Miss Dana December, 2011

I’m so excited! The start of the Christmas season has begun!

Not because I celebrate as a Christian or even celebrate it as a secular holiday. It is because it signals my favorite time on the wheel of the year. Winter.

Just saying “winter” brings to my mind clear, crisp, cold nights standing outside looking at the stars, the darkness falling by late afternoon. The smell of wood burning in fireplaces and snuggling inside surrounded by the quiet of the night. Truly, Silent Night bliss.

Our home prepares for the decorations of the season in November with Thanksgiving. Cleaning and making room for family and guests is step one. Preparing menus for the next several weeks is step two   followed by the trimming of the house with decorations for Winter Solstice.

Our main tree is in the family room.  We have collected and made ornaments that represent the elements as well as suns, moons and stars.  We also look for things that each of the family loves. There are fairies, mountain bikes, birds, ballet dancers, roses, ivy, and frogs and things from our childhood trees, which are now considered “antique”! A star is shining on top and quilt batting is laid underneath as a blanket of snow. A blanket our cats look forward to each year.

I have a tree dedicated to Bridget in my kitchen. Garlands of macaroni as well as miniature pots and pans adorn it. Star anise is hung, as are little cookbooks. A cornhusk doll holding bread in on top and a darling cow sits patiently at the base.

This year I am creating a Pink Bubble tree for our bedroom. A Pink Bubble is a visualization technique where you see the person or situation as perfect and then surrounded by a pink bubble. Release the bubble to float and find the highest good of all concerned.  My tree is a pink feather tree with clear glass balls and garlands of glass balls. It looks like it is covered in bubbles! The larger glass balls can be opened for a slip of paper with a name or situation written on it to be placed inside. I wake each morning and smile as I see this tree. Blessings bubble up and are sent to family and friends

Christmas, Solstice, Winter; all three words remind me of the importance of family, friends and home. It is our need to find the Light in the darkness to bring hope, clarity and warmth.  How beautiful it is to be in harmony with the world at this time. A perfect time to “Pink Bubble” this beautiful planet!

Tags: christmas, winter solstice, yule

• Articles

Administrator December, 2011

Lesser Sabbat – Winter Solstice, circa Dec 21

Other Names:
Jul (“wheel”, Old Norse), Saturnalia(Rome ~December 17 & 18), Yuletide(Teutonic), Midwinter, Fionn’s Day, Alban huan, Christmas (Christian~December 25), Xmas, Festival of Sol, Solar/Secular/Pagan New Year

Animals/Mythical beings:
yule goat (nordic), reindeer stag, squirrels, yule cat, Sacred White Buffalo, Kallikantzaroi-ugly chaos monsters(greek), trolls, phoenix, yule elf, jule gnome, squirrels, wren/robin

Gemstones:

cat’s eye, ruby, diamond, garnet, bloodstone

Incense/Oils:
bayberry, cedar, ginger, cinnamon, pine, rosemary, frankincense, myrrh, nutmeg, wintergreen, saffron

Colors:
gold, silver, red, green, white

Tools,Symbols, & Decorations:
bayberry candles, evergreens, holly, mistletoe, poinsettia,mistletoe, lights, gifts, Yule log, Yule tree. spinning wheels, wreaths, bells, mother & child images

Goddesses:
Great Mother, Befana (strega), Holda (teutonic), Isis(egyptian), Triple Goddess, Mary(christian), Tonazin(mexican), Lucina(roman), St. Lucy (swedish),Bona Dea (roman), Mother Earth, Eve(Hebrew), Ops(roman Holy Mother), the Snow Queen, Hertha (German), Frey (Norse)

Gods:
Sun Child, Saturn(rome), Cronos (Greek), Horus/Ra(egyptian), Jesus(christian-gnostic), Mithras(persian), Balder(Norse), Santa Claus/Odin(teutonic), Holly King, Sol Invicta, Janus(God of Beginnings), Marduk (Babylonian)Old Man Winter

