Bath Salts

You’ll Need:

• 2 cups sea salt
• 1/2 cup epsom salt
• 6 drops lavender EO
• 4 drops orange EO
• 3 drops ylang-ylang EO
• large mixing bowl /NOT metal
• plastic spoon
• air-tight container

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in bowl. Mix well. Pour mixture into container.

To Use:
Pour 1/4 cup into warm bath
Yields 2.5 cups of Bath salt

* feel free to adjust amount of Essential Oils to suit.*

Ginger Cinammon-Salt Body Scrub by "AJ"

You’ll Need:

• 1 cup sea salt
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 cup almond oil or olive oil

Mix all ingredients together, then place in pretty containers to give as gifts…

To Use: Gently rub over your damp skin (except  your face) to slough off dry skin. Rinse with warm water. This body scrub has the fresh, invigorating scents of both ginger & cinnamon!!!

Herbal Soap Balls
Wystira’s Herbal Journal – orginal author unknown

You’ll Need:

• 1/4 c. boiling water
• 5 drops essential oil (Chamomile, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage or Thyme)
• 2 c. Ivory or castille soap – shredded
• Plastic wrap

Pour boiling water over herbs.  Add 5 to 6 drops essential oil. Steep 15 minutes.  Reheat till bubbly and pour over soap.  Mix well with hands and let stand 15  minutes.  Mix again and divide into 3 or 6 parts, rolling each into a ball.  Place on plastic warp and dry for 3 days.

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader’s personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.

Fair Use Notice: This page may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This website distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107.

December will soon begin, and with it comes the holiday season.

How does one deal with holidays in hokku?  The same way one deals with a season.  A holiday verse is like a miniature seasonal verse — in other words, it should express the character of the holiday, how it manifests — with emphasis always upon Nature and the place of humans within and as a part of Nature.

The most important holidays of the year come in December — in the winter.  Why is that?  It is because in older times, when people lived closer to Nature and the seasons, December was the time when the days were at their shortest, and darkness seemed to threaten the world.  So people needed a time of hope and cheer and encouragement, and they began to celebrate the “rebirth” of the sun in the darkest part of winter, telling themselves that light and warmth would come again to the world.

Some of us still celebrate the holidays in that old way — remembering and celebrating the Winter Solstice, that point in the wheel of the year when the days stop growing shorter and begin once more to grow longer — Wintersonnenwende, as it is called in German — the time when the sun “turns” in winter, and the light of day again begins to lengthen.  In English it is often called the Winter Solstice, from Latin solstitia, meaning the time when the sun “stands still” — that critical point when it seems to pause before reversing.

There should be nothing new in this to students of hokku, who will remember that when either of the two elements — Yang or Yin — reaches its ultimate point, then it changes into its opposite.  That is exactly what happens at the Winter Solstice.  The growing yin of decreasing light changes into its opposite, and the “yang” day begins to grow longer again in comparison to the “yin” night.

I prefer the old term “Yule,” which is the word still used in Scandinavian countries for what others may call Christmas.  Have you ever thought that celebrating the birth of Christ near the time of the Solstice is just another symbolic way of celebrating the encouraging return of light and hope?  The early Christians just adapted the older holiday to their use, so “Christmas” is just Yule under another name — as we see in the line from the well-known seasonal song,

Troll the ancient Yuletide carol.

And of course the other line,

See the blazing Yule before us.

The “blazing Yule” is of course the Yule log, an old tradition of the holiday, obviously connected with light and warmth.

So the Winter Solstice is Yule, and the whole holiday period is Yuletide — the time of Yule.  I tend to think of it as the Twelve Days of Yule, beginning with the day of the Solstice and continuing on to New Year’s Day.  That whole period for me is Yuletide — a time to be happy and hopeful.

It is also a time to think of others, which is something that is particularly emphasized in the wonderful old black and white movie based on the Charles Dickens story A Christmas Carol.  In spite of the latest Hollywood effort, the absolute best and definitive version of this kindly story is that in which the British actor Alastair Sim is “Scrooge,” the stingy, “rational,” selfish part of all of us.  So do not bother with other versions — just go that unsurpassed old version — and be sure it is in the original black and white, not any “colorized” attempt.  It teaches us that the holiday time is not a time to focus on the “self,” but rather a time to focus on others.  That is a very “hokku-like” attitude, and very much in keeping with the spirituality of hokku.

So, whether we call it Yule or Christmas or Noël or something else, the holiday season of December can provide some interesting hokku if pay close attention to it.

Take one of the most pleasant seasonal songs, In the Bleak Midwinter:

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Regular readers know that I often lament the use of metaphor and simile in verse, but it is really just the misuse or poor use of it to which I object.  It is used very effectively in these lines.  We could make one or more hokku of it, of course dropping the similes:

Bleak midwinter;
Earth is hard,
Water frozen.

That is a bit like the early hokku of Sōgi that present two things unified by a third, which in this case is the first line.  Making hokku like this does not, of course, prevent us from enjoying and appreciating the original verse, which had a different purpose.  And no matter which one likes better, we can still enjoy our own efforts based on an original, for example,

Bleak midwinter;
Snow falls
Upon snow.

We should generally only write hokku based on other verses if they also faithfully reflect the character of the season and our own experience.

