Category Archives: Yule

December 7, 2023 · 9:30 pm

The Herbs of Winter Solstice )O(

Merry meet all,

I made a wreath frame! I used the wood from the trees on the nature trail. I am so happy with how it turned out. The best part is, aside from the fact that the wood smells like spruce or pine, is that it is reusable. Winter Solstice is almost here! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used silver fir, silver birch, cedar and witch hazel to make the wreath. I think it is beautiful. I chose those trees because the wood is more pliable.  I cleaned the needles and leaves off of the branches then cleaned the branches. I dried them and then attempted to make the wreath. I pre bent the wood to make it work for the wreath. This is a good tip. That helps it bend when you make the wreath. I also used string, wire and my hot glue gun. Once I had a pieces of wood bent and where I wanted it, then I didn’t need the hot glue gun as much. I want to add 1 more silver fir branch to fill in the gaps then I will add the spruce and herbs. I really enjoyed making the wreath but it had its moments, like getting the wood to cooperate. I think that the silver fir was the easiest to bend. That and cedar, but the cedar tree here is my neighbour’s tree. I can’t use that wood. The wood is even a lovely colour and has a beautiful scent! 

I love how my wreath turned out. Winter Solstice is on its way! I am in the spirit of Yule and I have already decorated my goth tree! I am so happy that I won a contest with Weird Little Worlds press. I can’t wait to receive my prizes! I have no idea what I am getting so that makes it more exciting. 

I want to talk about which herbs are best for the Winter solstice. The natural beautiful herbs can be found in your own home, in your neighbourhood or in a park. Get outdoors! Let’s go for a walk and see what we find. The most common herbs for Yule are cinnamon, frankincense, bay leaves, pine, juniper, cedar, rosemary, oranges, mistletoe, oak, thyme, sage and oregano. Pinecones, spruce needles and hawthorn are good herbs for Yule. I will now discuss how these herbs can be of benefit this holiday season. 

Juniper berries symbolize cleansing and purifying a space. The berries are also good for protection and purification. 

Cinnamon is good for warmth, protection and prosperity. Cinnamon has such a lovely earthy aroma. 

Cloves have a beautiful aroma too. Cloves promote healing and protection – from the Yule lads!

  • “Thyme, subtle yet powerful, is a herb that weaves itself into the solstice tapestry with threads of courage and purification. It’s a reminder of the resilience of nature, and its aromatic leaves help to fortify our spirits during the introspective winter months.
  • Nutmeg, a fragrant whisper of the tropical lands, brings its mystical warmth to the solstice. It’s a spice that conjures up the magic of the moment, enhancing our connection to the spiritual realm and the inner joy of the festive season.
  • Chamomile, known for its calming and soothing effects, becomes a comforting ally during the long nights, offering relaxation and promoting restful sleep. Other herbs such as rosemary, juniper, and frankincense hold their own significance, each contributing to the enchanting tapestry of winter solstice traditions.
  • Rosemary,with its needle-like leaves, is a robust herb of the solstice, revered for its ability to strengthen memory and uplift the spirit. It’s a symbol of remembrance during the longest night, reminding us of the evergreen aspects of life, even in the depths of winter.
  • Frankincense,with its ancient and wise scent, is a resin that calls to mind the sacred and the divine. It’s used to elevate the mind, opening the inner pathways to meditation and deep contemplation. Its smoke is said to carry our prayers and intentions up to the heavens, making it a powerful addition to winter solstice ceremonies.
  • Peppermint, crisp and invigorating, cuts through the winter’s chill. It’s a herb that stimulates the senses and invigorates the soul. A cup of peppermint tea can awaken the mind and body, making it an excellent herb for staying alert and cheerful during the solstice’s introspective moments.
  • Pine,with its clean and fresh fragrance, symbolizes resilience and longevity. It’s a reminder of the green that will return to the world. Pine boughs are often strewn across the solstice hearth or used to make wreaths, representing the eternal cycle of growth and rebirth.
  • Holly, with its vibrant red berries and deep green leaves, stands as a symbol of everlasting life. It’s a plant that holds a special place in winter solstice lore, representing the enduring nature of life and the hope that shines even in the darkness.
  • Mistletoe, a sacred plant of the druids, is revered for its mystical properties and its role in ancient solstice ceremonies. It’s a symbol of peace and love, and hanging it in the home is said to bring good fortune and protection.”

