Wild Goddess Magick
Witchology Magazine Yule
Welcoming the Winter Solstice UNCOVERING THE PAGAN ROOTS OF
CHRISTMAS SHOP UNTIL YOU DROP WITH OUR
Getting Started with
Modern Yule Celebrations
WITCHY GIFT GUIDE
Saturnalia and the God, Saturn
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
with Carolyn, Editor of Enchanted Living
The winter solstice, hiemal solstice or hibernal solstice, also known as midwinter, occurs when one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere.The word solstice comes from the Latin words of “sol” meaning sun and “sistere” meaning to stand still.
EDITORIAL Ambrosia Hawthorn, Owner & Editor Sarah Justice, Co-Editor WRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS Miss Wondersmith, Stefanina Baker, Mozinah, Mike Sexton, Sarah Robinson, Jennie Sharples, Karla Freeling. ART & PHOTOS Cover: Ambrosia Hawthorn Illustrations: Tiffany Sosa Mia Stendel - stock.adobe.com All other photos are from free stock sources or from contributors. SALES ambrosia@witchologymagazine.com SUBMISSIONS ambrosia@witchologymagazine.com sarah@witcologymagazine.com www.witchologymagazine.com/ submissions-ads/ SOCIAL www.witchologymagazine.com www.instagram.com/witchologymag www.twitter.com/wgmagick www.facebook.com/witchologymag Copyright © 2019 by Wild Goddess Magick. All rights reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Magazine is intended for ages 18 and up. We are a proud participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. All our content is reviewed and vetted in the process. The opinions expressed in our published works are those of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of Witchology Magazine or Wild Goddess Magick. Witchology Magazine assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information, nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon.
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elcome!
“These words herein are from me to you, each picture, thought, and quote we imbue. This issue reflects the knowledge I have to share, use each spell, ritual, and work with care.” December marks the time of year that celebrates the long nights and the short days up until the Winter Solstice or Yule. From this date the sun begins to grow in strength for the upcoming Spring season. Get ready to celebrate with loved ones this season! In this issue we have wonderful spells, rituals, lore, delicious recipes, a Yule gift guide, and an exclusive interview with Editor of Enchanted Living, Carolyn! These pages are packed with witchy articles that will elevate your practice! Please also note, we cannot guarantee any outcomes from the content of this magazine, but please don't give up on the magick within you!
Blessed be witches,
Ambrosia Hawthorn
Wild Goddess Magick
Witchology Magazine
Cover by Ambrosia Hawthorn @wildgoddessmagick
Our Witchy Team
Ambrosia Hawthorn @wildgoddessmagick Witchologymagazine.com Editor, writer, illustrator, and eclectic witch.
Sarah Justice @tinycauldron Tinycauldron.com Co-Editor, writer, and shop owner.
Stefanina Baker @readingsandrituals www.readingsandrituals.com Writer, psychic, Tarot reader, and eclectic witch.
Sarah Robinson @Yoga_for_witches Sentiayoga.com Yoga and meditation teacher.
Monica Crosson @monicacrosson Monicacrosson.com Writer, gardener, published author.
Miss Wondersmith @misswondersmith Thewondersmith.com Writer, wondersmith, recipe creator, forager, event hostess.
Mike Sexton @artistmikes Mikesextonstudio.com Writer, eclectic Wiccan, artist, published author.
Karla Freeling @wiccanology Wiccanology.etsy.com Writer, mother in the military, Pagan, and shop owner.
Jennie Sharples @jenniferksharples AutumnEnchantments.etsy. com Writer, healer, psychic, and shop owner.
DECEMBER 7 What’s New in the Witchy Community 8 December Magickal Workings 9 Yule Gift Guide 20 Interview with Carolyn, Editor of Enchanted Living 59 Witchology Directory
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ARTICLES & LORE
CORRESPONDENCES
14 The Pagan Roots of Modern Christmas 19 Modern Yule Celebrations 27 Honoring the Winter Solstice 28 Celebrating the Long Night’s Moon 30 Light of Yuletide 38 Yule: Four Ways to Have a More Inclusive Family Holiday 40 Origins of Saturnalia
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43 Herb: Blue Lobelia 47 Crystal: Sugilite 44 Goddess: Hela
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MAGICK LEARNING 16 24 25 36 32 34 36
Holiday Blessings Blessing the Hearth Spell Yule Ritual Yule Tarot Spread Yule Magickal Crafts Salt Dough Ornaments The Tiny Spellbook: Traditional Witchcraft for Yule 41 Snow Magick: Emotional Ease 48 Mini Advent Candle Rituals
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FEASTING 49 Pine Nut and Pistachio Olive Oil Cakes 53 Warming Wassail Three Ways 56 Coco-nog Pancakes 20
What’s New in the
Witchy Community Want to know what’s happening in the community? Well, we’ve searched high and low to bring you the latest products, books, and more.
Trace of Evil By Alice Blanchard Natalie Lockhart is a rookie detective in Burning Lake, New York, an isolated town known for its dark past. Tasked with uncovering the whereabouts of nine missing transients who have disappeared over the years, Natalie wrestles with the town’s troubled history – and the scars left by her sister’s unsolved murder years ago. Then Daisy Buckner, a beloved schoolteacher, is found dead on her kitchen floor, and a suspect immediately comes to mind. But it’s not that simple. The suspect is in a coma, collapsed only hours after the teacher’s death, and it turns out Daisy had secrets of her own. Natalie knows there is more to the case, but as the investigation deepens, even she cannot predict the far-reaching consequences – for the victim, for the missing of Burning Lake, and for herself. Now available on Amazon.
The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs By Judy Ann Nock In The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs, learn everything you need to use the most powerful herbs and use them as an essential part of your practice. Including information on which herbs are best for what kinds of spells, how to use herbs in divination and rituals, and step-by-step guides to making herbal bundles, potions, and sprays, this guidebook has all the important facts to make your herbal witchcraft a success. Available December 10th on Amazon.
A Practical Introduction to Numerology: Your Expert Guide to Understanding the Hidden Power of Numbers By Sonia Ducie Numerology - the science, psychology and philosophy of numbers - enables us to use our mind and intuition to observe, connect with and interpret the cycle of numbers governing all aspects of life (1 to 9). Each of these numbers has its own set of qualities and meanings that can influence us at different levels - physical, emotional, mental and spiritual - in order to really make the most of life. Available December 10 on Amazon. 7
DECEMBER MAGICKAL WORKINGS
December is a month that’s full of wonder and history. Yule or the Winter Solstice is often celebrated from December 21 to 22 in the northern hemisphere and from June 21 to 22 in the southern hemisphere. This date refers to midwinter when the night is at its longest. It’s a great time to reflect and get together with loved ones to honor the festive season. Yule represents the promise of light and the rebirth of the sun. 8
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Crimson Sage Apothecary
Bit O’ Magick
Crimson Sage is an Arizona-based apothecary of ritual craft supplies and allnatural skin and bath care with a ritualistic touch. Most items listed online are based on the Sabbats, adhering to, or representing, that season in symbolic or archetypal ways. Find us online at crimsonsageaz.com! Use coupon code Witchology10 for 10% off any item in the shop!
I sell beautifully designed monthly boxes. Come see me when you're wanting to grow on your spiritual path or just need supplies as well as clothing and gifts! From now until December 20th, anyone who subscribes using this ad will receive 20% off their subscription box order or 10% off any one item in my shop by emailing me their paid receipt and mentioning this ad.
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Wiccanology
The Wondersmith
Discover unique altar arrangements. I started this shop because I have a love and respect for all Gods and Goddesses and a talent for putting beautiful things together. Each piece I make is one-of-a-kind to bring you closer to deity. Use code: Witchology for 20% off my shop.