So as the days of Yule approach, we can think about not only winter hokku, but also holiday hokku, a subcategory of their own.

“December” comes to us from Latin, in which it means simply “Tenth month.”  It reminds us of old Quaker reckoning, in which the months were numbered, as were the days of the week.  For the Quakers, December was “Twelfth Month”

Going a bit farther back, our ancestors were more expressive — “Yule Moon,” “Wolf Moon,” and “Winter Moon,” as well as “Holy Moon.”  ”Moon” is the origin of our “month,” which was originally based on the phases of the moon.

So December, “Yule Month,” is the first month of Winter.  As part of winter, it again raises the possibility for good hokku of contrast — light amid darkness, warmth amid cold, and other such things.  And it brings with it the possibility also for holiday hokku.

David

Dimman har lättat något men mörkret har sedan länge redan sänkt sig över Östermalm, Stadions klocktorn syns inte från köksfönstret och har inte setts sedan lunch. Kaknästornet syns inte heller trots blinkandet, fortfarande bildar dimman en vägg åt det hållet. Lotuslyktorna är tända, Monsieur och jag har nyss druckit té och ska snart klä på oss varma kläder för att bege oss ut i staden. En skön promenad på lugna Östermalm, kvarteren är vackra och tysta och jag tycker om det.

Inuti känns det lugnt och avslappnat, jag känner mig renad. Helgen har varit fin, vi har hunnit med mycket men allt har skett i maklig takt så jag känner mig ändå utvilad och landad.

I förmiddags gick jag på mitt andra bikram yoga-pass. Efter första gången så tänkte jag att det inte var något för mig, men så ville Monsieur prova så jag följde med. Den här gången hade jag druckit mer, och tyckte faktiskt inte alls att det var lika jobbigt utan riktigt roligt, men det är nog ändå inget för mig. Tror att jag håller mig till “vanlig” yoga, även om jag inte är helt negativ till bikram. Monsieur blev inte heller hooked, men ej heller avskräckt, så kanske promenerar vi ner till Brahegatan igen, men kommer inte börja gå där regelbundet. På ett sätt är det väldigt synd, konceptet med att yoga tillsammans med Monsieur varje söndagsförmiddag hade tilltalat mig. Jag tänker mig att Monsieur kanske skulle tycka om rocket yoga, kanske kan vi prova det nästa år. I år finns det faktiskt inte tid!

Första advent har inte märkts av mer än att vi ställde fram pepparkakor (som blev över från i fredags) när Jesper, Agnes och Ava kom på fika tidigare idag. Monsieur och jag har inte ens hängt upp någon pentagramstjärna i fönstret, trots att vi har flera fina. En annan dag. Någon dag ska jag skriva lite mer om varför jag inte tycker om julen så som den blivit, men det jag fortfarande tycker om med julen är trots allt det faktum att alla människor pyntar den mörka världen med ljus när solen är som mest frånvarande. En stor ljushögtid mitt i det mörka, det är vackert.

Istället för att julpynta gick vi på bio, såg Luftslottet som sprängdes. Jag tycker att vissa viktiga delar från boken inte är med, men så är det väl alltid när man filmatiserar böcker, så jag blir inte ens förvånad. Och boken var ju inte så jävla bra alltså, slutet är skitlöjligt (om möjligt dock ännu löjligare i filmen än i boken!), och att filmen är en tv-produktion kändes av. Det blir helt enkelt inte bra, den poäng som trots allt finns i boken (vad man nu än må tycka om den) kommer aldrig riktigt fram i filmen, eller så rinner den mellan fingrarna innan man förstod att hela trilogins största ögonblick i storyn faktiskt just beskådats. Metropia, som vi såg i fredags, var inte heller någon höjdare, även om den var otroligt snygg och hade några mindre poänger. Banal story dock, precis som tidningarnas recensenter redan påpekat.

Imorgon är det sista rycket innan 1 december. Mycket som ska göras, det blir en intensiv dag. Jag både vill och inte vill att min professor ska ha tid med mig. Vill, för hon ger mig alltid värdefull input. Vill inte, eftersom mötena brukar dra ut på tiden, tid som jag inte har.

Och om 8 dagar lyfter planet! Men först, fullt ös i en sista vecka till.

Andra bloggar om bikram yoga, yoga, Östermalm, Luftslottet som sprängdes, Metropia, advent

Something interesting happened last night.

While i was playing a video game, Alderon dug out a box.  Now that’s not interesting, but what is interesting is what He was looking for.

Yule/Christmas lights.  Last year, He grumbled and griped about me decorating for Yule.  He said that there was nothing good about it.  It was over-commercialized by different industries and the real meaning was lost.  It was, but that’s all the more reason to decorate and try to explain the values to my daughter; instead of just giving her gifts and continuing the cycle.  i was allowed to put up a very small tree (i believe it was a two foot fiber-optic if i recall correctly), a couple of window clings, and i believe i tried to find a place for my bubble lights (a Christmas tradition when i was growing up was placing bubble lights in our living room window). 