Credit given to https://www.outdoorapothecary.com/winter-solstice-herbs/

I hope this helps you all find creative ways to use these herbs for the Winter Solstice. You can use these herbs in decorating a wreath, a winter solstice simmering potpourri on the stove, you can dehydrate oranges and use them in decorations, and you can make your home smell like Yule! There is no limit, the only limit is in your imagination. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch )O(

 

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December 20, 2022 · 11:17 pm

Solstice Blessings )O(

Merry meet all,

Winter Solstice is tomorrow! Are you ready? I am. I have been preparing for the Solstice for a while now. I want to talk about how you can prepare for the Solstice too. Let’s get started. 

First, get outside! This is a good time to forage outdoors. Grab your cloth bag, good walking shoes and let’s go!

Gather pinecones large and small, acorns, juniper, rosemary, cedar, sage and spruce. Bring a foraging book or your phone with you to correctly identify the plant you are foraging. I identified the spruce growing on the trail I live near as Sitka spruce. The Natives loved Sikta spruce and used the bark, needles and twigs for a variety of purposes. I steeped the spruce needles in a simple syrup to enjoy with gin but more on that later. 

Once you have foraged all you can, bring it home and wash it to rid of insects and dirt. Bake the pinecones at 200 % for forty-five minutes in the oven. If you decide to gather birch bark, then boil it in hot water for twenty minutes. Then remove from the heat and let it dry. If you forage pine, cedar or spruce needles, then do it from an older tree and cut the lower branches. I also leave an offering to the spirits and give thanks for the nature items I receive. I made an offering of cornmeal, a bay leaf and an acorn. 

I made a candle and added in rosemary, Yule essential oil, eucalyptus, peppermint essential oils. The scent is divine! If you look closely at the above photo, you can see the birch bark wrapped around a few candles. I love the rustic warm look. I bought a glittery white tree. It is tucked in there with the candles and the pinecones I painted white. The white pinecones look great. I will post another photo tomorrow. 

Pinecones are rustic and dry nicely. It is a very good idea to bake them in the oven before using. That kills the mites and dries up the sap. 

Rosemary has a beautiful scent. Use it in stovetop potpourris, or herbal wands. 

Cedar is cleansing and purifying. Use cedar in stovetop potpourris, herbal wands and drinks. 

Acorns can be painted and used in decorations. 

Holly, ivy and mistletoe have mystical associations with the Solstice. They can be used in decorations or herbal potpourri. However, since they are toxic to cats and I have a pet cat, I’m not using it. If you want to, go ahead. For the reasons just mentioned, I am not describing it here. 

If you choose to forage for goodies at the local grocery store, add these to your shopping list:

Apples, oranges, allspice, juniper berries, nutmeg, clove, ginger, cinnamon, chamomile and mugwort. 

Pour a jug of cider into a large saucepan. Chop and add oranges, apples, the spices listed above and a pinch of chamomile and mugwort to the cider. This enhances the flavour and also aids in psychic development. Simmer the cider in the saucepan on low heat. Your kitchen will small great. Your tastebuds will thank you. 

Gather a pinecone or two, five spruce twigs with needles, an acorn and a dried orange to a bowl. Simmer on low heat but don’t drink. This makes a great stovetop simmering potpourri. 

To create a herbal wand, gather rosemary, pine and juniper together. The rosemary is the base. Set the rosemary down on a counter or tabletop. Then lay the pine down on the rosemary. Then lay the juniper down on the pine. Bind the three fragrant herbs together with string. You can let it dry or burn it while the herbs are fresh. It is up to you how you use your herbal wand, as long as the intention is to purify yourself or your space. 

These activities should keep you busy. The Winter Solstice is a time of duality or polar opposites. We celebrate the return of the light but it still gets dark early. I want to revel in the dark half of the year. There is something so sheltering, so restful about it. I love the darkness and I want to enjoy it. The earth rests now and dies back. The ground needs to sleep and die back to be reborn in the spring. The earth is restoring her energy now. That changes once spring returns but for now, I am content. I hope you dear readers are too. 

I also brewed a batch of elderberry jam. I added an apple which contains natural pectin, orange rind and a pinch of cinnamon. I want to gift the elderberry jam to my Mom – and save some for me. It should go nicely with my homemade bread. 

