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Yule - Blog Posts
Beel makes decorating the yule tree very difficult
Merry Christmas Eve to all who celebrate!!! And Happy Holidays/Solstice to the rest!!
To my fellow pagans: It’s my first Yule and i’m so happy that there are so many supportive and lovely people out there who have given me advice! Love y’all!
P.S. Loki says hi :) 🕯️
Happy Winter Solstice everyone!
From Yalda to Midwinter I hope no matter what you celebrate your night is full of light ☀️
Happy Yule!
What are y’all doing for Yule? This will be my first one and I’ve been lacking energy this year so I’ll just be making cookies, hanging out with family, and wearing Yule colors, not to mention making an offering for Loki.
Right on!
How are you celebrating?
Blessed yule and happy solstice!
Or whatever holidays all’o’yall are celebrating, or just have a nice week, if you don’t keep any of them <3
Naughty girls get spankings on Christmas
All I want for Christmas
The Spirit of Present with its legendary beast, The Ashwick
The Spirit only lives one day on winter solstice, riding from house to house atop the ever-changing Ashwick bringing feast, drink, and good cheer to all
a nice cozy Yuletide story for y’all
have yourself a merry little yuletide
a festering yule to ye all
Ya sea siente #Xams #navidad2020 #Yule en Linares N. L. PUEBLO MÁGICO
Feeling jolly and festive 🎄😋
Basil Lime Sugar Cookies
This is another recipe for kitchen magic. Basil is super helpful with just about anything- protection, health, joy etc. Mixed with lime I would say these cookies are good for a pick me up and can be charged to be a mood booster.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup of butter (softened)
1 1/2 tsp lime juice (to taste tbh)
1 1/4 cup of granulated sugar
1 3/4 cup of all purpose flour
1 egg
3/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp vanilla extract
Fresh finely chopped basil (I used like 10 leaves)
1/2 tsp salt
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375°F
Beat together butter and sugar until combined
In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt
To the butter/sugar mixture add egg, lime juice, vanilla extract, basil and salt. Mix
Slowly add dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix until combined. Dough should not be sticky to the touch
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper
My cookies did not spread out too much so you can place them relatively close on the tray. Just roll into a ball and place them wherever (May differ for yours so calculate your own risks)
Bake for 15-17 minutes until slight golden color at the bottoms. The cookie itself should stay pretty light so look for cracks along the top.
Let cookies rest on baking tray for two minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Additional Notes:
With any kind of kitchen magic it is what you make it. I charged all of my ingredients before baking and while mixing thought of the intentions I wanted behind them. They were quite literally made with love.
Merry Yuletide Loves!
Winter Solstice Party
Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions on throwing a Yule party. I don’t think any of my friends are pagan/witchy, but they know I am; I’ve had small solstice parties in the past and everyone had a good time. When I’m looking for inspo I only see really outdated or gimmicky ideas. I know that Christmas is very derivative of Yule so there is a lot of crossover, but if anyone knows subtle winter solstice ideas I’d appreciate it!
Some ideas:
I ordered bulk whole sale crystals and incense to put together little bags for everyone
Decorating in white, green, red and gold
Cooking and baking a few dishes
Garlands and candles
Crescent Cookies 🌙
I’ve been wanting to use some magick since the last time I almost burned down my kitchen so here we go.
Baking or cooking magick is wonderful way for witches in the broom closet to create and discretely practice.
TBH this recipe went haywire so I randomly threw some more stuff in oops.
What you’ll need
For cookies
2-2 1/4 cups of all purpose flour
2 sticks of softened salted butter (add 1/4 a pinch of salt if you don’t have salted butter)
3/4 cups of sugar
2 tablespoons of milk
1/2 cup of chopped almonds
Pinch of Cinnamon
For icing (optional)
3/4 cups of powdered sudar
1 tablespoon of milk
A dash of vanilla extract
Recipe
Beat the butter until fluffy, then add sugar. Best until combined
Add almonds, cinnamon and 2 cups of flour, mix until combined
The mix should be crumbly and not a dough yet. Slowly add milk until dough consistency.
Use the rest of the flour for your hands and break off pieces to form crescent shapes
Place on cookie sheet and cook for 15 minutes.
In another bowl mix together powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract. Add more powdered sugar or milk for desired consistency.
Allow cookies to cool then dip into frosting while still warm.
Random notes
You can light candles in your kitchen, cleanse your space before cooking or add anything that you find fit.