In this book, you will be guided through the steps of using storytelling structure to design your own personalized and magical gathering. Miss Wondersmith leads the way with her sketched ideas, easy-to-understand text, and real-life examples of the magical gathering.
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Jen Sharples
Moonah the Fox
Cast the mundane aside and tap into your witchy power with custom-made magickal witch bottles. These and other mystical items are available for purchase in my Etsy shop, Autumn Enchantments. For 10% off your order, use code: WITCHOLOGY at checkout.Â
I am a forest witch and my shop is a place where my pagan beliefs meets with knowledge of witchcraft, love of nature and handicraft passion. I invite you to my store for pentagram wreaths, crystal dreamcatchers, herbal witchcraft sets, cauldrons, magic candles, hand-made runes and more!
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River Wood Brooms
The Tiny Cauldron
At River Wood Brooms, we create one-ofa-kind brooms, besoms, books and burned spoons produced at our very own cottage on the river in Skagit County, Washington.
The Tiny Cauldron specializes in old-world witchcraft and herbal lore, and we use traditional methods of cultivation. Snag oils, salts, sachets, sprays, spells, kits and seasonal boxes, like our Secret Solstice Box. Use code WITCHOLOGY for 15% off all items.
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Boho & Indie Wild
Printed Witchology Issues
Boho and Indie Wild creates and publishes cosmic and whimsical divination decks and tarot cloths. We currently have Tarot, Oracle, Rune, and Lenormand decks all illustrated by Tiffany Sosa. Use code: WELCOME15 for 15% off our decks!
Want to stock up on printed issues for the holidays? Jump on this exclusive discount from our printer and get 25% off your printed issues until the 6th of December. Use code: SNOWY19 at checkout.
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The Witching Wells
Kindred Souls Studio
The Witching Wells is a deliciously witchy shop specializing in scrying mirrors of all types. Come check out our best selling pocket scrying mirrors and get 20% off orders over $40 plus free shipping!
At Kindred Souls Studio, we create unique handcrafted and locally sourced gifts for t hose looking for that special gift. Owned by a grey witch who surrounds each item with love, light and beautiful energy!! Enjoy free stateside shipping.
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Julianum
As Above Alchemy LLC
Julianum is a workshop of magic things based in Krakรณw, Poland. Everything is handmade by Julia R., a solitary eclectic witch, with love and care! This Yule, get a 10% discount by using the code: WITCHOLOGY at the checkout! As an addition to other discounts and free shipping to US for orders higher that $35.
As Above Alchemy, LLC is a family-run hedge witch supply shop featuring a wide variety of herbs, many of which are homegrown in our gardens in New York using traditional Native American practices from our tribe. We also craft handmade incense, sachets, candles, poppets, witch balls, and bottle spells. Use code: WITCHOLOGY for 10% off everything in our shop.
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Herb and Moon
Herb and Moon is a small batch, artisan soap company using herbal teas combine with herbal infused oils to produce colors and scents. Along with clays and organic flowers, I create these beautiful skin loving soaps from the inspiration of Mother Moon. Check out my shop. HerbAndMoon.etsy.com
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The Pagan Roots of Modern Christmas C
hristmas is celebrated by two billion people all over the world every year. Each culture has its own specific local roots and traditions. However, the vast majority of those traditions spring from Pagan roots. Christmas is based on the Winter Solstice, also known as Yule or Saturnalia. Yule’s roots can be traced back to Egypt and Ireland in 3000 BCE. The holiday was initially celebrated to welcome back the light in the heart of the long, dark winter. Although it was based on an astronomical event, it generally happens around the end of December. This also explains why Christmas is celebrated on December 25th (first recorded in 336 AD). Let’s start with the roots of one of the most well-known Christmas figures: Santa Claus! In Pagan traditions, the sun takes on male personality traits. Father Sun didn’t come directly from one deity, and those varied traits and cultures can be seen in how Santa Claus is portrayed as well. It is likely that he got his white beard and seemingly magic powers from Odin. Some also see roots of the goddess Frau Holda in Santa, as she also dressed in red and delivered gifts by the chimney. Ultimately, Santa Claus, most people know today, is a combination of many deities. Another modern tradition with deeper roots is also a feeling many get during the
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holiday season. The warm, fuzzy feeling we get from seeing Christmas lights can also be traced back to early Paganism. As Yule welcomed back the light, many people were also trying to light up their own homes. Pagans lit bonfires and put candles in the windows as a way to celebrate longer days and shorter nights. As technology advanced and Yule transitioned into Christmas for Christians, people still continue to satisfy this ancient urge with electric Christmas lights both outside and inside their homes. Christmas trees are also a direct descendant of Pagan traditions. Initially, Pagans welcomed back the new life that comes with the return of the sun with evergreen bows and the Yule log. While they didn’t bring full trees into their homes, the spirit was the same. And, although trees weren’t found in Pagan homes, the fact that Christmas trees are decorated with lights is also a direct throwback to ancient traditions. So, whether getting together with friends and family or merely discussing holiday festivities with coworkers, remember the reason for the season. No matter what people believe in, we’re all celebrating the light in some form this time of year. Have a warm, safe, and happy Yule!
Š samiramay 15
Holiday Blessings By Monica Crosson “The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year.�
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ituals and celebrations for welcoming back the sun have been practiced and celebrated for thousands of years. But leave it to the Romans to really kick it up a notch with their Saturnalia celebrations. Their festival, in honor of Saturn, the God of agriculture, was a carnival with social norms turned upside down. This event, turned week-long festival, held December 17-23, was a time when roles were reversed, courts were out of session, schools closed, and war could not be decreed. Celebrations included masked balls, candlelit processions, gambling, and drunken revelryAnd all this was overseen by the
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Saturnalicius Princeps, king for a day, and precursor to the better known 'Lord of Misrule.' Some of the holiday trappings you can thank the ancient Romans for include: the bedecking of the household with greens, including garlands and wreaths, ornamenting trees (decorated outdoors where they grew), gift exchanges, and maybe even the first holiday cards, for it was common to write a little poem to accompany your gift. The anticipation for a rejuvenated earth was most felt by our ancestors to the north. For the Norse, Germanic, and Celtic people, the dark half of the year would have felt particularity dreary. In these northerly realms, the December
sun was a dying ember that glowed just above the horizon for only a few fleeting hours- a very frightening thing for people who depended on the land. To help rekindle the sun's dying flame, a log was chosen and set ablaze. The Yule fire would last for days, and it was said that each spark that rose represented livestock to be born in the spring. Evergreen branches were brought in as a symbol of hope, and the perseverance of life and great feasts were held in celebration- for the butchering had just been done and the meat was plentiful. The lighting of fires at the Winter Solstice helped encourage the sun's birth, and the ashes sprinkled over
the fields which helped to encourage abundance. It was customary to keep a bit of the charcoal to kindle the next Yule fire. Our family uses a bit of the trunk from our previous year's Yule tree as our Yule log. This is a fun family tradition if you harvest live trees. We harvest a tree from the same local tree farm every year. We are supporting a small, local farm and are not in the forest cutting down native trees. Yule, at its heart, is a time of renewal and hope and to set aside our differences and spread goodwill. It is a time for reflection and of the promise of possibility, and these ideals are reflected in our holiday traditions. We see it with the evergreen boughs and trees that we use to decorate our homes, a reminder of life's persistence, with the candles lit in the windows to guide strangers on their way, and the wreath, symbolizing life's continuing cycle of life, death, and rebirth. We strike up the magick of old when we kiss under the mistletoe, which ensured fertility or shake harness bells that scared away evil spirits. Holiday Blessings
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While the Northern Hemisphere celebrates the winter
solstice, those living in the Southern Hemisphere will be celebrating the Summer Solstice.