Essence:
honor, rebirth, transformation, light out of darkness, creative inspiration, the mysteries, new life, regeneration, inner renewal, reflection/introspection

Dynamics/Meaning:
death of the Holly (winter) King; reign of the Oak (summer) King), begin the ordeal of the Green Man, death & rebirth of the Sun God; night of greatest lunar imbalance; sun’s rebirth; shortest day of year

Purpose:
honor the Triple Goddess, welcome the Sun Child

Rituals/Magicks:
personal renewal, world peace, honoring family & friends, Festival of light, meditation

Customs:
lights, gift-exchanging, singing, feasting, resolutions, new fires kindled, strengthening family & friend bonds, generosity, yule log, hanging mistletoe, apple wassailing, burning candles, Yule tree decorating; kissing under mistletoe; needfire at dawn vigil; bell ringing/sleigh-bells; father yule

Foods:
nuts, apple, pear, caraway cakes soaked with cider, pork, orange, hibiscus or ginger tea, roasted turkey, nuts, fruitcake, dried fruit, cookies, eggnog, mulled wine

Herbs:
blessed thistle, evergreen, moss, oak, sage, bay, bayberry, cedar, pine, frankincense, ginger, holly, ivy, juniper, mistletoe, myrrh, pinecones, rosemary, chamomile, cinnamon, valarion, yarrow

Element:
earth

Threshold:
dawn

Tags: christmas, sabbat, yule

• Correspondences

R. Wolf Baldassarro December, 2011

The Ghosts beneath the Mistletoe

The days are increasingly shorter, the air chills to the bone, and nature slumbers beneath a blanket of sparkling snow. This is the time of year when we gather with friends and family to talk, share life’s adventures, and relive the year’s memorable moments. If you’re like many folks, you’re also gathered around a television to enjoy classics like It’s a Wonderful Life and Dickens’ immortal A Christmas Carol.

But take a step back and look at these holiday classics through the lens of a seasoned investigator and you’ll begin to see them in an entirely new light. It is, after all, a fairly spooky ghost story wrapped around the morals of giving and sharing.

The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future are similar to the phenomenon of “Anniversary Imprints,” residual hauntings resulting from an emotional, physical, or electrical discharge that “records” an event into the atmosphere of a particular location and which usually manifest around the same time each year.  Such imprints can appear non-conscious and redundant, but since the Spirits were highly interactive with Scrooge, it appears Dickens melded different aspects of the Spiritualist philosophies which were commonplace in the London of his day.

The arrival of Bob Marley on the first anniversary of his death fits the definition of a Revenant. These entities project an appearance of being distressed or misplaced; often a recently departed person who returns very briefly to make contact with loved ones to serve as an act of closure before going on to the afterlife. Perhaps the more appropriate classification for poor Marley is the Guardian, a spirit who returns to warn family members of imminent danger. These entities offer messages or aid during moments of distress to others.

The Ghost of Christmas Future is clearly a Harbinger, a ghost that brings warning of impending events.

Aside from the various spiritual entities throughout the story, some other cornerstones of psychical research play a large role in the adventure. For instance, Scrooge’s journeys are what we refer to as Astral Projection, or Astral Travel. Astral Travel is the theory that a person’s spiritual awareness can temporarily detach itself from the physical body, remaining connected by what is called the “silver cord,” and experience things in other locations, time frames, or dimensional planes; the spiritual body and the physical body are then able to act independently of each other. That is why Scrooge travels through time and space but must return to his bedchamber to await the next spirit- and all within a single night.

But this is all, of course, fiction; so what sort of real-world personal experiences provide similar events? Here are but a few anecdotes that I will share with you.

The Winter Solstice also brings with it a recurring event to residents of Lower Boscaswell (Cornwall). A lady in white holds a red rose in her mouth, then turns and walks into fog. Some say that to see her will bring misfortune.

