing with the departed.
☾ flowers, or a pretty leaf arrangement
arrange some fall leaves outside (or in a cemetery) into a mosaic or nice design to pay respects to the earth spirits. make some dandelion wishes to spread their seeds; dandelions are known to call spirits.
☾ honey or pollen
buy some local honeycomb at a farmer’s market and place a small piece by the grave of a loved one or ancestor.
☾ incense or candles
light some incense at your altar or on your front porch and meditate on the smoke curling and rising to share a moment with the departed.
Samhain will be here before you know it. Sometimes referred to as “The Witches New Year” it is, not only a time that’s believed to be when the veil between our world and the afterlife is at it’s thinnest, but also a time to reflect on the past year and look to the future.
Let this spread be a guide as you prepare yourself for the cold and dark months ahead.
Card 1 : Your Past
This card represents all you’ve learned and experience this past year (since last Samhain). Let this be a reminder to you of how far you’ve come.
Card 2 : Your Future Love Life
Will you have one? Is it important? What should you be focusing on in your relationship in the new year? These are all questions that this card can answer for you.
Card 3 :Your Future Work
This card will represent your career for the coming new year. Whether this be to help you figure out any doubts you have about a new career path or promotion, or if how you can better improve your current work ethic / attitude. Let this card help you figure out where you’re trying to head [in your career] in the new year.
Card 4 : Your Present
What are you still dealing with right now? This card will help you better understand where you’re at in this moment so that you’ll better understand how to get to where you want to be.
Card 5 : Your Future Self
Let this card be a guide for your coming new year. Allow it to represent where you need to be in the future, as far as self and self-love goes.
**feel free to print this out and add it to your tarot journal, BoS, Grimoire or whatever sort of notebook system you use**
After so many of you enjoyed the low-energy ways to celebrate Samhain and Yule, I have decided to continue this little series for everyone who just doesn’t have the energy or time for big celebrations and rituals. Remember that your path is exactly that: only yours. Your practice isn’t worth less or means less just because it might be different to the ways others are able to celebrate. Have a blessed Imbolc my dear friends.
-Honey purifies and stands for beauty and prosperity, so you might want to stir an extra spoon in your morning tea or enjoy it on a nice piece of toast.
- Imbolc is a good time for beauty and selfcare magic and another way to benefit from the honey would be to mix it with some oats and milk and apply it as a face mask. Do something nice for yourself, maybe even draw some sigils onto yourself while applying it.
- Today we want to invoke the sun, brightness and happiness and invite them in our home. Citrus fruits represent just this. You might put some lemon in your water, snack on an orange or get yourself some sweet lemonade.
- Take a nice bath and try to use the time in there to reflect. What do you want in your life from this moment on? What brings you hapiness? A good idea would be bath additives with flowery or fresh scents, like lavender, roses or other flowers you enjoy.
- Imbolc is about celebrating light and the sun, so watching thesunrisewould be a nice way to start the day. If you can’t make it up early, you might want to watch a video of a sunrise or light a nice candle to welcome the sun’s returning.
- Integrate flowers in your day. It can be something that takes a little more time like planting some flowers in nice pots or your garden, but it may also be as simple as wearing clothes with a floral pattern, apply nail stickers with flowers on them or wear any colorful jewelry that might remind you of flowers.
The Winter Solstice and longest night of the year. Yule is a Sabbat for celebrating the Oak King’s rebirth, transformation, reflection, and mysteries. Gift exchanges, feasting, and wreath making are common ways to celebrate. Kiss under the mistletoe for good luck.
Popular Symbols for this holiday are mistletoe, poinsettia, wreaths, bells, holly, evergreens, reindeer, and a Yule Log.
Color Associations - Red, Green, White, Blue, Yellow
Tarot Cards associated with Yule are The Sun and Judgement.
Crystals to use on your altar or for spells on this holiday could be Bloodstone, Emerald, Quartz, Garnet, Peridot, Tiger’s Eye, Ruby, Topaz, Rose Quartz, Diamond.
Animal energies to channel could include bears, reindeer,
Spells good to perform on this holiday are those for New Starts, Blessings, Peace, Harmony, Luck, Wealth, Love, Happiness
Activities to help get in the Yule spirit and celebrate are participating in a gift exchange, caroling, decorating the yule tree and burning the yule log, kissing under the mistletoe for luck. Baking, cooking, and feasting with friends and family are great activities. Hand making decorations for the tree or even a wreath. Wassailing the trees.
The last of three harvesting Sabbats; Samhain is a time when the veil is at it’s thinnest. DIvination and communication with the spirits comes more easily. Feasts are a common way to celebrate this holiday. As the Witch’s New Year it comes at the last harvest and the start of the darker time of year.