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Modern Yule Celebrations One of the struggles modern witches face is adapting sometimes very ancient rituals for holidays they might not connect with personally to modern times.
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s we age, we sometimes lose the magic that the holidays bring us. It can be tricky to keep in touch with that spark inside of us, especially in a cold, dark world. With so many people dealing with seasonal affective disorder, celebrating the return of the sun and longer days can be a great way to manage your own mental health. If you don’t have a fireplace but still want to celebrate Yule, try to use modern technology! Streaming services allow 24 hour 7 day a week access to your very own Yule log, by just queueing up a digital fireplace. You can perform a Yule log ritual without needing to be able to light one of your very own.
You can also invite friends and family over and host a potluck, with each participant bringing a modern dish that honors its ancient origins. Mulled wine, chocolate Yule logs, apple cider for the nondrinkers… the only limit is your own creativity. Hosting loved ones during the darkest time of the year can lift your spirits, and celebrating this sacred time of the year with them can make the holidays seem just that much more special.
also trimming the tree with popcorn and cranberry strings. Turn it into a ritual by casting a circle and honoring the return of the sun and the lengthening of the days. Just because Yule is an ancient holiday doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate it in a fun, modern way. Turn the Winter Solstice into something that works for you and your circle by bringing modern traditions in. Start something unique and new!
And, although it isn’t a “modern” tradition, trimming a holiday tree is a great way to be creative while staying in touch with the pagan roots of Yule. Use bright lights and modern ornaments, while
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Interview with Carolyn, Editor of Enchanted Living Enchanted Living, formerly known as Faerie Magazine is
Can you tell us a little about you and your background? I started as a novelist and have published five novels, most of them retellings of classic fairy tales. My third book, Mermaid, came out in 2011 and was a retelling of the Hans Christian Andersen story (not Disney!), which is so dark and sad and beautiful. I told the story of the mermaid as well as of the princess who eventually marries the prince, breaking the mermaid’s heart, and made the relationship between the two women as complicated and powerful as I could— since they’re unwitting rivals, and each have so much at stake. Anyway, after the book came out, I did all kinds of fun touring and also started a mermaid blog and sort of accidentally became a mermaid expert. I went to mermaid camp at Weeki Wachee, became scuba certified, went on a week-long mermaid diving trip in the Bahamas, interviewed all kinds of people about mermaids, went to mermaid conventions, and all kinds of other stuff. At one point, I was invited to be the “mermaid guest author” at the Maryland Faerie 20
Festival and was put in a tent with Kim Cross, who founded Faerie Magazine. I loved what she was doing, and we talked right away about collaborating. We did a special mermaid issue together in 2013, and then I stayed on as editor in chief. I loved putting a magazine together, just filling it with everything I find beautiful and inspiring. And then, last year, we changed the name to Enchanted Living since the magazine is about much more than faeries! You’re the Editor of Enchanted Living, can you tell us more about this? For me, the magazine is about living in the most beautiful, creative, and enchanted way possible. I saw it from the start as like Martha Stewart Living but enchanted—that is, a lifestyle magazine with everything from recipes to home décor to crafts to fashion, plus a whole lot of art and poetry and fiction … But everything a little magical—not fantasy, but real-world, everyday magic, the kind we can forget about if we get too caught up in the grind of work and shopping and
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paying bills, etc., but that is accessible to everyone. We love to feature people living beautiful, inspiring lives, and more and more, this has involved a growing community of gorgeous witches who work with plants and herbs and stones and fill their lives with ritual and wonder. We did our first witch issue in 2017; a Practical Magic themed issue that we worked on with Alice Hoffman just as her sequel to Practical Magic (The Rules of Magic) came out. It was packed full of lists and recipes and spells and just felt like this wonderful handbook to living a more beautiful life. This autumn, we did a follow-up to it, and we’ve incorporated more of that witchiness into every issue. We even have a resident love witch, Veronica Varlow, and resident beauty witch, Alise Marie, who contribute to every magazine. Who is the audience for Enchanted Living? Really, anyone who loves fairy tales, potions, cottages in the woods, cabinets full of herbs, clusters of mushrooms growing in a patch of moss… all kinds of wild beauty, animals, magic. I’ve often thought that anyone who lights a candle and sends out a wish is someone who should read our magazine. What are some other details you’d like share with our readers? Well, most people don’t know how very small we are, especially since we have a pretty big social media presence and the magazines are so well made. It’s really just a very tiny group of us. I’m not only the editor-in-chief, but I co-own the magazine and answer the customer service and write the weekly newsletters and order items for our online store, etc., and this holiday week, I’m doing all the shipping too! Every day I speak with art director Lisa Gill, senior editor Grace Nuth, photo editor Steve Parke, founder Kim Cross and others. Together, we’re constantly brainstorming and sharing beautiful things we’ve found. Lisa, Grace, and I just had a brainstorming call for the upcoming spring Pre-Raphaelite issue, and we’re so excited to celebrate this movement we all love and to feature all these artists out there who find inspiration in it. 22
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you and Enchanted Living? Well, we’ve also done this line of books with HarperCollins: a Faerie Handbook that Grace and I co-wrote and that came out in 2017 (and featured some content from the magazine as well as many of our regular collaborators) and a Mermaid Handbook that came out last year and was, for me, the culmination of all the mermaid material I’d gathered for my mermaid blog way back when and that led me to this magazine. This June the Unicorn Handbook will be published, and to accompany it, we’ll do an “enchanted beasts” issue of the magazine. Think wolves and foxes and owls and all our familiars who keep us safe and enchant us every day. As for me, I’m also working on a new novel—not a fairy tale this time, but also not my first to involve plenty of witchery and magic! What inspires you? I’m inspired constantly by people we feature in the magazine. Like our cover model/feature Linnet Williams, or Old School Bruja, from our autumn 2019 witch issue. I met her last spring when I contacted her, about doing something in the magazine. I ended up going over to her house, where I was greeted by this warm, radiant, astonishing woman who served me tea she’d made and spoke so openly about the world beyond what we can see. I told (photo editor) Steve about her. We ended up doing a photoshoot for our cover! Where can our readers connect with you? FB: Faerie Magazine IG: @faeriemagazine WEB: Enchantedlivingmag.com where you can subscribe, buy single issues and shop in our enchanted store and Enchantedlivingmagazine.com where you can read current and past articles! NEWSLETTER: Enchantedlivingmag.com/pages/ newsletter Email: Carolyn@faeriemag.com
Interview with Carolyn, Editor of Enchanted Living
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B
lessing The Hearth Spell
By Sarah Justice
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inter is the prime time to bless the hearth to protect it from negative energies. These can feed physical issues, like sickness and sadness. But because our energies determine the strength of our manifestations, we’ll need to take care of our inner hearth as well as the one in the physical realm. The following spell works for both inner and outer hearth. Perform this incantation on a Saturday when the moon is waning, preferably at midnight. You can nibble on foods like lemon, thyme, and mint to help prepare for the spell, and you can incorporate these as offerings to earth in exchange for her help. Cast a circle with salt and face your altar in the southern direction (for endings) or the eastern direction (for new beginnings). Step in the middle of the circle, sit in front of your altar (if you have one) and begin chanting in a quick whisper the following incantation: The time has come to remove the tar The inner poison that coats the heart The outer illness; its counterpart And in its place, a freshened start If you’ve chosen to offer herbs, place them in the middle of the circle, as well as a piece of smoky quartz (or regular). Consider also placing a bit of herb or stone that will help fill the void when the negative energies fade. Because negativity feeds additional negativity, this will prevent other negative energies from slipping back into the same spots. We recommend a piece of Amazon river stone or rose quartz. Next, state the following. As you speak, envision your words flowing out of your mouth and rising. Envision your palms or fingertips tingling with energy. Sit with your palms and fingertips facing upward and open or toward the moon. State: Rid the bones of all that’s black Remove the stress that aches to last Sweep the mind of anxious winds This hearth need not what darkness bids Moon, cast waves, bring tides of change My soul is eased, the air is fresh The thoughts that plague me will cease their haunt And in their place are peaceful thoughts