He hated all of it.  He hated everything about this time of year.  All He did was focus on the fact that His soul mate, wife, and slave was taken from Him a few years back, and He believed that He had nothing to be thankful for or to celebrate.  It was difficult; very difficult.  i think that’s when i really started to become jealous of her.  She had entered this place of martyrdom in His mind; and i, who has been loving Him for going on two years now, didn’t even come close to being in part of His heart.  More-so, my daughter, who had begun to call Him “dad” by her own volition – even when she was corrected by everyone to call Him by His name – was growing up thinking that this was how a father figure acts toward her mommy and herself.

This year, i was expecting the same type of thing.  He, however, has changed that by a simple act of digging out a few strands of lights.  He was also talking about a tradition that He had of buying a small tree, decorating it with popcorn strings and cranberries, and then planting it, still decorated, in the spring.  i think that would be a great idea.  Of course, being a bit of a new-agey (or perhaps old-agey depending how you look at it), it would work for me.  He being an ordained Druid priest; it of course works for Him also. 

Is this a sign that He is moving on from the tragedy of a few years ago?  He does seem to be a bit more light-hearted.  He has been a lot more cheerful in the past few weeks.  He has been yelling less, and the environment around here has been a lot more easy-going.  i’m not saying that He is forgetting her; i really don’t want that.  i was just wanting Him to accept the fact that she is gone.  Love her memory, not mourn the loss of her physical existence.  There is a difference in the two.

This act of Him wanting to start a tradition anew with me and my daughter seems to be a step in that direction.  Perhaps, finally, there will be room in His heart for someone like me.  Perhaps my daughter will grow up, knowing that all those who live with her love her.

Now that the turkey is in pieces, and the stuffing is all eaten, we can now get onto preparing for the next set of holidays.  Here we see the Bearded One heading the initial planning meeting of the season.

And some attentive attendees:

The man poses for the first of many promo shots to come:

As mentioned before, we’re a multi-faith household here.  Broadly speaking we’re Pagan, Catholic and Protestant.  In reality we blur the lines much more than that, but that sums it up enough for now

The mix of religions, upbringings and family traditions mean that we each have our own idea about what should happen, and when.  Thankfully this year one thing, the decorations, has been met with indifference (only for the timing, not the actual decorations themselves), so I get to put them up, as a family, at the beginning of Dec!

In previous years we’ve really only had a tree, and a few odds and ends, but this year I wanted to start making some decorations, after all, I’m crafty, I can do this!  So, behold, here’s what’s been made so far:

Door wreath made from card/wrapping paper (still working on this one, pics once I’m done)

Fabric bird, for hanging on the tree – hoping to make some more of these as the years go by, Original pattern

Knitted fir trees – original pattern

Knitted fir trees

Owen and I (mostly Owen) are also working on some paper snowflakes (plain printer paper), inspired from Instructables, which will go on the (large) front room window

Paper snowflakes

And finally, for now, paperchains using left over wrapping paper from last year that was too crumbled to use for presents!

Decorating starts technically on Monday 1st Dec, but we’re putting the tree up tomorrow to see how the cats react… we may yet have to revise the plans (though I have some ideas about how to stabilise a cat-toy tree).  I also plan on making more decorations are Xmas/Yule approaches, and as I finish the gifts off….

Stay Up All-Night Yule Ritual
by Zyalia, the crone, found on The Dance

At the moment of Solstice light a large (either pillar or tall floor) candle. I use red as it is the Holly King’s time. This should burn itself out towards dawn (hopefully).

"As the long shadows fall
In the dark of Winter’s thrall
Let flame to wick alight
And illume the longest night."

At dusk – light the three candles of the Yule Log. Different Trads use different colored candles. Some use Black, Red and White. I Use Red for the Holly King, White for the Goddess, and Green for the Oak King. From now until dawn, the candles must be kept burning, light each replacement from its predecessor – don’t fall asleep – have company in to keep you awake. Have a party – that’s what I do. Sing, eat, tell stories… be creative…

"Watch we all ’til morn
When the Light shall be reborn
And in creeping measure, day
Replaces night’s cold sway."

At dawn, you may extinguish the Yule Log candles. Greet the fledging Sun … outdoors if possible, as He rises on the first Winter morning.

"As God is of the Goddess born
Upon this first of Winter’s morns
Let Time’s great Wheel turn
And the candle bright flame burn
With the first Great Light ascending
Let the long, dark night be ending."

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader’s personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.

Fair Use Notice: This page may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This website distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107.

I felt after reading this that it was a wonderful piece that covered not only my earth based sentiments about the season but convayed acceptance of all tranditions of the season. It is something that I’ve added to my personal Parenting Book of Shadows to illustrate and share with my daughter as she grows older.

Our Winter Queen

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1438410735

Nej, jag är inte ironisk, jag gör faktiskt det. Är inne i en så himla rolig fas nu, det är spännande och jag känner att jag kommer framåt. Hade dessutom ett jättebra möte med min professor igår, där jag fick lite pepp och uppskattning. Sådant sörplar man ju i sig förstås. Jag inser att det är få förunnat att verkligen känna sig glada när de är på väg till jobbet om morgnarna, men jag är en av dem. Jag tycker väldigt mycket om mitt jobb, jag tycker om mina arbetsuppgifter, jag tycker om mitt fina kontor, jag tycker om mina arbetskamrater, jag tycker om att bo nära jobbet. Och nyss fick jag ett mail av en grupp som jag handlett tidigare under hösten, där de skriver att de är nöjda med min handledning. Jag sörplar i mig igen.