Divination, communicating with spirits, and lighting a candle for those who’ve passed on are ways to celebrate. Having a Dumb Supper is another popular practice. Leave out milk and honey for the fae and other offerings for the dead.
Popular Symbols for this holiday are Apples, Gourds, Pomegranate, Acorns, Pumpkins
Color Associations - Black, White, Orange, Purple, Gold, Silver
Tarot Cards associated with Samhain are The High Priestess, The Magician, The Hanged Man, Death
Crystals to use on your altar or for spells on this holiday could be Amber, Ametrine, Apophylite, Bloodstone, Calcite, Carnelian, Dragon’s Blood Jasper, Hag Stone, Jet, Obsidian, Smoky Quartz
Animals energies to channel could include Blackbirds, Eagles, Wild Goose, Owl, Salmon, Wolf
Herbs and Plants - Apple and Bay Leaf, Almond, Calendula, Cedar, Fern, Heather, Marigold, Mugwort, Patchouli, Sage
Spells good to perform on this holiday are those for banishings, blessings, seeking clarity, guidance or protection, releasing, and divination.
Activities to help get in the Samhain spirit and celebrate could include setting up an altar for your ancestors. Make a besom. Light a bonfire. Learn about a past life. Maybe recreate family traditions or recipes, be around your family and share stories. Cooking. Feasting. Remembering loved ones who’ve passed and reconnecting with them through stories.
The second of three harvesting Sabbats; Mabon is a time to give thanks to the Earth, and to celebrate the harvest and abundance. It’s a time when the night and day are equal, crops are harvested, and food is stored away. Days following become darker which starts a time of reflection and letting go. Making and drinking wine is common practice around this time.
Popular Symbols for this holiday are Apples, Pinecones, Gourds, Oak Leaves, Acorns, Berries, Pies, Bread, Grains, Grapes, Carrots, Onions, Potatoes, and Corn.
Color Associations - Brown, Red, Orange, Yellow, Indigo, and Gold
Tarot Cards associated with Mabon are Judgement, and The World.
Crystals to use on your altar or for spells on this holiday could be Amber, Aventurine, Cat’s Eye, Clear Quartz, Citrine, Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, Peridot, Sapphire, Yellow Agat
Animal energies to channel could include Blackbirds, Eagles, Wild Goose, Owl, Salmon, Wolf
Herbs and Plants - Cinnamon, Chamomile, Frankincense, Marigold, Oak Leaves, Myrrh, Pine, Rue, Rosemary, Sage, Thistle, Yarrow
Spells good to perform on this holiday are those for Balance and Harmony, Blessings, Divination, Prosperity, Protection and Security, and Self Confidence
Activities to help get in the Mabon spirit and celebrate are baking, decorating, donating to a local charity. Going for a walk,burning bad habits, lighting candles, having a bonfire, making and enjoying a stew or a soup… Meditation, harvesting from your garden or a friend’s… Starting a week or so before the Sabbat, try throwing spare change into a jar steadily. Use that on your altar to help encourage prosperity to come. Donate that money (or some food and other goods) to a charity or cause you believe in. Put good energy out, receive good energy in turn
I’m not being paid to promote this haha, but I have to share my adoration of Sam Guay’s Blood Moon Tarot! It consists of a full set of 78 standard-sized tarot cards, with original watercolor art on each one. The minor arcana consists of Dreams, Songs, Skins, and Honey!
The roman-era greek poet Mesomedes is said to be the composer of a few ancient melodies that we know of. One of them that I seldom see around here is the said Hymn to the Sun - an hymn to the Sun-God Helios, although bear in mind with me that on this particular era (around the 2nd century ACE), I believe Apollon and Helios were already very much conflated, the same goes for Artemis/Diana/Selene.
But without further ado, let’s appreciate the song a bit. Which, by the way, you can listen to here.
Hymn to the Sun
English:
Father of the Dawn with her snow-white eyelids, you who follow in your rose-pink chariot the track of your flying steeds, exulting in the gold of your hair, twining your darting rays across the boundless vault of sky, whirling around the whole earth the thread of your all-seeing beams, while flowing rivers of your deathless fire beget the lovely day.
For you the peaceful chorus of stars dance their measure across Olympos their lord, forever singing their leisured song, rejoicing in the music of Apollo’s lyre; and leading them the silvery-grey Moon marshals the months and seasons, drawn by her team of milk-white heifers. And your benevolent mind rejoices as it whirls around the manifold raiment of the universe.
Portuguese:
Pai da Aurora com suas pálpebras alvas como a neve, tu que segues em sua carruagem rósea a pista de seus alados corcéis, exultando com o ouro do seu cabelo, entrelaçando seus raios dardejantes através da abóbada sem limites do Céu girando em torno de toda a Terra o fio de seus raios onividentes, enquanto fluem rios de seu fogo imortal que geram o amável Dia.
