Yule
By Hunters_Moon
Hello everyone! I hope you had a wonderful week. Last class, we left with an assignment to create a spell. For some it was your first spell, and I want to know how it went?
Was our class on spells helpful in the construction of your own spell?
Did you find yourself having any difficulties, and if so, what type?
What was your spell? Please share your ideas and spell with the class so we can all learn. Please remember to record all your spells along with results or feelings about the spell in your own BOS. This becomes an invaluable tool in your growth and your abilities.
I didn’t do a spell this week. However, I decided to dig into my BOS for a spell I did. I incorporated a confidence spell into my Full Moon celebration. I mixed and ground with my mortar and pestle in a clockwise fashion rosemary, sage, oregano and basil for confidence which I then burned as incense and smudged myself. In my cauldron I burned words like joy, serenity, passion, strength, confidence, self esteem and courage.
As I smudged I said:
“Strength and courage may I possess
That what I fear, I may face.
In winning through to the other side,
Onto victory I will ride.
And let it be done that it harm no one.
In no way shall this spell reverse or place upon me any curse,
For the good of all concerned, and with Divine Spirit’s blessing.�?BR>
It was effective as well as the simpler version that I did earlier which was to mix and grind in a clockwise direction, rosemary, sage, oregano and basil. With each turn I stated positive affirmations (I am strong. I am confident. I can do whatever I set my mind to. I am calm. I know what I am doing.) Then I burned the incense and smudged my body.
A footnote though, remember to state what you want not what you don’t want. For example rather than saying “I am not nervous�?say “I am calm�? Rather than saying “I am not shy�?say “I am confident�? Why? Well, you want your words to reflect what you want not what you don’t want so that you focus on the positive rather than on the negative. It’s like I have learned to say “I am for peace�?rather than “I am against war�? The energy in the first statement is positive, and vibrates at a higher level than the second. Does that make sense?
Now that we’ve reviewed spells, I figured that it would be a good time to discuss the aspects of December as we are halfway through a new month. In the Julian calendar, December was the tenth (decem in Latin) month. Of course, now it is the twelfth month but it is still called by the original number.
The full moon aspect of December is the Moon of long nights.
The universal event is the revitalizing of waters. Here the Goddess of the Night reigns and until Winter Solstice, night continues to get longer and dominate the world.
The communal event this month is of course the Sabbat of Winter Solstice (around December 21). This is a celebration of light and the birth of the sun goddess Lucina to some.
December’s message to all is to endure, to die, and to be reborn with this month’s activity being introspection and renewal.
This month’s healing properties is one of purification of the body and the soul; and appropriate spells for this month include rebirthing and getting rid of depression (wow, an apt aspect for me as I find myself very blue as of late).
This month’s manifestation is the alder tree which grows by the water and is often used to make rain by witches with the sacred bird being the helicon which was traditionally only seen on the two solstices and regarded as the manifestation of the goddess in her life-in-death and death-in-life aspects.
This month’s color is Blood Red. The tree is the Alder and Pine. The flower is the poinsettia, holly and mistletoe. The creature is the rook or helicon and the gem is turquoise or zircon.
Now, on a personal note, because this month is one of healing depression, etc. I thought I would discuss a spell to help with that to tie in tonight with last week’s topic of spells and to add to our repertoire of spells for each of our BOS’s.
I read this spell over and found that it was applicable to me and one that I am certain to try as it just spoke to me the moment I began to read it. Apparently depression is a natural mood of the month (at least until Winter Solstice) �?introspection, self doubt, questioning (sounds really cheerful) but too much depth isn’t good either so perform this spell.
So, the herb you’ll use is huckleberry but if you cannot find that then sage will suffice. You want to do this spell during the waxing moon with the recommended temple incense of frankincense and myrrh (which is traditional) but if that’s not accessible than just use the sage (thank goodness that is easily accessible). You want to create a circle about seven to nine feet in diameter and stand in the middle and face east. The direction of the east is associated with inspiration and breath, newness and cheerfulness, eagles and flight. Call on those spirits to help you or someone you love to fight depression.
Hold up your hands after you have lit the incense and inhaled deeply. Say�?BR>
“I call on you, healing spirits of the east,
That you shall attend me at once.
I conjure you in the sacred name of Hecate, the
Transformer and Midwife!
I conjure you by sage and [name the herb you’re working with]
To lift my spirit from this despair!
Lift the misery by the smoke.
Lift it by the fervent wish.
Lift it by the power of the moon.
I ask the universe to lend the power of the planets in their orbits,
The stars in their courses, the angels,
And the elements of earth, air, fire, and water,
All to blend in perfect order and harmony to obtain my desire.
Anything I may have overlooked in this spell will be taken care of for me
with perfect, Divine results, in the Lord and the Lady's own perfect way.
This or something better now comes forth for me,
In perfect timing,
For the highest good of all concerned
In no way will this spell reverse, or place upon me any curse.
I give thanks for the perfect, Divine results now!
In the name of the Goddess, and of the God, I proclaim this spell complete.
So Mote it Be!"
Repeat this ritual on three consecutive nights, and soon all shall be well.
It’s funny how life seems to have these moments where you see almost this pattern behind what you may perceive as random occurrences in life. I have been feeling bluesy and down which is unusual for me especially when I’m not even looking forward to Christmas (I always look forward to Christmas) and suddenly this drops into my lap (a message from my angels).