Yuletide Ritual By Sarah Justice
Use this ritual when celebrating the solstice, around the 21st of December, but remember that traditionally, folk celebrated the season until the New Year. Thus, this ritual can be performed at any time during the season to honor the sun and celebrate. Set your altar using the following suggestions, though an altar is not necessarily needed. Half a dropper full of oil or water (representing water) in an oil burner or small dish: west Lit spell candle (representing fire): south A palmful of salts or herbs (representing earth) in a pile or dish: north Smudge stick or palo santo, lit, over a dish (representing air; you could use incense): east To begin, chant the following: The earth breeds its bounty, the seeds are sown And as above, so below. The air will rise, it skirts and blows And as above, so below. The fire breathes, its embers glow And as above, so below. The water’s tides, they ebb and flow And as above, so below. Then state: Night cowered, and with it, the strong holly fell Quick to make room for the Oak King’s snow spell The bears linger back and drift into sleep The rabbits and fox find a snow-capped reprieve
It’s time for reflection and with it some change As quick and as shining as the bergamot rays The sun takes his place as keeper of the day He sweeps ‘cross the harvest that’s barren and lain He whispers in swiftness: It’s time to leave slumber His voice is as humble yet stern as the thunder As warm and tight-bundled as a thick woolen cloak As sturdy and graceful as the tall winter oak The return is one worthy of laughter and feast Quick to bring hope in a season of grief. It is now time to close your circle, regardless of whether an altar was created. This is where you close the connection you made with the spiritual world. To leave it open means to invite those who may have come in unannounced, whether good or bad. Close the circle by reciting the following. The forest returns to a soft, quiet peace As the circle is closed and the spell has since ceased No souls can enter, depart this Yule circle As it closes, farewell, to the Saturn eternal. If you have an altar set: Let the candles and smudges or palo burn until gone. This is also true for any candle under an oil burner. Sprinkle the dish of salt or herbs along the eastern end of your garden. Burn any remaining oil. 25
Yule Tarot Spread 1
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1. What do I need to let go of? 2. What’s blocking my path? 3. What area of my life needs attention right now? 4. What do I need to bring forth during this time? 5. How might I connect with my inner light during Yule darkness? 6. What personal message do I need to hear? 7. How do I release the old to make room for the new? 8. How do I put what I learned into action? 26
Honoring the
Winter Solstice F
or many Pagans living in the Northern hemisphere, temperatures are starting to really cool down. This naturally means that our minds are turning to the holidays, especially the Winter Solstice. Winter Solstice is most commonly known for having the longest night and the shortest day. Also known as Yule, the Winter Solstice can be traced all the way back to ancient Egypt and Ireland. While the roots of this holiday may vary depending on the country of origin, people continue to celebrate it to welcome back the sun during a time of year that can feel the darkest. What makes the Winter Solstice so amazing and unique is that it’s one of the few Pagan holidays we can share and celebrate just as much with our non-Pagan friends. It is a time for reflection, cleansing, spending time with loved ones, and new beginnings - just like Christmas, Hanukkah, and Diwali are for other religions. One of the most important elements of Yule is light. Everyone does this differently, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. From lighting the yule log to decorating a tree with “Christmas” lights, using light is a perfect way to help welcome it back into our lives.
yule log is a cutting from last year’s holiday tree. It reminds us of the spirit of rebirth and how things continue on, even when their form may change. This is a great way to honor the Winter Solstice while starting a tradition that can travel on through the generations. Another great way to honor the holiday with an obvious, visual focus is by creating a family altar. This allows all members of the home to get involved and allows creativity to flourish. Remember to incorporate colors into your Winter Solstice festivities, especially the ones we commonly associate with the holiday. Red to remind us of the spark of life, green for eternal life, white for peace, gold for the sun, and silver for the moon. This can take the form of candles, ribbons, stones, etc. on your Winter Solstice altar. Other things closely associated with the holiday are herbs and plants like holly, mistletoe, and pine and stones like ruby, bloodstone, and snow quartz. These also make great additions to any Winter Solstice altar. Have a safe and happy holiday, and let’s all welcome back the light together!
Speaking of the yule log, in the olden days, the yule log was actually an entire tree. The tradition continues to evolve, however, and this year’s
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December’s Moon is
The Long Night’s Moon
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Celebrating The
Long Night's Moon N
ative Americans were able to keep track of the progression of the year, not with a calendar but by monitoring the moon cycles. In order to tell them apart, each full moon was given its own name. For instance, the Flower Moon occurs in May, while the Harvest Moon rises in September. December brings with it the Cold Moon, also known by many as the Long Night’s Moon. It was given this name for obvious reasons, but also because it happens near the Winter Solstice. For Pagans, the Long Night’s Moon is its own celebration separate from Yule. This specific full moon is the perfect time to focus on selfdiscovery and introspection. It’s a time for people to look back at their year, good and bad, and evaluate it honestly. What did you learn? What
would you have done differently? What will you change moving forward? A good way to honor your yearlong journey is by letting go of the things that no longer serve you. A simple ritual to perform is writing down the things that you do not want to take with you into the new year. Sit outside and feel the Long Night’s Moon casting its rays down on you. Focus on what you’ve written, then light it on fire and let it burn to ash. As the ashes blow away, picture the things that don’t serve you blowing away with them. If you don’t want to use fire, you can just tear them up and put them in any moving body of water. An alternative to this spell for non-fire people may be to write their habits or issues on bay leaves, crumble them and release them into the air. Since bay is readily available in full-
leaf form in grocery stores, it's still an easy ritual! On the flip side, you’ll also want to take some time to focus on the things you want to attract to yourself in the new year. It’s a great time to make a plan for how you want your life to be moving forward. Write down all of your intentions, starting not with “I want to,” but instead with “I will.” Then do the same ritual as you did with what you’re choosing to let go, only envision them going out into the universe to attract those things back to you. Think of the Long Night’s Moon much like non-Pagans think of New Year’s Eve. It’s the best time to do a final evaluation of your life and take only the best, most beneficial things with you into the new year.
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Light of Yuletide By Monica Crosson
G
rowing up, we knew the holidays were upon us when my mother would turn to us girls and belt out the classic Christmas tune by Yorgi Yorgesson, called 'I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas.' As a little girl, it made my heart flutter, for I knew soon school would be out and old Saint Nick would be visiting our house. As a teen, the song made me cringe. I would roll my eyes and say, "Can't you please stop singing that?!" In reply, she would sing the next verse louder. I deserved it. I'm all grown up now, and my mom still sings it to us. Throughout my adult years, the first weekend in December, my three sisters, my mother, and few friends and I rattle down the road in an old 16-passenger van on a quest to view our local gardening center's transformation from ordinary garden center to an indoor fantasy forest of
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intricately decorated trees. We always pull up to a coffee stand, to the chagrin of the weary barista whose job it is to prepare the orders, and as we finally hit the freeway, that's my mom's cue. She turns back to look at us all uncomfortably banging around (it's a tradition for me to get really car sick, too) in that old van, and she sings, 'I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas.'