I decided to donate to an animal shelter. I sewed fourteen cat toys together and filled each of them with cotton batting and catnip. I sewed each toy with love. I wrapped the toys together, added a sprig or two of spruce with a candy cane to the gift. I added tags to the gift. I secured the gift of the cat toys in a clear cellophane bag, added another candy cane to the gift bag, and tucked in red tissue paper. I love how the gift looked. I was very happy to donate the gift to the SPCA. I hope the cats love the hand sewn cat toys! 

It felt good to give the toys to the SPCA. 

The homemade cat toys all stitched with love and waiting to be donated to the animal shelter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Solstice!

Blessings, Spiderwitch

 

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December 19, 2018 · 6:07 pm

Winter Solstice

Greetings All!!!

Many Winter Solstice blessings to all my lovely readers. I’ve been busy baking and decorating. I baked shortbread, cookies and Gothic yule decorations. I have also set up a few Yule decorations on my kitchen table.

I baked cookies for munching on and frosted them. I am also proud to say I have won again in the Horror Writers Association Cookbook Contest. I enjoy baking and put my heart into it. And I don’t care what the recipe says, rolling out the dough calls for tons of flour to keep dough from being sticky. I want to get some white creamy frosting. I didn’t really want the chocolate frosting but I had more cocoa than icing sugar so I went with it. The cookies are now stored in the freezer, where the icing will ‘set’.

I found a large tree branch outside on the ground. It is 23 inches in length. I painted it blue silvery color and coated glitter on it. I made Yule salt dough decorations the previous year and hung them on the branches of the tree mobile. I’ve been inspired to hang Yule goth decorations too. I made several goth decorations ( a cauldron, the crescent moon, bats and ghosts) and I plan to paint them black. I will hang those on the same mobile. I can’t wait and I think it will look real cool. I wish I had a skull cookie cutter. Salt dough is easy to do and costs little.  I am eager to see how it all looks.

Winter Solstice or Yule is almost here. I may conjure a candle for Yule too. I made spicy simmering incense too. For that recipe I gathered ground orange peel, bay leaves, pine needles, juniper berries, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, star anise, rosemary, frankincense and myrrh. I ground it all together to a powdery consistency. It smells heavenly. I wanted to make incense cones but it is not powdery enough for that. I will use it as a simmering incense potpourri. That smells just as divine.

I will join my Sacred Mists fellow Witch students for a magickal Yule ritual on December 21st. This Sabbat celebrates rebirth and renewal, and the return of longer days as the Lord of the Sun is reborn from the womb of the Goddess when life is wrested from the realm of death and light is born of darkness. Wreaths and evergreen trees are used to decorate your home. 

Let the magic of Yule bless you, your home and your loved ones.

 

Blessings Spiderwitch

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December 11, 2013 · 8:25 am

The Crone of Winter Solstice

Yule Magick

Merry meet all,

Here is an essay I wrote for Eternal Haunted Summer Ezine. Enjoy. 

The Crone of Winter Solstice

 Winter Solstice celebrates the rebirth of the sun. The Norsemen of Northern Europe viewed the sun as a wheel that changed the seasons. The Celtic Druids cut mistletoe from oak trees and blessed the mistletoe. Many of the traditions we follow today were practiced by the Celts.

 We honor the Crone during Yule, or the Winter Solstice. Yule is derived from the Norse word Jul, meaning ‘reborn’. The Crone is symbolic of life, death, and rebirth. She is the gatekeeper of death and transformation. The Crone’s cauldron is a vessel of rebirth. Winter brings rest to the earth and reminds us of mortality. What is born dies and what dies is reborn. We all return to the earth.

 Here is a meditation to honor the Crone on Winter Solstice. You can do it inside but try to perform it outdoors if you can. Prepare your self and your space with a purification ritual.  Smudge your meditation area with sandalwood, frankincense, rosemary or sage, all of which possess purifying qualities. Take three deep cleansing breaths for your mind, body, and spirit. Allow yourself to be open to any messages you may receive and to be open to meeting the Crone. 

 If you perform the ritual outdoors, make sure you will be safe and bring your ritual tools with you. Light a dark colored candle. The colors that represent the Crone are dark blue, purple, black and dark green.

 Sit in a comfortable position either in a chair or on the floor, or ground. Wear a ritual robe and a crown of holly or ivy. Burn a Yule log during the ritual. Light some fragrant incense such as frankincense, cinnamon and myrrh, which are appropriate for Yule. Think of how our ancestors celebrated Yule. They knew the sun would bring back the light.