Anyway, back to the class. The holidays for December are December 3 �?Feast of Bona Dea (Roman); December 4 �?Pallas Athena (Roman); December 5 �?Sinterklaas Day (Dutch); December 8 �?Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (European); December 9 �?Feast of Tonantzin (Mexican); December 13 �?St. Lucy’s Day (Swedish); December 17 �?Celebration of Ops �?Saturnalia (Roman); December 21 �?Winter Solstice (Sun Reenters Capricorn); December 23 �?Fool’s Day (European); December 24 �?Mother Night (Anglo-Saxon); December 25 �?Juvenalia: Day of the Children (Roman); December 25 �?Celebration of Astarte (Semitic); December 25 �?Yule: Return of the Sun (Teutonic); December 31 �?Hecate’s Day (Roman).
So, what are some simple ways to celebrate Winter Solstice and begin to incorporate it into your life? Well, we decorate a birch log with green and red ribbon, pine cones, etc. as well as tying on a list of wishes and dreams for the New Year that we burn on Christmas Eve. Then we let the fire die out (as the fire cannot be on for Santa to come down the chimney) and in the morning when we open presents, we clean out the wood stove and spread the ashes over the garden to ensure a bountiful new year. Tradition says that the log can be oak or birch and to keep a piece of the log to start next year’s fire. Sometimes we do (when we remember) and sometimes not. But the decorating of the Yule Log is a tradition that we all participate in and enjoy each and every year.
Another tradition is to write wishes on bay leaves and throw in the fire or cauldron (we’ve tied them to the Yule Log) or to write a wish list and place it in a box for next year’s fire.
Just remember to really pay attention to what you wish for and word it out carefully as I can speak from my experiences this year that the words I used to describe my wishes for this year came true and in totally unexpected and sometimes emotionally and personally turbulent ways. That’s not to say it isn’t for the best because everything happens for a reason. And it’s not to say I’m ungrateful �?I’m grateful for the many blessings in my life. But it’s just to say that you should be prepared that if you simply ask for ‘adventure�?that you leave the door wide open for the universe to grant you adventure from anything to an archaeological dig in the Amazon to having you laid off from that job that’s been paying your bills but not very exciting. Again, the Lord and the Lady are savvy to my needs as they have a broader perspective than I could ever have, but just be prepared then that the wish may come from a direction you weren’t prepared to go in quite yet. Does that make sense?
Anyway, those are some simple traditions for Winter Solstice. Also, during the twelve days of Christmas I clear out the energies of previous year and make room for the energies of the new year which also works as a precursor to Candlemas as it takes more than a day to completely clean my house which is part of the Candlemas celebration so I’ve incorporated some of it into the twelve days of Christmas by washing floors, walls, windows, etc. with an infusion of boiling water, rosemary and lavender. I also disinfect rags, wash coats, blankets, mittens, toss pillows, vacuum beds, repot plants, etc. Then on January 6 I take down the tree (tradition states to never take down the tree before New Year’s) and then scrub down the room and burn a piece of the Christmas tree to release the energy that it has accumulated over its time as the focal point of our holiday celebrations before we go and eat the Twelfth Night Cakes.
The twelve days of Christmas are December 26 to January 6, and as I make this cake, everyone must stir the cake batter clockwise for luck. You can sprinkle charms into the batter to make it kind of a divination cake (almond for happiness, cinnamon stick for abundance, coffee bean for astuteness, tiny fan for change, nutmeg seed for love and fidelity, rice for fidelity, ginger root for zeal, key for opportunity, paper clip for partnership, corn for wealth, thimble and button for solitary life, ring for marriage, etc.)
The recipe is:
1 pkg yeast
1/8 cup lukewarm water
1 cup milk scalded and cooled to room temp.
1 tsp. salt
½ cup melted butter
1 egg yolk, beaten
3 cups flour
¾ cup almost paste
charms
melted butter powdered sugar
Dissolve yeast in water. Mix in mil, salt, melted butter and beaten egg yolk. Add flour and mix so dough forms a ball. Let rise 45 min. Work in almost past with hands and shape cake into a ball. The paste will be stiff so mix thoroughly. Stuff in charms. Place ball on parchment lined cookie sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise 30 minutes.
With a sharp knife cut a pentacle in the top then bake for 25 min. at 375 deg. F until surface is golden brown. Cool and brush top with melted butter and sprinkle powdered sugar over the star or you can frost the cake.
For the almond paste�?BR>¾ cup blanched almonds
1 tblspn fresh lemon juice
¼ cup water
¼ cup sugar
Grind almonds in food processor and add lemon. Stir water and sugar in pan over heat until mixture reaches 240 deg F. under a candy thermometer. Add ground almost mix to sugar water. Put mix in food processor and mix. Cool and store in covered jar in fridge for at least a week to ripen.
Custom is to cut as many pieces as there are guests plus one. That one piece is set outside for the goddess. The youngest member of the house distributes the pieces.
Blessings for a Happy New Year!
The recipe is actually quite easy and tastes really good. The kids have bugged me numerous times all year to make it again but it is a special cake only made during this time and they can’t wait to have some more. Trust me, if I can do then so can you.
So, that’s a little peek into my own personal traditions for the holidays. Next week we’ll discuss some lore and history (I think) around Yule and Winter Solstice.
I hope you enjoyed tonight’s topic as much as I enjoyed putting it together. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask now or you can email me at [email protected]
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