Dessutom innebär den här dagen lite extra pepp. Britth har satt upp ljusstakar i alla rummen, jag har Rome i lurarna, har köpt hit ett jättegott vanilj/rabarber-té, och det fanns mandelskorpor nere i köket här på labbet.

Goda téet i KI-mugg (jag är ju trots allt anställd där och inte på SU), med mandelskorpa.

Idag ska jag fixa så att alla mina figurer i mitt manus är fina, och sedan ska jag börja fundera på diskussionsdelen samtidigt som jag lägger in referenserna. Jag känner mig för en gångs skull inte stressad trots förestående deadline, och om 10 dagar åker Monsieur och jag till Gambia. Där är det just nu 25-30 grader och strålande sol.

Vissa morgnar går man hemifrån innan Löjtnanten öppnat. Då får man köpa frukost på DellRe.

Ikväll väntar nachomeze (kanske bör benämnas som mexikanskt/tapas?), årets första glögg och sedan Metropia. Min snuva är nästan helt borta. Kort sagt – det är en bra fredag!

Winter Solstice Spell for Healing
From Wiccan Magick: A Seasonal Guide to Wiccan Religion and Ritual (link is dead )

Needed:

• Mistletoe
• Pine Branches
• gold candle
• Frankincense (or other appropriate incense)
• Small cauldron (or similar container)
• a ripe apple
• three bay leaves
• rock or sea salt
• spring water
• sprig of evergreen

Adorn the Altar with the Mistletoe and Pine Branches and place the candle in the center. Burn your incense choice. In cauldron, place apple, bay leaves and a pinch of the salt. Light the candle, visualizing the rebirth and return of the God banishing the cold of Winter. Recite this Solstice Chant:

"Geese and standing stones and mist,
Baying hounds and hooting owl,
Sparkling Stars, and snow is crisp,
Herne is here, bring forth the Bowl."

As this is said, sprinkle spring water into the cauldron using a sprig of evergreen, visualizing the strength and healing power of Herne’s rebirth. This power flows into the Apple, energizing it with all the power of the God. Lift the apple from the cauldron. If the spell of healing is for another, visualize this person receiving the healing power within the apple, picture them gaining strength, becoming well. Replace the Apple into the cauldron and finish with a chant of thanks:

"May the Goddess of Night,
Fair Lady of the Moon
And the God-
Great horned hunter of the sun,
May the power of the stones and the oceans,
The Winds and the Flame,
Bless me this night in my sacred work,
Which is right and just in your name.
Blessed Be."

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader’s personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.

Fair Use Notice: This page may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This website distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107.

Yew Lore
Taken In part, from an essay by Sarah the SwampWitch,
Originally written for and posted to the Witches Three list

Tree of the day before the Winter Solstice (Aprox. December 21)
Latin name: Taxus baccata.
Celtic name: Idho (pronounced: Ih’ huh).
Local name: English Yew, European Yew
Parts used: Needles, wood, berries.
Herbal Uses: Caution!! This plant is poisonous and should be used with caution!!!! The needles and branch tips have been used to treat lung diseases and bladder problems, and more recently a new cancer drug, Taxol, has been derived from its bark and berries.
Magical History & Associations: The name "Yew" is a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon word ‘eow’. The word ‘Taxus’ is from the Greek word ‘Taxon’, meaning ‘bow’. The 5,000 year old "Ice Man", discovered in the Alps, had a bow and axe handle made of Yew. The Yew is known as the ‘Tree of Death’ throughout Europe and is associated with the season of winter. It is sacred to many Dark Goddesses: Banbha, Amalthea (mother of the horned Dionysus), Morrighan, The Erinyes, Cailleach Beara, Berchta, and Hecate.  In addition, it was associated with Odin. Shakespeare recognized the relationship of Yew and Hecate and referred to the contents of her cauldron as

"slips of yew, silver’d in the moon’s eclipse…"

(Macbeth)

Elsewhere, Shakespeare makes ‘hebenon, the double-fatal yew’ the poison which Hamlet’s uncle pours into the king’s ear.

Hecate’s sacred tree of death is said to root in the mouths of the dead and release their souls, and also to absorb the odors of death itself. Bulls are associated with this tree, as are female goats. The bird associated with Yew is the eaglet, since the eaglet’s appetite is insatiable, and the bones of its nest are white like the snow on its cliff-ledge. The Yew’s colors are white and silver and it is associated with the element of water. The Yew is associated with the planet Saturn and with the metal lead. In Old England the Yew was known as "The Witches’ Tree" since it is associated with sorcery and magic, and was used by the Celtic-Irish to make dagger handles and wine barrels. Some say Yew wood is acceptable for the making of magical tools such as wands and staves, yet others strongly recommend not using this wood for any magical tools.

Magickal usage: The time of Yew is known as a time of death, and so on the day before Yule it said that is not a good idea to do actual spell work. Instead, it is suggested that rituals of the season concerned with reincarnation are appropriate. Because the Yew grows to such an old age, it has become a symbol of stability in Celtic areas of the world and so is often used as the central "World Tree" in ritual spaces. Yew sends up new trees from its roots, so is a powerful symbol of death and reincarnation. It is called for in "destructive" workings concerning death, as well as those concerning passage, spirits, penitence and psychic growth.