 Close your eyes and visualize a mist showering over you until the light surrounds you. Relax your entire body. You are in a magical forest. You pass through a parted veil and enter the woods to meet the Crone. You can sit down on a tree stump or boulder. You hear animals around you. You are rooted to the cold earth and feel its energies around you.

 Wind stirs the leaves on the fallen trees. Old rotted tree trunks surround you, covered in faded leaves. Small birds burrow through the tangled and aged tree branches to their nests. Sounds grow louder: birds’ cries, wind, and the creak of the boughs. The deep stillness fills your soul. Your feet grow cold and tingle. A peace fills you as you feel the pulse of this forest. The ground is matted in leaves and pinecones.

 You see someone standing before you and recognize her as the Crone. She blends with Nature and yet you know she is the Goddess.  Greet the Crone reverently. Leave an offering of mistletoe or apples. Ask for a message or a prayer for healing or something to aid you in your spiritual development. She will bless you with her wisdom. Before you walk away, thank her for her presence and guidance.

 Leave the forest and return your awareness to the room you are in. When you are ready, open your eyes. Be sure to ground and center yourself. Visualize roots extending from the soles of your feet into the earth and draw up energy. If you are outdoors, relax before jumping to your feet to leave.

 Pay attention to any messages or auspicious signs that you may encounter in dreams or a meditation. Sometimes, auspicious signs emerge in your daily life, like an image on a tarot card. Reflect on what the messages may mean and record them in your journal.

 Ask yourself if you accomplished everything you wanted to and if you grew in your spiritual development in the past year. Think about what you might learn from the Crone. She is the great teacher of mysteries of life. The Crone reminds us we are all mortal and death is a natural fact of life. Winter is the ideal time for introspection, meditation, and prayer. We have much to learn from the Crone and to be aware of her cycles of life, death, and rebirth.

 Blessed be,

Lady Spiderwitch 

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December 8, 2013 · 11:09 am

Winter Solstice Altars

A Picture of my Yule altar

A Picture of my Yule altar

Merry meet all,

The chill in the air alerts us to winter’s arrival. Here are some suggestions on how to decorate your altar for Winter Solstice. 

Use reds, whites and greens on your altar. Evergreen boughs lend a fresh woodsy feel to your altar. Add candles in silver and gold colours. I bought a beautiful meter of fabric that is reversible. The cloth has silvery snowflakes on one side and gold snowflakes on the other. Sometimes, fabric is not very expensive. It’s nice to get material that reflects the season or Sabbat. 

Yule reflects the return of the Sun. Add solar symbols to your altar. Gold discs, gold or yellow candles, can reflect the Sun. Inscribe a candle with solar symbols and dedicate it as your solar candle. Sprinkle gold or silver on the candle. Use holly and ivy, and pinecones on the altar. Antlers would be appropriate too. Candy canes, bells, sun wheels or mistletoe reflect the season too. 

With all of these suggestions, your altar will be beautiful!

Blessed be,

Lady Spiderwitch

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December 14, 2012 · 1:24 pm

Yule Crafts- Pipecleaner Pentacles, Cookies, and Yule Logs

Merry Meet All,

A light dusting of snow covers the ground outside. When I was younger, the snow would be up to my waist. I know we will get snow in January.

Are you like me? Do you save special yule decorations and hang them on your tree year after year? I do. I have some that are quite special to me. Make a pipecleaner pentacle to hang on your yule tree.

PIPECLEANER PENTACLE

Bend the first stem into a circle, and then overlap the ends by an inch, and twist them closed.

Take the second stem, and make three arms of the star inside the circle. Twist the stems around as you make the points. This will keep it from sliding apart and ruining the efforts.

Take the last stem to create the final two arms of the pentacle. Use the remaining length of the stem to twist into a loop to hang your pentacle.

MAKE YOUR OWN YULE LOG

To make a Yule log, you need the following:

A log that is about14-16″ long
Pinecones
Dried berries,
Cuttings of mistletoe, holly, pine needles, and ivy
feathers and/ or cinnamon sticks
Red or green ribbon
A hot glue gun

Now wrap the log with the ribbon. Once you have done that, you can begin gluing the other items onto the Yule log. Glue on the cinnamon sticks, berries, and ivy. Then once you have decorated your log, decide what to do with it. It may make a lovely centerpiece and you can burn it in your fireplace or in a fire pit outside.