I left some of these cookies on my alter and brought some to a friends party, this was the first time I successfully baked some I’m pretty proud.
I wish everyone a blessed new year ~
I would be sarcastic about being called awake at 4:30 in the morning to spell work and swing a rock around but I think I’ve finally (and truly) connected with a deity to work with after several months of looking. ✨
Any suggestions or questions please pm me I’m always looking for new ideas and people to talk to! 🌎
Blessed be ~
This is how it feels when people are putting up their Christmas decorations in October.
Yule-Mothers Night Blót
I put this ritual together from various sources-I can’t claim all the wording myself only the final form of the ritual. This was used for my kindreds the first Mother’s night. Because of our eclectic group, we chose not to only focus on Frigg, and instead included many mothers. As offerings, each of the members that wished to partake creates a Poppet from straw in the shape of a woman, which was burned at the end of the ritual.
Hallowing-
To be done before the arrival of guests- it is not essential that there be witnesses{this was done to cut down on time, during the cold winter}
Godi holds the ceremonial hammer and opens the circle with the traditional blessing:
In the Elhaz position standing facing North the Godi speaks:
Hammer to the North, hold and hallow this holy stead.
Hail Odin and the Northern forces
Godi faces East and speaks:
Hammer to the East, hold and hallow this holy stead.
Hail Freyr and the Eastern forces
Godi faces South and speaks:
Hammer to the South, hold and hallow this holy stead.
Hail Balder and the Southern forces
Godi faces West and speaks:
Hammer to the West, hold and hallow this holy stead.
Hail Thor and the Western forces
Hammer above and Below me Hold and hallow this holy stead
Hail the Aesir and Vanir, the Ancestors and the wights of the land
Sacred Fire
Loki.
Pine-fire.
Through the power of my love for you, I ask that you kindle the flame of this sacred fire.
As you have you have kindled one in me.
As we honor this evening our mothers, I ask for the comfort of the hearth for my kin.
May they know your gifts, as the gods have done
***
{godi speaks}
Welcome, to the Wolves of the North Mother’s night Blót. I hope the evening finds you well and warm. Tonight, the longest night of the year, we come together in this circle to praise the many mothers in our lives.
Motherhood is a sacred charge, AVAILABLE, to every woman.
Whether conceived through coitus, or artificial insemination.
Through natural birth, or C-Section.
Born of the blood, or adopted.
How a woman becomes a mother varies, but what never changes is her love and her place as a guardian and teacher of the next generation. Like Skuld of the Norns and all mother Frigg, every mother is a safeguard of the future. Let us honor them.
Invocation
The Godi faces the altar, holding high with both hands a horn of mead and recites:
I call to the Mothers of the Aesir!
Frigg, Sif, Sigyn and Nana
To the Vanir!
Freyja and Nerthus
To the Jötnar
Laufey, Jörd, Jarnsaxa, And Rán
To the Disir-Ancestors of our families-living and passed on
Be with us this winter solstice
Mothers of our people! You are manifest in the promise of the sleeping seeds and waiting buds; you give life to forest, field, and family!
We praise you and seek your blessing on us and call for your protection in our time of need.
Ancient Disir of our families we call upon you this night as we give praise and sing of your deeds. Watch over us on the longest night of the year as we wait for the lady Sol to warm us once again.
Meditation
{insert name/Gothi} will now lead us in a mediation; hold your poppet and reflect on your Disir, your ancestors and ancient mothers. Reflect on your living mothers and most of all your respect and love for them and theirs for you.
Hailing
We will now commence with a Sumbel, a little different than usual. In the first round I invite each of you to hail a goddess, Round two you may hail one of your Disir and on the third round a living mother of your family. At any point you may offer your poppet to whomever you would And As You cast it to the fire, reflect, feel their love for you. And give it in return. If you wish to pass on a round simply pass the horn to the person next to you.
Gythas example - Hail to Laufey, also called Nal, the Needle and weary Mother of Loki.
*poppet is offered to the fire*
Closing
Spirits of the nine realms we thank you for your presence here in this circle. We ask for your blessing and while you depart to your noble realm we bid you hail and farewell. I hereby release any Spirits that may have been imprisoned by this ceremony. Depart now in peace to your abodes and habitations. The blót is now ended, let the merriment begin.
Mutha-f*in’ Mead Season!!!!!
I had to scrape frost off my car today. You know what that means?!
