Saturday, September 22, 2012

With Mabon behind us we set our sights on Yule




The magick of Yule.

Yule takes place the day of the winter solstice each year. Four thousand years ago, the Ancient Egyptians took the time to celebrate the daily rebirth of Horus - the god of the Sun. As their culture flourished and spread throughout Mesopotamia, other civilizations decided to get in on the sun-welcoming action. They found that things went really well... until the weather got cooler, and crops began to die. Each year, this cycle of birth, death and rebirth took place, and they began to realize that every year after a period of cold and darkness, the Sun did indeed return.

Winter festivals were also common in Greece and Rome, as well as in the British Isles. When a new religion called Christianity popped up, the new hierarchy had trouble converting the Pagans, and as such, folks didn't want to give up their old holidays. Christian churches were built on old Pagan worship sites, and Pagan symbols were incorporated into the symbolism of Christianity. Within a few centuries, the Christians had everyone worshiping a new holiday celebrated on December 25.

The Yule celebration comes from the Celtic legend of the battle between the young Oak King and the Holly King. The Oak King, representing the light of the new year, tries each year to usurp the old Holly King, who is the symbol of darkness. Re-enactment of the battle is popular in some Many rituals.

Ideas for yule magick include a snow poppet, ice candles, snow ball negative energy clearing, water or ice scrying, and table tipping.

Yule logs are decorated and lit in celebration as well as making Yule logs as a dessert.

It is a time when past present and future all converge for a brief moment in time before starting anew. Yule honors this as we say good bye to the old year, while briefly standing in the present, hoping for a bright future.


This is how you can incorporate this idea into your ritual and Yule celebration.

The past:

As part of the ritual go around the circle, each reliving an account of a lost loved ones life as you welcome them to the nights festivities.

Make a food that was favorite of the lost loved one or a food from their childhood.
Discuss what you need to let go of and then let it go.

The Present:
Show gratitude for family, life and those around you. Telling why you are thankful.

Using a favorite food from your family traditions or a heritage dish.

Make a poppet to send protection or healing ( or to banish someone from your life)

The Future:
Scrying by water or ice. And if enough people are there table tipping is always a great tool to call upon the lost loved ones to ask questions or say what was never said.

Dream work is also a great tool to envision your future life. Make plans for your future and set goals.

Make a dish your family has wanted to try.


Also during the evenings festivities:
decorate the yule tree,

Call the 4 corners,

have a ritual,

do crafts,

invite woodland faeries in for the winter,

Gather by the fire and eat drink and make merry.

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Elf fire incense

3 parts musk crystal
4 parts dittany of crete
6 parts cinnamon
3 parts dragon’s blood
4 parts frankincense
1 part cardamom 

use in rituals

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