Well I hope you find other great crafts to make this Yule, and that you enjoy the Yule season with your friends and family. Merry Yule!!

PENTAGRAM COOKIES

I recently ordered a pentacle cookie stamp for Yule baking. You can try pressing a pentacle or other Yule symbol into your holiday baking. You will transfer the energy into whatever you are cooking! Pentacles represent earth energy and that corresponds with the earth energy. As you eat the cookies, you take that energy into you.

Blessed Be,
Lady Spiderwitch

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December 13, 2012 · 2:29 pm

Christmas vs. Yule having Christmas dinner with a Muggle Family

Merry Meet All,

Yule is almost here! Yule is eight days away. I have been preparing here for the big day. I decorated my apartment with what I aleady own and am making Yule incense. I dried orange peel in the oven. Every time I open the container, it smells great. I also checked my candle supply. It’s a good thing that mini candles and tealights are affordable. I received my pentagram cookie stamp in the owl mail this week. I am all set to do some holiday baking too. I sent Christmas cards to my favorite people and near and dear.

I also have to think about possibly spending Christmas with my non pagan family. I am not looking forward to it. I stand out like a sore thumb. I have already been attacked by them for my religious views and lifestyle. I do not feel like experiencing that again. I would almost prefer to spend the day alone. My older brother wants nothing to do with me because of what I am and yet my family accuses me of being judgemental.

So I have to decide what to do. Some family members will be upset if I don’t show up, but if I do, I am walking into the proverbial starved lion’s den. So I think that I wil make it clear ahead of time that I do not want to be gobbled up by the lion or fed to its cubs. It does not make sense to me that I should spend time with people who hate me the rest of the year and paste smiles on our faces. Pass the gravy with the kitchen knife, please?

I am sure there are many other pagans experiencing the same thing or feeling nervous about attending Christmas dinner. Well remember to stay calm, avoid drinking too much alchohol, and to try not to argue with (closeminded) family members. Alcohol makes you say things you may regret. Remind yourself that you are visiting and thank the Goddess that you do not need to live with these muggles. You do eventually get to go back home to your sage and salt and altar. There, you can let out your frustrations till next Yule.

Blessed Be,
Lady Spiderwitch

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December 1, 2012 · 12:14 pm

Yule

Merry Meet All,

Today is December 1st. Winter Solstice is coming up on December 21st. The Snow moon of November just passed. The moon is waning and is in Cancer. The Celtic Tree Month Between starts on Dec. 23rd. Today the sun is shining. I saw frost on the cars parked in the driveway.

The upcoming posts will help prepare you for a magical, memorable Yule! Winter Solstice, is magical and serene, different from Samhain’s chaotic energy. I saw a squirrel eating seeds, perched on a tree the other day. They are storing food for the cold winter ahead. We can prepare too. The upcoming posts will cover Yule lore, correspondences of Yule, how to make Yule stockings, Yule baking, incenses, candles and herbs for Yule, and traditions and rituals for Yule.

The Hobbit will be in theaters soon. Be sure to see it. You can view the trailer on my blog. Currently I am working on creating a fairy tale book for my niece as a Christmas present for her this year. I plan to make it very Celtic. I hope she likes her gift.

So enjoy candy canes and cider and stay tuned for posts on how to celebrate Yule this year!!

Blessed Be,
Lady Spiderwitch

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November 21, 2012 · 8:56 pm

Yule

Merry Meet All,

Yule is around the corner. The Wheel of the Year will turn again. Yule, or Winter Solstice, brings family and friends together for festive celebrations. I have an exciting bunch of posts lined up for Yule. You will learn about Yule lore, traditions, deities, how to make a Yule stocking and ornaments for your tree, and lots of recipes to share for your holiday baking. The stores are stocked with tempting holiday stuff but you don’t have to break the bank to have a memorable holiday.

So stay tuned for more yule themed posts. You will be prepared!

Samhain is still upon us. I updated my post on the review of books by Steve Vernon, local master storyteller. If you are interested, you can check that out.

Blessed Be
Lady Spiderwitch

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December 23, 2011 · 10:06 pm

Winter Solstice

Merry Meet All,

I wish everyone a happy winter solstice and merry Yule. Enjoy the season and the festive holiday this year. I hope you find everything you wanted under the Yule tree and have family and friends to enjoy it with you. The above photo shows my yule altar.

Blessed Be,
Lady Spiderwitch

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