“
We rejoice as little by little the light increases, rekindling our hope that spring will surely come.
After a couple of hours spent in the Christmas tree lover's paradise, we have a late lunch together, then crawl back into the van to head back to our quiet valley. The light has already diminished, making it hard to compare
our store-bought treasures, but we still try. It's dark and usually, the rain that pelts us is so close to turning to snow, you can smell it. We exchange long hugs, and Mom always slips each of us an ornament. "I love you," she says. And I always reply, "Mom, you shouldn't have." I try to hold back the tears, but I'm weak that way. �I love you too, Mom." It's those kinds of memories that are truly the light of the Yuletide season- that time of year, we hold our breath as the sun seems to stand still for a few days before it finally conquers the darkness that has overpowered it since Samhain.
Quick Cleansing By Sarah Justice Share this quick incantation when a quick cleanse is needed. If referring to an inner stressor: I take in purity and cleanse the spirit. I remove the stressful energies near it. If referring to the removal of a physical stressor: I take in purity and cleanse the hearth. I demand the negative energies depart.
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Yule Magickal Crafts By Mike Sexton
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love the Yule time; next to Samhain, it's my favorite time of the year. I love to see the snow in the trees, glistening like little diamond flakes when the winter sun bounces off the snow crystals in evergreen trees. That alone evokes a magickal feel to my soul. Yule is a wonderful time to create new traditions that you can share with your family and one tradition that many enjoy is to create craft projects at Yule. These projects not only provide your home with beautiful decorations to enjoy, but you can also impart a great deal of magick into your crafts so that, in addition to the beauty, they also provide a service to you and your family and loved ones. One thing I have been doing for several years now is creating a prosperity poppet for my loved ones to hang on their tree or in their home. With this, I design a gingerbread shaped poppet, and I fill it with seasonal herbs that also provide a jolt of prosperity. I include whole cloves, cinnamon, an orange peel, and star anise. I then envision prosperity, good fortune and great health abounding with each stroke of the needle as I sew the poppet closed and add a lovely bow to the neckline in a
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prosperity-inducing color such as gold or green. These are always a huge hit, and anyone who doesn't know you are Pagan will assume it's just a lovely scented decoration. Perhaps make one for each member of your family, using different colors for the eyes, mouth, bow tie, and even the stitches so that everyone has their own unique poppet.
Yule is also a time of sadness for some people because of the limited amount of sunshine that occurs, and with the cold temperatures, many people don't like to go outside as much. I have another craft project that will help with the Yule blues. This is a solar candle, and it's really easy to make. I included these in my December Wicca boxes last year, and they were a huge hit with my customers. You take a large pillar candle and a knife or screwdriver and carve a sun into the candle. Then you carve the Wunjo rune which symbolizes joy.
Once the carving is done, you take a little drop of orange essential oil, or if you don't have that, you can infuse an orange peel in oil a week or two before you plan to do this project and then anoint the candle with it. As you anoint it, see it providing you with the beautiful warmth of the sun shining down on you. Let the candle dry and then place the candle in a window and each morning, light the candle for 5-10 minutes and focus on the beauty of the candle's flame. The warmth it's providing is filling your body with the sun's energy, and this will help keep you energized during the long winter nights. You can do this up to a month or more with the same candle if it's large enough. Of course, take the proper candle safety precautions, and if you have pets or small children, I'd advise moving the candle away from the window when you're not using it.
even herbs. The idea here is to fill each ornament with items to match a magickal need you have. For example, if you want your family to get along better during the holidays, maybe fill an ornament with such things as angelica root, star anise, cloves, and some pink ribbon for love. If you are in a financial situation, fill the ornament with cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange peels, and green or gold glitter. As you fill each ornament, envision your outcome and infuse that vision into the ornaments. Then when you hang up the decorations, you're infusing your Yule tree with all this amazing magick and beauty! I hope that this article has given you a few ideas and maybe sparked a few more that you'll put into practice this Yule. I would like to wish each of you a wondrous Yule season and an amazing start into the New Year.
One more craft project for you and your family to do is a great way to get some new decorations for your Yule tree. Pick up a few clear ornaments at the Dollar store, and then you also pick up a few inexpensive items to fill them with. This can be artificial garland, branches, fake snow, small bells,
Yule Magickal Crafts 33
S
alt Dough Ornaments
By Monica Crosson Ringing bells clears the air of negative energy. Add the protective power of cinnamon, and you have a pretty powerful addition to your Yuletide celebrations. You will need: 1 cup flour ½ cup cinnamon ½ cup salt 2/3 cup water Waxed paper Holiday cookie cutters (moon, star, holly leaf, bell, etc.) Craft bells Hot glue gun Heavy thread Mix flour, salt, cinnamon and water. Roll dough to ½ inch thick between 2 sheets waxed paper. Use fun cookie cutters to cut out shapes, and don't forget to make a hole at the top of your ornament to string your bells from. Let dry for 24 hours. Use hot glue to attach one or two craft bells. Thread heavy thread through the hole in the top of the ornament and tie off. Hang on your Yule tree. You can paint them or leave plain for a rustic look. The smell is amazing!
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The Tiny Spellbook
Traditional Witchcraft for Yule by Sarah Justice
Yule, archaically, was intended to celebrate abundance before we had to don our austerity and brave the winter months. Because with this celebration, winter also brought the likelihood of hunger if the harvest did not yield well, harsh travel and illness. So those folk focused on endurance, abundance, protection, health and strength through the rough times. While hardship isn’t perhaps quite like it was then, we can still manifest the same positive energy to combat those hardships by crafting a some traditional and folk witchcraft goodies. Strength Salts Combine comfrey root, chickweed, rosemary, yarrow, oak and hawthorn with coarse Dead Sea salts to promote inner strength and fortitude. Sprinkle along thresholds of rooms and the perimeter of the home. Keep in salt jars or dishes in corners of the home if contact with animals and children is a possibility. Offering to the Sun, the return of the Oak King. The solstice marks the slow movement toward more sunlight in the day, and so we celebrate and welcome the sun with hazelnut, rosemary, chestnuts and orange. Place chicory in morning coffee, for instance, as a subtle nod and homage to the sun. Only a little bit will do; chicory is a laxative and its flavor can overpower. We suggest ⅓ of a teaspoon for every tbsp of coffee. Abundance Oil Orange and cinnamon are go-tos for this oil, but think about other correspondences for prosperity: comfrey and white sage. Combine dry ingredients with oil of your choice and heat, adding in any essential oil for aroma. Remove from medium heat and, once cooled, store. Use to represent water in rituals and to anoint any tools. Kitchen Witch Magic: Ginger Tea Ginger is a correspondent with prosperity and the sun, making it a great inclusion into foods and beverages. To make a tisane (an herbal infusion), soak ginger root pieces in hot water, along with honey and cinnamon (both also prosperity-promoters) to taste. We recommend adding little bits of ginger (¼ tsp per 8 fl oz) and lightly smashing them in the water to start, adding more if needed. If you’d like to add in tea, we suggest using green tea. Winter plant focus: Hellebore Hellebore blooms in winter, and is often called the winter rose. The plant is thought to cure madness, writes Helen Dugan in The Garden Witch’s Herbal, which is ideal not only for winter folk magic (the cold and the hardships can drive one mad) but for any spellwork, as it keeps the practitioner humble and with a firm foot in reality. Please note: hellebore is toxic and should never be ingested. Tiny Magick: Place a little feverfew in a sachet and place in your car for safe travels during the holiday. This is the first installment of the recurring monthly column Tiny Magick by practitioner, The Tiny Cauldron owner and Witchology Magazine Co-Editor Sarah Justice. For inquiries, questions or topics, email sarah@witchologymagazine.com. 36
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Yule: Four Ways to Have a More Inclusive Family Holiday By Karla Freeling
“The broad inclusivity of Paganism and the concept that your religion is but one of many is a huge factor in the success of families of blended religions. Each adult in our family follows a different religion, resulting in a blend of eclectic Pagan, Heathen, and Catholic faiths - belief systems that would never have meshed during the years of their formation. Our rituals, blots, and ceremonies are intertwined in a carefully balanced harmony that only comes with time and is tended with care and love.” – John M. Freeling (My Husband)
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f you are anything like my husband and me, your house is not only filled with different ethnic backgrounds, but also different religious backgrounds. I recently posted a photo of my mom and me on Facebook with semi-matching shirts; hers read fueled by caffeine and jesus, and mine read fueled by caffeine and witchcraft. I received so many messages with friends and family wondering how that worked. The answer to this is simple; as a young teenager, I became curious about the world of witchcraft, and I was lucky enough to have a mother who not only supported me but also wanted me to be knowledgeable on all the different aspects of what I believed in. Fast forward 19 years, and we are celebrating the holidays as a religiously blended family.