On Christmas Eve in Kempston (Bedfordshire), England, local legend tells of a child that ran out of Kempston manor to greet his parents who were returning in a horse-drawn coach. He was hit by the horses and died of his injuries. Now, the anniversary of the event is marked by the reoccurring sounds of the tragic incident.

A man’s mother passed away in 1964; that same year he moved from Nova Scotia to Ontario. Christmas Eve, 1971; on the tree, one string of lights, which was supposed to flash, had stopped several days before. According to the witness it was five minutes to midnight when the fireplace suddenly went out, and the string of lights started to flash, and the other lights stopped flashing. He reported the room becoming very chilly when a figure appeared in the recliner- his mother, with a smile on her face. His wife, who had never met her, reported the same thing. It never spoke but at the stroke of midnight the fireplace lit up and the lights on the tree stopped flashing and the others started flashing again. The figure was gone and the lights on the tree never flashed again.

A woman received a call from beyond one Christmas. The phone rang and upon answering it, a familiar voice casually said, “Hello there.” It was her mother’s voice, who had dies three years prior. The line had static noise and it cut in and out.

Lewisham Station, London is the place of a crash in December 1957, caused by fog, that killed ninety people and injured over one hundred. Their cries can be heard on the anniversary of the accident.

So as you take in the many feasts this holiday season and enjoy the company of loved ones, take a moment to reflect on those dear departed and raise a glass in their honor- they just may be celebrating along side you and your kinfolk.

So, dear readers, any experiences of your own you’d like to share?

**I would like to take this moment to thank you all for following along each month as I explore the paranormal. I extend to you- whatever your faith or tradition- a warm blessing for a year well-spent, and a new year well planned. Happy Holidays, best wishes, and see you on New Years Day.

© 2011 R. Wolf Baldassarro/Deep Forest Productions

Tags: christmas, ghost, paranormal, yule

• Articles

Spirit Healer December, 2011

Yule Meditation – Finding Your Light

The sun is reborn on the night of the solstice.  Each day until the Spring Equinox the days will grow longer, and the nights shorter.  Though it’s the middle of winter, each extra moment of sunshine brings us closer to the joyful blooms of Spring.

Guided meditation can be a powerful tool for healing, problem-solving, developing your intuition, and exploring your world.  Today’s meditation will help you unite your intuition, mind, and heart as you uncover your own personal seed of light – your hope for the coming year that will bloom for you come Spring.

Make yourself comfortable.  Consider asking someone to read the meditation aloud to you, or recording it in your own voice so you can listen to it while laying down with your eyes closed and your focus inward.

You are safe within a sphere of white light,

comfortable, peaceful, secure, relaxed.

A soothing rain of pure white light cleanses you.

You feel the glowing water, cool against your face,

washing away tension and negativity.

Your eyes relax and close.

Breathe deeply and let the light cleanse you.

Feel the soothing water pour over your neck

your shoulders, washing away the tension.

Breathe deeply and relax your chest,

relax your back,

relax your hips.

The cool light bathes your thighs,

relaxing your knees,

your calves,

your ankles,

your feet.

Your feet stand on cool stone at the entrance of a large cave.  Huge trees around you block most of the light from the moon and stars.  You can hear thunder, rustling branches and the whistle of the wind whipping around the mountain.  The cavern in front of you is silent, yet inviting.  It offers shelter, protection from the stormy night.

You step into the cave, safe and relaxed, allowing your fingers to guide you as they glide along the cool stone wall.  With every step, you rely more and more on your ears, nose, and skin to keep you from stumbling or walking into a wall, though your eyes strain for a hint of light, any light.

In the darkness, even though you know you are safe, that nothing can harm you hear, you can’t help but remember your fears and worries about the unknown, the things that are beyond your knowledge or control.  You acknowledge your fear, knowing that it is normal and natural, and you release it with love.  “I am no longer afraid,” you say.  “Because I know that beings of Divine love guide and protect me.  I ask my guides to illuminate my path, and show me the way to my spark of hope, and my infinite well of Divine trust.”