No tree is more associated with the history and legends of Great Britain than the Yew. Before Christianity was introduced it was a sacred tree favored by the Druids, who built their temples near these trees – a custom followed by the early Christians. The association of the tree with places of worship still prevails In ancient times Yew sticks were carved with the Ogham characters as tools of divination. The Futhark features a 13th Rune, which is considered one of the most powerful Runes and represents a stave cut from a yew tree. This Rune is regarded as the stave of life and death. As one of the three magical trees (along with the Alder and the Black Poplar) associated with death and funerals, the Yew has often been planted in graveyards. It is, as such, traditionally a cemetery tree, in large part because Celtic Priests and Priestesses regarded it as a symbol of immortality and planted it in their Sacred Groves, druids also used wands of Yew to foretell the Future. Yew leaves placed on a grave remind us that the death of a dear one is only a pause in life before rebirth. It offers healing for mental and emotional problems, and is said to contain the secrets of the Goddess. Yew can also be dried and burned as an incense to contact spirits of the dead – or even to raise the dead, so it is claimed…

Yew is represented by the letter I (idho) in the tree alphabet and is sometimes regarded as the most sacred tree to the druids with it symbolism of death and rebirth (due to the fact that the outer tree dies and a new tree grows within). It represents transformation & reincarnation and may be used to enhance magical/psychic abilities as well as to induce visions. All parts of the yew are poisonous apart from the berry covering, and as such, it was used to poison weapons. Before the use of iron became general, yew was greatly valued as it  resists the action of water and is a very hard wood. It is a symbol of the hunt, making superior bows and was widely used for that purpose. This use, and the high quality of bows achieved using the wood, also strengthened the belief that the Yew was strongly connected with death.

This herb is sacred to the the Winter Solstice and deities of death and rebirth. The Yew is known as the death tree in all European countries. The Silver Fir of birth and the Yew of death are sisters. They stand next to each other in the circle of the year and their foliage is almost identical.

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader’s personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.

Fair Use Notice: This page may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This website distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107.

Winter Solstice Soup
Submitted by: Sara Mayes From All Recipes

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons margarine
• 2 onions, chopped
• 2 carrots, shredded
• 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 3 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cups milk
• salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter or margarine and sauté the onions for 5 to 10 minutes, or until tender. Add the carrots, potatoes, water, salt, parsley, thyme and bay leaf. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the bay leaf. Puree the soup in a blender or food processor in small batches and return to the pot. Stir in the soup, mixing well, and season with salt and pepper to taste. A golden colored, nourishing soup created on a cold northeastern winter night. Perfect to warm you from the inside! Serve with biscuits and a fruit salad.

Makes 4 servings.
Prep Time: 10 Minutes.
Cook Time: 45 Minutes.
Ready in: 55 Minutes.

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader’s personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.

Fair Use Notice: This page may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This website distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107.

Looking through all of the stock that we have in store, its becoming obvious that Anne Stokes is a leading designer of fantasy giftware and collectables.  Not only do we stock some of her fantastic fantasy figurines, we also have an entire jewellery range called  Mythical Companions, designed by her as well as some gorgeous christmas/yule cards.

She doesn’t seem limited to a particular figure as we have magickal dragons, fantasy fairies and some archetypal gothic horror creations too, wouldn’t it be great if she created a tarot or oracle deck filled with her own designs? Looking at the deck that one of her contemporaries, Jessica Galbreth has created; The Enchanted Oracle Deck, will give you some idea of just how stunning it could be!

Below are some of the stunning examples of her work that we currently have in stock.

During the medieval era, the English court feasted with four courses. Between each course, a subtlety was presented to the guests. These subtleties, also called sotelties, were sculptural centerpieces made using sugar, marzipan, wax, or some other more orthodox material. [1] Subtleties were not always edible, as they might be composed of wax or plaster. Subtleties were elaborate sugar sculptures. They may have been constructed by molded or poured sugar, formed sugar around a base using sugar paste or carved from blocks of sugar.[2] The theme for these subtleties offered entertainment and conversation between the four courses.

Full documentation located here.

You will need:

• Green paper/card
• Googlie eyes
• White and Pink paper/card
• Pipe Cleaners
• Stickers, glitter
• PVA glue and sticky tape

You can either scale down the template from the following link   http://www.hostessblog.com/wp-content/uploads/uploaded_images/paper_cone_template.pdf  or you can use a compass to draw a circle 8cm in diameter and then a protractor to mark off 210 degrees on your circle. Either way you want to do this on green card.

Cut out the circle, then the two portions and retain your waste. This forms the body and you can decorate it in any way you like.

Put to one side and take the waste and cut out two boot shapes. Bend the pipe cleaner in half and stick the two boots on the ends. Take the body and roll into a cone with the pipe cleaner sticking no more than 1cm above the edge (you want to be able to see the boots below the cone)

Now take the green, pink and white paper/card and cut an oval of pink, a beard shape of white and a hat of green. Stick together to make Father Christmas’ face and add the googly eyes in place.

Tie a peice of sting to the pipe cleaner to create a hanging loop and then secure Father Cristmas’ face to the pipe cleaner.