Para ti, o coro pacífico das Estrelas Dançam sua medida n'Olimpo, seu senhor, para sempre cantando sua canção de desenfado regozijando-se com a música da lira de Apolo; E conduzindo-as a Lua (Selene)cinza-argêntea, comanda os meses e as estações, desenhados por sua equipe de novilhas brancas como leite. E sua mente benevolente se alegra enquanto giras em torno das múltiplas vestes do universo.
I hope you guys appreciate it! May we always honour the Gods with their lovely hymns and art. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong on something or even expand the post.
Wounds: Anger management, lack of self-worth, aloofness and isolationism, cutthroat competition style—needing to be #1 or refusing to participate, comparing and despairing
Healing Gifts: Empowering people to embrace their individuality, channeling anger into creative expression, fearless individuality, modeling independence
Chiron in Taurus (or 2nd House):♉
Wounds: Stubborn resistance to (and fear of) change, following the flock instead of forming your own values and beliefs, addiction to comforts like eating and drinking, materialism and money struggles
Healing Gifts: Creating serene environments, savvy financial planning, holding down the fort during turbulent times, calm in the storm, practical magic, teaching/modeling traditional wisdom
Chiron in Gemini (or 3rd House):♊
Wounds: Fear of being alone (without a “Twin“), approval-seeking, nervous chatter or addiction to gossip, constant pivoting that makes it impossible to finish what you start (Sparklepony Syndrome), anxiety about being judged, sibling rivalry
Healing Gifts: Play-based learning, communication arts, cooperation and mediation, using wit and humor as a tool for connection, putting people at ease/inclusivity
Chiron in Cancer (or 4th House):♋
Wounds: Trouble feeling “at home” or safe—both in your body and in the world, hoarding resources and money, emotional eating, xenophobia and “stranger danger,” family dysfunction (possibly with the mother)
Healing Gifts: Creating a safe haven for community, empowering women, nutritional wisdom/nourishing with food, savvy financial planning
Chiron in Leo (or 5th House):♌
Wounds:Need for validation, attention and approval, presenting a false front, addiction to drama and intensity, romance/love addiction, chasing the high
Healing Gifts: Empowering others through authentic self-expression, playfulness and healthy hedonism, using the arts to uplift and spread a positive message
Chiron in Virgo (or 6th House):♍
Wounds: Debilitating perfectionism, people-pleasing, distorted self-image (body image), anxiety about people’s judgments, being excessively critical of others, hypochondria
Healing Gifts: Creating structures to help people improve their lives (from home organization to wellness), being a storehouse of practical wisdom, creating empowering media
Chiron in Libra (or 7th House):♎
Wounds: Inability to commit to relationships, paralyzing indecision, romanticizing, trying to force peace at any price, trouble ending relationships
Healing Gifts: Fostering peaceful communication and harmonious compromises, diplomacy, creating beauty and heart-opening experiences, being a messenger for Cupid
Chiron in Scorpio (or 8th House):♏
Wounds: Nihilism, sexual addiction (possibly springing from childhood sexual abuse), power struggles, jealousy and obsession, trouble leaving bad relationships
Healing Gifts: Soul-deep sexual healing, alchemy (turning “trash” into treasure), helping people through extreme life passages such as births, deaths and other transitions
Chiron in Sagittarius (or 9th House):♐
Wounds:Fanatical or zealous beliefs, disruptive nomadic tendencies, aggressive or tactless communication style, chasing the “high” of the next big thing
Healing Gifts: Revealing higher truths with compassion, fostering diversity and inclusivity, creating conscious media, laughter as medicine
Chiron in Capricorn (or 10th House):♑
Wounds:Obsessive ambition, using career as an escape, fixation on gaining status and approval, family dysfunction (possibly showing up as daddy issues)
Healing Gifts: Levelheaded leadership, environmental consciousness, utilizing resources to provide for everyone
Chiron in Aquarius (or 11th House):♒
Wounds:Destructive rebellion, scientific detachment from emotions, trying to “fit in”
Healing Gifts: Social justice/activism, fostering utopian communities and a sharing economy both online and IRL, uplifting idealism
Chiron in Pisces (or 12th House):♓
Wounds: Fear of asserting boundaries, escapism, addiction, denial/not living in reality, having a parent with an addiction or who was mentally ill
Healing Gifts: Helping people let go of limiting beliefs, spiritual and esoteric leadership, psychic/metaphysical/shamanic powers, helping people live out their fantasies
December 20-23
October 31 - November 1