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My mother is Catholic, my husband is Norse Pagan (I got lucky in life), and as the years have gone by, and my studies have grown, I have made my way from Wiccan to eclectic Pagan. As if this is not blended enough, my best friend who will be spending the holidays with us this year is of Mormon faith. Lucky for me, this is not my first go around, and I have the perfect evening planned to appease all faiths. So, here are my four personal hacks to a very inclusive holiday! 1. The Prayer This is something that depending on the people that you invite, can become one of the most important aspects of your celebration. I personally like to stay away from words like Amen, Lord, or any sentence that humanizes a God. Here is a sample of what an inclusive prayer I wrote a while back looked like: “In
accordance with your religious beliefs, I invite you to join me as I pray. Dear God, we are grateful for this special day and the opportunities you have bestowed upon us. You have allowed us to come together on this festive holiday and bond with our family and friends. I pray that as the year ends and the season changes, we can continue to grow both professionally and spiritually. We humbly ask that you help us use this upcoming year to bring about positive change to those around us. We would also like to thank you for your love, compassion, and guidance. This we pray, in your holy name.” 2. The Tree This is one aspect that we all feel very differently about. I would personally love a black tree with dark and champagne gold decorations, topped with a Witches hat! My mother is all about red and green and
gold and anything bright with a star or an angel on the top. My husband, on the other hand, would be happy with a simple bonfire, some mead, and decorating the Yule tree with the bones of his enemies – ha, just kidding. But in all honesty, he would try and decorate the top of the tree with Mjolnir (Thor’s Hammer). What works for us is taking turns each year and decorating the tree in a diverse manner. Last year, we decorated the tree exactly how my mother wanted, but we topped it with a witches hat and added some runes. 3. The Date When to celebrate can also become a point of contention in some families. Do we celebrate the 21st, the 22nd, the 24th, or the 25th? I am a big believer in allowing people to be themselves. I would never expect someone to change their traditions to fit mine – even if we are celebrating at my house. My home is a place of acceptance and a place where everyone, regardless of their beliefs, is welcome. So, what do we do? We have multiple dinners, and we celebrate all week! It is the perfect set up. I make it my mission to ensure everyone has a voice, and I will go out of my way to accommodate others. I do this because it makes me happy
and because my family and friends are the most important thing in my life – so I take care of them! I don’t get caught up in what “should be” or what society says it “has to be.” I do what works for my family and me. 4. The Rituals Each year I try to come up with a fun ritual that the entire family and guests can enjoy, and I also plan private rituals between my husband and me. Last year I set up my whole table with tiny crystals and herbs. I also had little globe necklaces so that each guest could say a spell or prayer and create a necklace that was special to them. They used the books I put out to research the meaning of each crystal and herb and then created their tiny globe and added some mineral oil. This ritual allowed all my guests to create one of a kind intention necklaces that everyone really enjoyed making. I hope you have the best December of your life, and I wish nothing but love and light for each of you. Happy Holidays!
Yule: Four Ways to Have a More Inclusive Family Holiday
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Origins of saturnalia S
aturnalia was an ancient Roman festival held by Pagans in the middle of December to honor the God Saturn. It was the most popular festival of the entire year and the apparent source of many of what we now know as Christmas traditions. The festival revolved around the god Saturn, who was commonly considered an agricultural deity. However, he was also the god of abundance, fertility, justice, strength, and wealth. Saturn is mostly portrayed as an older man with a big bushy white beard. Sound familiar? Many believe the God Saturn played heavily into the way Santa Claus was created. The festival was known for being joyous and jolly. It lasted a full week and was the primary focus of the Romans during that time. All normal activities stopped while people decorated their homes and dressed up in synthesis (basically their fanciest) clothing. In some cases, not only were slaves allowed to attend festivities, but they were also served by their owners. Together, all Romans spent their time socializing, gambling, feasting, playing music, and giving gifts to each other.
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Some of the most common gifts given were candles called cerei. These wax tapers were meant to help them celebrate the light returning, much like with Yule. Other gifts include small terra cotta figures called signillaria, which some historians believe was a nod to previous human sacrifice. Although many of the other winter holidays don’t involve gifts, Saturnalia encouraged and enjoyed sharing the wealth. There was also a fake king elected to rule over Saturnalia, named the Lord of Misrule. This was usually a member of the household, but not usually celebrated. The Lord of Misrule’s job description included wearing mismatched clothing, chasing people around, and insulting guests. He was essentially the lord of chaos for the holiday. The Saturnalia reverie was one of the earliest winter celebrations to exist. In addition to celebrating the Roman God Saturn, it has also influenced many modern Christmas traditions. Lo, Saturnalia!
Snow Magick: Emotional Ease By Sarah Justice
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e can use water to encourage negativity, namely negative emotions, to “flow” away from oneself or one’s environment. For some of us, water will harden into ice and snow. And while it relinquishes its flowing nature in that icy state, we can use the hardened strength and subsequent flow to encourage the release of emotions that do us a disservice. Often, witch bottles are used as a source of protection and banishing; here, we’re combining both archaic methods of banishing into one. Perform this spell during a waning moon, preferably on a Friday at night. Have on hand your bay leaves (provided). For each bay leaf, place the leaf into your hands and imbue it with one isolated negative emotion. Feel the energy move from your head down into your shoulders, down into your arms, and into your fingertips. Then, envision that energy swirling into your closed palms and being absorbed by the leaf. Once you feel that it has been infused into the leaf, crumble the leaf and place it in your salt bottle. If you’d like to save some of your salts, you can pour them out in another glass container; but be sure to place them in a sealed jar and be sure not to touch it with your hands when you don’t plan to use it; this helps maintain the salt’s longevity. Next, gather some snow and place it in your bottle. Pack the snow in the jar and seal it. Set the jar outside in the waning moonlight until the new moon. Upon the new moon, pour the mixture into running water, be it a running tap or a bumbling creek. Remember: All items used are natural. They will biodegrade. As they drift away, state: These feelings are bitten by the frost of cold, Hardened and drowned in relentless snow, The mother, the moon, has rendered them listless They rot and decay while the mother bears witness And as they drift, they untether from myself The strings break like sinew, preserving my health.