Now he’s ready to hang on you tree or about your house.

A nice variation of this would be a green man and earth/moon goddess as altar decorations. The Greenman would need to be all in green whilst the Earth goddess could also be in greens and browns, just use wool for hair. The moon goddess would look lovely in black/deep blue and white.

Flock of Bocken (OK, herd, but flock sounded better)

About a year ago, I read about these Scandinavian julbocken (the plural form of julbock) and immediately wanted one. Never having seen one here in Canada though, I didn’t think it would happen.

Then, a few days ago I walked into IKEA … and stumbled upon an entire crate of them – and, like most things IKEA, the price was right. I immediately bought two as they’ll make great Winter Solstice decorations. And yesterday I went back for more!

I’m only keeping two of them though; one, I picked up for someone at work and another will also be going to work with me but won’t be coming home again. You’ll just have to check back to hear why, which I’ll explain it sometime soon …

Anyway, here’s what they’re all about:

The Yule Goat is one of the oldest Scandinavian and northern European Yule traditions and is a customary decoration or gift in Scandinavian homes.

In Sweden it is known as a Julbock, in Norway, a Julebukk (Yule Buck) and in Finland, an Olkipukki (Straw Buck). They are made from braided straw and wheat ears and are bound with red ribbons.

The Yule Goat derives from the ancient Norse legend of Thor/Odin/Ukko, the God of Thunder, who rode across wintry skies in a chariot drawn by two goats.

In earlier times the Yule Goat was burned as a sacrifice to Thor. In more recent times, a popular prank was to place the Yule Goat in a neighbor’s house without them noticing; the family successfully pranked had to get rid of it in the same way. Nowadays the purely decorative Julbock/Olkipukki is often placed near gifts to protect them.

… and that’s all well and good but I just love the way they look! Especially all four of them together. Hmmm.

Tude has taken the dog for a gallop around the bush and I am sitting here trying to digest an enormous brunch. I really should have gone with them but I am running out of time to do the other stuff I had planned like writing this.  The other thing is that it is really hot today and so climbing hills does not seem like such fun. I will walk to the felting course this afternoon as a token gesture and then walk home again, this will help to make me feel slightly virtuous.

Today’s post is on a subject close to my heart – Christmas.  Even though I am a pagan I love it. Actually because I am a pagan I get two celebrations at once. If I am in New Zealand I get to celebrate the Summer Solstice, the longest day, around the 22nd December. Or if I am in the U.K. I get to celebrate Yule, the shortest day. The U.K. is best for celebrating Christmas I think because it is actually cold there. It is appropriate to eat roast dinners, whereas in N.Z it is usually B.B.Q weather. And I even don’t mind that it seems to start earlier each year.  Some of the shop windows in Carterton already have their Christmas trees up.

• Sparkley Stuff – I love tinsel and decorations. I love visiting other countries near Christmas and seeing the different decorations. I am unable to stick with a theme to decorate trees so mine always look a bit mad.
• Lights.  I have never decorated the outside of my own house but I love other people to do it. I like to walk or drive around and see what mad decorations have gone up.  When I lived in Swansea I used to walk to work along a hill. One of the houses I passed had the large window of its lounge hard up against the pavement and the people who owned it would decorate the room beautifully.  Every morning I would walk past and they would have lit their fire and switched all the Christmas lights on. I never saw anybody in it. As it was still dark and cold out, it was a wonder to behold and I would give myself a treat and a warm by stopping and gazing in for a minute .  They always had their curtains wide open and no nets so I used to be sure they did it for me and others, trudging along to work.
• Being around children who still believe in Santa is pretty cool.
• The peace and good will message.  The world can’t be reminded of  that enough.
• I have a huge fondness for carols. Possibly because I used to be in a church choir and loved to sing them. Just luuve Bing Crosby’s White Christmas as well.
• Don’t ya just love holidays – community holidays, where you know pretty much everyone is not working. I like going for a walk on Christmas or Boxing Day and just hearing the hush. And seeing the kids playing with new toys.
• Presents.  I love them. I just do. Giving and getting, it’s all good.
• Food and parties – what’s not to like?

Welcome to my personal blog. The day to day ramblings of one witch in the world, celebrating life and the wheel of the year.

So witches, it is that void of time and space between Samhain and Yule. This time of year always means deep reflection for me. I like to use this time to feel my way through the dark, so to speak. It’s a time for sorting through all of the joys and sorrows of the past year. Getting rid of that which we don’t need to make way for the new.

This past year was a big one for me. I turned 30, and got married. Alot of spiritual growth happened as well. Many lessons were learned, and there was alot of love and laughter. I’m eternally thankful for my life. I have a partner that means the world to me, a fair job, a place to live, a new truck, great pets, and food in my belly.

I’ve so far decided that this new year will be one of writing for me. I want to write a book. It has been a dream of mine as long as I can remember,  I wrote and pasted together my first book at 4 years old. My mom still has it packed away somewhere. I feel that this year I should turn that dream into a reality.

I’ve also decided that this year, I will work to improve my health. I called a local women’s gym this morning for pricing information, and I’m hoping to start that soon. As women, we tend to neglect our needs to serve others, feeling guilty about taking care of ourselves and our bodies. I am throwing that concept away, it does not serve me.