Gaddang right! MUTHA-F*IN’ MEAD SEASON!
There’s nothing like a topped-off mug of mead to cheer the heart and magically induce goodwill in your guests. I can personally attest to the lack of familial holiday drama this cup of godly deliciousness provides!
Time to stock up on muh mulling spices because mulled is the *ONLY* way to have mead. Get yo’ cookbooks out to take notes, I’m about to lay some kitchen witchery on you!
*~*~Mulled Mead Tips~*~*
“Crock pots are the modern cauldron,” as my mum likes to say. They are perfect for keeping any hot drinks at optimal serving temperature. I recommend a “low” setting. If you’re in a pinch for time, using a saucepan is fine. If you do have to do this stove-top style, be sure to keep an eye on it as you do not want it to boil.
Of course, homemade mead is great if you can swing it. Unfortunately, we can’t all keep fermenting jugs in our closets. Store bought mead is fine (I like to use Chaucer’s brand). HOWEVER, thou shalt not use carbonated mead, neither shalt thou use any mead containing food dyes. And the number of dyes in thine mead shall be zero.
In the cauldron of your choosing, you will pour your mead (assume one 24-26 oz bottle for four moderate servings), and the following spices:
- 2 or 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 Tbsp coarse ground allspice
- ½ Tbsp nutmeg
- 2-4 tsp fresh ginger (feel free to modify to your liking)
You may use a mulling filter bag or go without.
If you are doing this on a stove-top, allow your winter potion to simmer for at around 15 minutes before adding a little extra honey and serving. Adding honey to the crockpot will require an extra stir, as you don’t want it to settle at the bottom before dissolving.
You can try adding fruit like orange slices, plums or apples. Have fun with it!
Bright blessings upon you in the coming holiday season!
Yule/Midwinter/Winter Equinox
Overview and History
Winter Equinox, Midwinter or Yule as it’s more commonly known is the period of time where we celebrate the Sun’s rebirth and entry into a new year full of light.
This year’s Yule starts on the 21st of December for the Northern Hemisphere.
Most of this information is for the Northern Hemisphere but can still be celebrated in the Southern, I personally still celebrate but have a personal celebration for the new year on the last day of the year.
This year’s Yule starts on the 21st of June for the Southern Hemisphere.(Hey! That’s me)
Until the 16th century, most cattle owned were slaughtered to prevent the need to feed them during the long and dangerous winter, therefore it was a time of feasting and where meat was plentiful.
In pre-Christian Scandinavia the “Feast of Yule” lasted 12 days and it was common place to burn a “yule log”.
In ancient Rome the winter solstice was celebrated at the Feast of Saturnalia, a feast to honour the god Saturn, it lasted about a week and was a period of gift-giving, easting and debauchery.
One of the most famous celebrations of the winter solstice in the world today takes place in the ancient ruins of Stonehenge, England. Thousands of Druids and Pagans gather there to chant, dance and sing while waiting to see the spectacular sunrise.
Activities for Witches
One of the most important Yule practices revolves around the Yuletide altar, which consists of three main parts: the Yule log, candles and greenery. All three are symbols of bringing the outside in and welcoming the rebirth brought by the Sun. Greens, such as holly and the evergreen trees that are decorated in silver, gold, reds and greens, symbolize rebirth — a miracle that they prosper in the harsh cold while other plants are barren. For new-age pagans, the festively coloured candles are a safer way to bring the warmth of the sun into the home without risking fires that could be caused by burning the ceremonial log. Traditionally, the ceremonial log is ash. It is decorated in seasonal greens, doused in ale and dusted with flour before being set aflame and left to smoulder for 12 days.
Easy Activities
Kiss someone (who gives permission) under some hanging mistletoe
Give gifts to those you love
Have a feast with family and friends
Make spell wreaths and hang them around your space
Use cinnamon and pine smudges
Decorate a living outdoor tree
Use natural materials to make yule decorations then decorate your room/altar
Make seed covered apple treats for birds
Clean your pets space and re-decorate
Have meals by the fireplace (roast marshmallows)
Buy some new warm blankets to keep you warm
Knit sweaters for your pets, and scarves for your friends
Sing and dance under the moon (while wearing several layers)
Light cinnamon incense
Show love to everything deserving of your love
Reset your sleep cycle
Make some goals
Ask your tarot for some advice
(optional) Thank your gods for bringing a new year