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Blue Lobelia
Other names: Great Blue Lobelia, Indian Tobacco, Pukeweed, Great Lobelia, or Blue Cardinal Flower. Plant family: Campanulaceae. A green perennial plant growing 1- 3 feet tall. It has serrated leaves and blue-violet bell shaped flowers that are densely distributed on the plants stalks. Blue Lobelia was used often by Native Americans for a number of common ailments. It can be toxic so make sure not to use it internally. It grows especially well in moist, damp areas.
Lobelia siphilitica
Magickal properties: Love, enhancing psychic abilities, and purification.
Magickal workings: Use the dried herb externally in charms or sachets. It’s excellent in love spells, enhancing psychic abilities, dream sachets, or in purification incense and smudge sticks. Scent profile: Pungent. Actions: Antiasthmatic, anodyne, antispasmodic, astringent, bronchodilating, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, expectorant, hypnotic, nervine, purgative, rejuvenant, relaxant, rubefacient, secretagogue, anti secretagogue, stimulant. Correspondences: Neptune, Water.
Hela Norse Goddess Hela is also called Hel, Hella, and Halja. Her name means one who covers up or hidden. She represents the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess. She was the youngest child of Loki and the giantess Angurboda. She had two siblings Fenri and Jormungand.
Hela is usually shown as one part beautiful woman and one part skeleton or rotting corpse because she is not interested in hiding the true nature of Death. To Hela, decay is just as
sacred as any other part of the cycle of life. This is why she is sometimes depicted with bones growing on the outside of her body.
Other associations with this Archetype include compassion, transformation, healing, and bawdiness death and endings. Hela is strong, powerful, and fierce.
To work with Hela, hold a ritual for your deceased loved ones or even visit a graveyard to pay your respects.
Symbolism: Dogs, skulls, several plants and trees such as roses, holly, yew, and elder.
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S
ugilite Known as a healer’s stone, Sugilite will enhance your meditative state and space, which will allow you to tune into cosmic knowledge. It helps to balance the mind, spirit, and body. It gets its lovely colors from the manganese traces in the stone. There are sugilite stones that are the same shades of amethyst purple. Magickal properties: Attraction, courage, healing, spirituality, protection, and wisdom.
Magickal workings: Sugilite is an excellent stone to carry in a sachet, worn as jewelry, or used in crystal grids to attract, protect, or to heal. The vibrational energies of sugilite are best utilized by wearing small stones in jewelry. This gem can give a constant flow of the stone's magical qualities directly into the wearer. It is also contemplated or worn during meditation to increase awareness of the spiritual world and is also worn to obtain wisdom. Correspondences: Jupiter, Water.
Mini Advent Candle Rituals By Stefanina Baker
Advent means coming in Latin and is the period of four Sundays before Christmas from December 1st until 24th. Each of these four candles can inspire something different such as hope, peace, joy, and love. Light these candles before you sit down to eat dinner with your family or friends, letting the glowing warmth of the light warm your hearts. Try these mini advent candle rituals or alter them to fit your practice if you desire! Christians use the four Sundays and weeks of Advent to prepare, but I like to approach this with a Catholic flavor.
12.1.19 - Hope Light your candle. Say out loud what you hope for this season. It can be goodwill, peace, the funds to pay for gifts, or hope for prosperity or love.
12.8.19 - Peace Light your candle. Set And intention to bring peace to your life, or to bring peace to a situation that is not currently peaceful.
12.15.19 - Joy Light your candle and give thanks for something joyful that has happened in your life.
12.22.19- Love Share the love. Light your candle. Give hugs and kisses to your family and friends around you. Or, make sure to tell those you care about that you love them.
GO SLOW, BY CANDLELIGHT: PINE NUT AND PISTACHIO OLIVE OIL CAKES By Miss Wondersmith
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GO SLOW, BY CANDLELIGHT: PINE NUT AND PISTACHIO OLIVE OIL CAKES By Miss Wondersmith
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n the dark morning hour, before the rest of the house awakes, I have been lighting a candle or two, and either just listening to the world wake up with all of its little rustlings and song, or reading a peaceful book. This little ritual has infused a glowing coziness to my day, one that puts me at peace for later writing or working patiently on detailed artwork. What a gift of coziness and hygge, for the price of one little candle! (Not even that, for me, as these lovely candles were a get-well gift from a family friend and a kind follower.) Winter needs this slowness. I take the time to notice the first light of dawn illuminating the rosebush outside my window, still covered in bright red rosehips and rustling with little quail as they, too, sense the imminent arrival of the 50
sun. With the soft and flickering warmth of the candles on one side and the blue-grey tones of pre-dawn chill on the other, I feel delightfully cozy, bundled into my blankets with an electric heating pad warming my back. There isn’t a rush to get moving in these glowing moments, just a satisfied smile at the deep sense of peace I am feeling. What a wonderful thing to experience first thing in the morning on these chilly winter days. I try to hold onto that feeling of peace and gentleness as much as I can throughout the day. From a walk in the brisk landscape, all bundled up in lots of long underwear, to the hot drinks when I return, I feel the winter magic sparkling around me. The way to survive the long, dark winters of the North is to surrender to them, to find
pleasure in the contrasts, and to imbue your time inside with simple coziness. From cracking foraged pine nuts in front of the fireplace to grinding up spices by hand in a mortar and pestle, it really doesn’t take much to connect to that seasonal magic. Turning a house into a cozy cocoon for the holiday season can be wonderfully simple. Light some candles. Put a pot of water with some cinnamon sticks and orange peels on the stove and gently boil, releasing an irresistibly warm scent. Bring in some conifer branches in a garland or vase to bring the fresh fragrance of the outdoors in. Bake an easy cake and give yourself the luxury of time to decorate it to your heart’s content. I love having some kind of hearty treat on-hand for any guests that may come by in the chill of winter.
Even better if it’s something I can bake while still in that glowy candle-lit state. These pine nut and pistachio olive oil cakes take just moments to whip together, giving you ample time to decorate the tops with a mandala or make a design made of various nuts. Light a candle, sit down, and let your creativity enjoy the peace of a winter morning. This recipe is for two cakes, perhaps one to share and one to gift (or freeze until later). This cake gets its sweetness from honey and stays moist for longer than more modern recipes thanks to the olive oil and the citrus syrup poured over the top when it is warm out of the oven. Even several days later, it is still delicious with a cup of hot tea or cocoa. This cake holds a little extra magic, too: It stretches very far back in history, connecting us through flavor to ancient rituals and civilizations. I love knowing that this cake is based on recipes that go back thousands of years when such cakes were
offered as gifts to the Gods to give thanks to the ancient Greeks and Romans. Even before this time, ancient Egyptians are thought to have baked similar confections based on the illustrations found inside tombs. Archaeologists have interpreted the ingredients drawn to be flour, eggs, honey, dates, and nuts. The roots of this cake stretch back further than I can even comprehend.
for ancient traditions and modern technology. I hope that with this cake, you feel connected to the past stories, the present senses, and the future gatherings that are all stirred up in this simple cake.