Also this year, I am planning to work toward buying a home with my love. Prosperity Magick will of course be involved!

This blog will not only be a way to mark my progress, but lots of fun along the way. Spells, and Sabbat celebrations, will be posted here, too. Every step of the way I plan to share my experiences with losing weight, writing a book, buying a home, and just living the witchy life!

Bright Blessings,

Jes

Yule Ritual for Children
by Michelle Balsley; November 17, 2000

Start this Seasonal Celebration early in the day, Make Sun symbol ornaments and White Stag Ornaments to hang on the Yule tree, You can always put some type of sealant on the ornaments and hang them outside on a special tree, if this is what you prefer.

Write your own songs to sing to the Lord on his day of rebirth. Decorate the house in Golds, Greens (Ivy, Pine), Whites, some Reds, cut out big Suns and Stars hang them around the house or make a mobile to hang from the ceiling.

Go walking through the woods, park and be on the look out for a Yule Log. And once you locate your Yule log, drill three holes in it, one for a White candle, Red candle, and a Black Candle (Maiden, Mother and Crone) place these in the holes that you drilled in the Yule Log and light the candles.

Decorate your Table/Altar in Golds and Whites.

Have the children and yourself, take a Ritual Bath, burn some Pine Incense or whatever appeals to your emotions and reminds you of Yule. Help each other get dressed for the Celebration of welcoming the rebirth of the Lord, and this is also the time to Thank the Lady. Everyone should have some part in helping to set up the Ritual Area, I use a Gold cord to mark the Circle, this helps the kids, as a Yule Ritual can be pretty long. (let the kids lay down in the Circle, the Lady understands-make special pillows, stuffed with Pine, Orange Peel, of course I wouldn’t suggest using Pine needles, nothing like having one stick you in the cheek, just use some Oil, these pillows are for the kids to put their heads on while they wait for the return of the Sun)

Once it gets closer to the Yule Ritual, have the Children welcome in the guests if any are coming.

The Ritual:

Lay the Gold cord on the floor
Cast your Circle
Call the Quarters
Welcome the Lady and the Lord

Mommy/Daddy:

"Welcome to our Yule Ritual, this is the time we look forward to our Sun/Lord/God to return, We have missed him high in the sky, smiling upon us as we start another day, his hugs are the rays that shin upon us as we work or play outside, his kisses are a warm breeze that gently caresses our cheeks, he is the green of the woods, the bright gold of the sun, he is the White Stag in the Woods, Protector and Watcher".

Children/All:

"Father/God/Lord we await your return". (Say as much as you want to, this is also a good short, sweet chant to use to raise any energy you may want during the ritual)

Mommy/Daddy:

"We light the Candles on the Yule log in honor the Goddess/Mother/Lady, White for the Maiden, Red for the Mother, and Black for the Crone". (Light the candles and let them burn, to almost the Yule log, don’t want the log to catch fire)

Children/All:

"We thank you Goddess/Lady for all that you have given us".(Once again another short and sweet chant to raise energy) At this time Share of some Cakes, Wine/Ale/Fruit Juice should be done. (One of our favorites is light and fluffy Divinity Candy, or baked sugar cookies that look like the Sun)

Share stories about Yule’s past and talk about what you would like to do next Yule Talk about what the Goddess and God mean to you and of course let the Children tell their Stories and feelings too! Exchange small Yule Gifts.

Mommy/Daddy:

"We thank the Lady and Lord on this day for the gifts they have given us, and for each other. Bright Blessings upon us all".

At this point you can either stay in the Circle and keep on talking until the Sun comes up, or dissolve the Circle, of course always thanking the Quarters and the Lady for being there. Go for a walk outside and Welcome the New day as the Sun comes back.

I know that this Ritual is not as formal, as some would wish, but you have to remember you are involving young Children with short attention spans (some adults have those, too!) These types of Short, Sweet and to the Point Rituals prepare your children for the more Formal ones later in this Lifetime. Blessings for a Bright Yule! (Copyright Michelle Balsley About this author: Wiccan, Married, two children, work full time outside the home, I live in a small town, love to write, read, swim, and laugh. )

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I always thought I knew about the origins of Santa Claus and Father Christmas, after all they are the same person aren’t they? When I set out on this I was looking for a ‘pagan’ figure to hold up to my daughter as ‘the spirit of Yule/Christmas’  I realised that whilst they have the same recent history they have different ancient origins.

 The jolly figure of winter fun and frivolity has many names such as Ded Moroz (Farther Frost) in Russia, Sinter Klaas (sound familiar?) in Holland, Pere Noel in France and Farther Christmas in England and the UK. These figures are depicted as wearing red, with flowing white beards sat astride horse or reindeer drawn sleighs in the whitest winter settings but each has an older pagan root which was adopted and adapted by the Christians.

 The differences in the two are slight and can be viewed in terms of the spirit of the season and the cost of the season. Father Christmas doesn’t have the commercial connotations that Santa Claus does and can be found to contain more pagan iconography than the fat, jolly, red faced man in red and white.  I will briefly outline the combined origins of these two figures and set out the period of history since the 1800’s that so firmly divided Christmas and Clause.