How many others have enjoyed its richness by candlelight? How many houseguests were welcomed with such a nutty delight? Make the process of baking this cake more than another task or chore. Allow it to be a practice in peace and connection. Perhaps you, too, will work by candlelight and leave your window cracked to hear the birds chirp as the sky ever-sogradually lightens. Or maybe you will feel the echoes of history in your hands as you stir up the batter, grateful both
GO SLOW, BY CANDLELIGHT: PINE NUT AND PISTACHIO OLIVE OIL CAKES 51
PINE NUT AND PISTACHIO OLIVE OIL CAKES By Miss Wondersmith
Serve this cake warm or at room temperature. It makes a decadent breakfast when paired with some creamy Greek-style yogurt or fresh fruit, but is equally appealing as a mid-afternoon snack or showstopping dessert. INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
Cakes: 3/4 c ground pine nuts 1 1/2 c almond flour 1 1/2 c ground raw pistachios 2 1/2 c polenta (fine, not coarse) zest and juice from 2 oranges 1 1/4 c honey 1 3/4 c olive oil 8 eggs
1. Preheat oven to 350F and prepare two 9” cake pans by greasing them lightly with olive oil and placing a parchment paper round in the bottom. Grease that too. 2. Stir together the ground nuts, almond flour, and polenta in a large bowl. 3. In another bowl, whisk together the orange juice and zest, honey, olive oil, and eggs. 4. Pour the wet mixture into the polenta mixture and stir until combined. Pour into cake pans. 5. Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. Just before removing the cakes from the oven, whisk together the glaze ingredients. 6. Immediately after removing the cakes from the oven, pour the glaze over the top. 7. Let sit for at least an hour for the glaze to soak in before removing from pans. 8. Decorate as desired with an assortment of nuts.
Glaze: Juice from 2 oranges (about 1/2 c.) Juice from 1/2 lime 1 1/2 c honey Various nuts to decorate.
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Warming Wassail Three Ways By Sarah Robinson
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ncient folklore suggests that an apple eaten at Yule will ensure good health. So to ensure exceptional health, I recommend a warm mug of wassail, a beverage of hot mulled cider. It was drunk as an integral part of wassailing, the ancient Midwinter English ritual intended to ensure an abundant apple harvest, and for wishing good health to others.This ritual is still prevalent in my home county of Somerset, UK, a place famous for its apple orchards, and home to the famed orchards of Avalon in Glastonbury. From the Anglo-Saxon, "waes hael" meaning "to your health,� Wassail, the drink, is offered to visitors throughout the Yule period, and it is taken around the village in a wooden bowl decorated with evergreen leaves (usually holly and ivy) and garlands of red ribbons. There is no definitive recipe for
wassail, as it varies from county to county and was often dependent on local ingredients, but you'll find plentiful apples used in all recipes! In addition to enjoying the warmth of wassail in one's own home, the tradition of taking the wassail out to the local orchards and offering the drink to the trees while singing is a request for abundant future harvests. It's also a way to scare away any evil spirits that might be lurking in branches. The following page has three different recipes for this festive magickal elixir! Waes Hael to all, and to all a good Yule! *UK/US wording; When I refer to apple cider, I mean the alcoholic kind! But it could be swapped out for non-alcoholic if desired.
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Warming Wassail Three Ways By Sarah Robinson
INGREDIENTS: Simple Wassail: 5 c apple cider and 3 apples, grated 4 tbsp brown sugar 1/2 tsp ground ginger 1/2 tsp grated nutmeg (add more to taste) Brandy Wassail: 6 small apples 1 c brown sugar 1â „2 c brandy (or bourbon or spiced rum) optional 6 c apple cider 1 tsp powdered ginger 1 tsp powdered cinnamon 2 cinnamon sticks 10 whole cloves 6 allspice berries Freshly grated nutmeg to serve Zingy Non-alcoholic Wassail: 2 apples (1 whole, 1 finely diced) 6 c apple juice 2 c orange juice 1/3 c lemon juice 4 cinnamon sticks 15 whole cloves, or 1/2 tsp ground cloves 1/4 tsp ground ginger 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 1 tbsp light brown sugar 54
DIRECTIONS: Simple Wassail: 1. Put a cup of cider into a pot and add the grated apples. 2. Cook on low heat until the apple is soft and add the sugar, ginger, and the rest of the cider. Heat through gently. 3. Add grated nutmeg to serve. Brandy Wassail: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 2. Cut the apples in half and cover with the sugar and cinnamon in an oven dish. 3. Bake for 30 minutes. You may need to cover the apples to stop the sugar burning. 4. While the apples bake (which will smell divine), pour brandy and apple cider into a pot set over medium-low heat. 5. Pop in the cinnamon sticks, cloves and berries and ginger, and any remaining sugar. Strain the wassail and take off heat. 6. Drop the baked apples into the mixture and serve warm with a sprinkling of freshly grated nutmeg. Zingy Non-alcoholic Wassail: 1. Start by piercing one apple all around the outside with the 15 whole cloves. 2. Add the apple and the rest of the ingredients and spices to a large saucepan. 3. Simmer everything for up to 45 minutes. 4. Serve warm and enjoy!
Wassailing Events by Sarah Robinson For those who wish to see wassailing in action, I found a few events over the season of Yule that will help you imbibe with friendly locals and soak up the festive atmosphere and the healthgiving powers of the wassail! These are just a snippet of the events that are going on. You can search online for many more. If there is not an event near you, now you have the recipes, nothing is stopping you gathering your friends, kin, and coven for a night of wassailing of your own! Sing to the trees for a fruitful harvest in 2020 and wish good health to your loved ones. In the UK: ● Saturday 7th & 8th December: Christmas Wassail 2019 at Coughton Court, National Trust, Alcester ● Saturday 19 January 2019 Glastonbury Tor, Avalon Orchard ● Read more at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/events In the USA: ● 21st + 22 December Wassailing Weekend Fly Creek Cider Mill and Orchard, Fly Creek, NY
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Coco-nog Pancakeses by Jen Sharples
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Coco-nog Pancakes by Jen Sharples
The holiday season is a time of preparing delicious dishes, exchanging gifts, and celebrating with those you love, and Yule is no exception. An old Pagan festival commemorating the cold days and dark nights for Yule, people would light candles, burn a Yule log, decorate their space with evergreens, holly, and berries, and perform rituals to honor the return of the sun. Giving thanks and working with ancestors and Spirit was, and still is, an important part of life, but most especially so during this 12-day celebration. A large feast would be had featuring a buffet of food and drink such as gingerbread, wassail, turkey, pork, cider, berries, and eggnog, to name a few. And while most people today begin their celebrations during the afternoon and evening hours, there is something to be said about waking up to a scrumptious breakfast. With the frosty mornings, why not start your day off right by making yourself feel full, warm, and absolutely wonderful? I have prepared a delightful recipe for pancakes using coconut nog, which is an excellent alternative to eggnog. And if you have connected to your own inner witch (which I’m sure you have!), then you will definitely love and appreciate the magical workings of all the ingredients. Everything in this recipe promotes love, purification, fertility, and good luck. So, not only will you revel in the feeling you get from eating these pancakes, but those you share this meal with will feel it as well. 57
Coco-nog Pancakes by Jen Sharples
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup all-purpose flour 1 Tbsp light brown sugar 3 Tbsp baking powder ½ tsp nutmeg ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp Himalayan salt 1 egg (if vegan, can substitute with flax egg) 2 tbsp. melted butter (Earth Balance has a wonderful vegan butter) 1 cup coconut milk nog (So Delicious creates a yummy holiday one!)
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DIRECTIONS:
1. Take your griddle or frying pan, grease or oil it, and set it on medium to low heat. 2. In a large bowl, beat the egg until it’s slightly fluffy. If you’re using a flax egg, follow the directions on the packaging. 3. Add the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, sea salt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and butter to the large bowl and mix well. 4. Stir in the coconut-nog and mix until it is well combined. If you feel the batter needs a little extra, splash in a small amount of coconut nog or water. 5. Drop the batter onto a griddle or pan into desired amounts. 6. Cook pancakes on one side until bubbles form and begin to pop. Flip over and cook on the other side until light brown. 7. Serve with powdered sugar, honey, or maple syrup and enjoy!
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