Old Man Winter

Considering that there are many henge’s and monuments there are marking the mid-winter solstice it is safe to assume that this event was marked at some stage throughout British pre-history. Whether there was a personification of the season apart from the returning sun god will never be known. It is likely that there was some native representation akin to Jack Frost and Russia’s Ded Moroz  and this figure was absorbed by later traditions entering the land but there is no way to prove it.

 The earliest traditions refer to ‘Old Man Winter’ and ‘Father Winter’ and are linked to the incoming Nordic populations. Old Man Winter is linked to Odin, who rode through the land on Mid-Winters eve on his magical, eight legged horse Sleiphir, seeking hospitality and rewarding both the bad and good accordingly. By the laws of hospitality in Scandinavia at this time any visitors were to be treated like their were Gods incarnate. Old Man Winter would be invited into the house to take part in the festivities in an attempt to ‘warm him up’ in advance of the new year.

 When the Vikings invaded Britain in the 8^th and 9^th Cen’s that they introduced this proto-Father Christmas to the native populations, and it is likely that Odin as Father Winter was combined with the pre-existing example of the Yule Spirit. It was the arrival of the Normans in 1066 that brought the most commonly associated ‘Father Christmas’ figure, St Nicholas. Nicholas was originally from southern Turkey, and was canonised for his charitable works. I will go into more detail later but it is at this time gift giving becomes associated with the figure of winter.

 Father Christmas

It wasn’t until the 15^th century that the first carol was written and Sir Christmas first made his appearance. By the 17^th Century, and especially in the reign of the party loving Tudor King Henry VIII, Captaine Christmas (old Christmas) was taking centre stage as the MC of Christmas celebrations. In Tudor York, Mr and Mrs Christmas would ride through the streets giving gifts of meat and grains to the poor and needy, likely portrayed by a leading member of the merchant classes and his wife. In these instances Christmas is described to have been wearing green, as apposed to red, with a long flowing beard. 

 It was in the 1640’s that the Puritans limbered up to attack and destroy Father Christmas. He was too frivolous and too pagan for their sensibilities. Whilst they didn’t totally destroy him he didn’t regain any real popularity until the advent of the Victorian’s, when there was a revival of all things jolly.

It is now that Father Christmas’ role begins to change. The Victorians not only re-embrace this wonderful mythical figure but re-invent him. The put him on their greeting cards and start to write stories and poems about him and his exploits. He even puts in an appearance in the Dickens’ novel A Christmas Carol as the green clad Spirit of Christmas Present. But it is now that we begin to see the emergence of the New World equivalent, Santa Claus. Slowly but surely there is a drip drip drip of contamination and can mark the first time that ‘King Winter’ is decked out in red.

The New World Order

You’ll notice in paragraph two I made reference to Sinter Klaas and how similar to Santa Claus this is. More so than Father Christmas, Santa Claus is directly linked to St Nicholas. As different European cultures settled in the new world they brought their own religious traditions.

St Nicholas, as we have already seen, is closely associated with this time of year. His saint day was the 6^th of December and he was canonised for his charity and spontaneous gift giving. When the various people reached America the variety of names could be seen. He takes the form of Père Nöel in France and Christ Kind in Germany whilst the Dutch called him Sinter Klass. It is this persona that eventually evolved into Santa Claus.

It isn’t until the 19^th Century that that the more popularised and commercialised American concept of Santa Clause the gift giver reached our shores.  There are hundreds of poems and stories about Santa Clause, “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” or “’Twas the Night before Christmas” written by Dr Clement Clare Moore in 1882. Its from this tale that we get the 8 names for the reindeer with Rudolph being added in 1939 by Robert May, an employee of the Montgomery Ward department store chain as a special promotion which simply caught on.

It was 40 years later when Thomas Nast, cartoonist for Harper’s Weekly immortalized the images that we know so well and which form the basis for the rampant commercialization that is associated with this time of year. It is now that his home is firmly placed in the North Pole, and the letters of request from bright eyes, rosy cheeked children came into effect. His red clothing is first posed, as is his preference for Mince Pies and Whisky. This image was set in place in the 1930’s when Santa sold his soul to Coke-Cola.

My Decision

After this little splurge of research, which isn’t definitive by any stretch of the imagination, you can imagine I hadn’t really answered my question. Father Christmas is truly British, and begins live in very confirmed pagan origins and can be more readily reconciled with the Green Man and Old Man Winter. However, his later associations with Christians might be seen by some as ‘contamination’. On the other hand, Sinterklass and by extension Santa Claus is firmly entrenched in Christian origins and has the added taint of American commercialism.

Personally, it is Father Christmas that comes to our home on both the 21^st and 25^th of December. Treats will be left out for him, in memory of the Scandinavian traditions of hospitality, and the small gifts that get sequestered around the bedroom (unless I go with a stocking/sack to make my life a little easier) are signed from him.

http://www.arthuriana.co.uk/xmas/ a guide to online resources

http://skandland.com/vikxmas.htm

http://www.pagannews.com/cgi-bin/sabbats1.pl?Yule

http://skandland.com/vikxmas.htm

http://www.pagannews.com/cgi-bin/sabbats1.pl?Yule

http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/fatherchristmas.shtml

http://www.worldofchristmas.net/christmas-stockings/history.html