In the darkness you feel a blanket of warm energy embrace you, wrapping around you in a hug of encouragement and pure, unconditional love.  Your straining eyes pick up a hint of light, allowing you to see contrast of the bumps, boulders, and walls.

You walk faster, and each step brings more light, until you turn around a bend and see the flame of a single candle ahead.  You enter a room about the size of your bedroom, warmed by this tiny flame of hope and trust, dancing by itself in the middle of the cavern, suspended in mid air just before you.

You know the flame cannot hurt you, because it is a part of your spirit that you have traveled all this way to reclaim.  You cradle it between your hands, and as it dances in your palms, you remember how it feels to KNOW that everything is just as it should be, that you are fully capable of handling any problem or clearing any hurdle, and that you have the power to manifest for yourself any thing your heart desires.

The flame dances from your palms to your heart, seeping into your skin and filling you with love and joy.  You can see yourself a few months from now, overwhelmed with joy and gratitude as a long-cherished dream becomes your reality.  You KNOW that by recovering your hope and faith, you have planted a seed of manifestation, and that as long as you nourish the seed with positive energy and intention, come spring it will bloom, and come summer or fall you will be able to harvest its fruit.

Your hope and faith lights you from within.  Your entire body radiates peace and love as you leave the cavern and make your way back to the entrance of the forest.

The cool stone beneath your feet glitters with your light until it gives way to the earth and mulch of a primal forest.  The ground is soft and damp, refreshed from the storm that has already passed.  With each step, you come back to your body.  You wiggle your toes and stretch your ankles, your calves.

You stretch your thighs and move your hips.  You stretch your back, and become aware of the rise and fall of your chest with each breath.  You roll your head, stretching your neck and shoulders, blink your eyes, and allow the peace and love, the hope and faith, to fill your mind, heart, spirit, and body.

Welcome home.

Tags: finding your light, meditation, yule

• Articles

Rayne December, 2011

Bring The Light Ritual

Lore:

Several myths surround the Winter Solstice commonly known as Yule among these:  lighting the yule log and the Oak and Holly King. At Yule’s core is the idea of returning sacred light. Of a child of light that is born out of darkness that vanquishes the cold blanket of death that covers the Earth. In our ancestry darkness was closely tied to danger. Darkness hid enemies, predators in this birth of the sun was craved, yearned, and ultimately worshipped.

Purpose:

Yule is a time to reintroduce and revive relationships. This includes the relationship with yourself as well as with family and loved ones. The primary message of Yule is a hope that cannot be denied.

Colors:

Green (renewal)

Red (Blood –Connection)

White (Death – Memory of what has been)

Herb/Incense:

Frankincense

Myrrh

Tools:

Candles: White to line the circle( Eight – Four the circle and four for the elements), two green, one red, and one gold or yellow, to represent the Child of light)

Four Physical representations of the elements

Cauldron or Bowl

Totem to represent the Child of Light

One ritual bell

Ritual:

Begin by creating sacred space you can do this by lighting your candles and casting the circle around your working area. Decorate the altar with seasonal items of your choice. **For a coven or group ritual assign someone to the quarters for the evocation, the High Priestess or will ring the bell to signify the recitation of the quarter evocation. **

Light the quarter candle at the East. Ring the ritual bell three times and then say: “I call to the powers of the East to renew the powers of the Sun.” Walk to the South, light the candle at the South. Ring the ritual bell three times and say: “I call to the powers of the South to renew the powers of the Sun.” Walk to the West, light the candle at the West. Ring the bell three times and then say: “I call to the Powers of the West to renew the powers of the Sun.” Walk to the North, light the candle at the North. Ring the ritual bell three times, and say: “I call to the Powers of the North to renew the powers of the Sun.”

Light the incense allow the smoke to waft over yourself clearing your mind of all stress, allow peace to resonate within your heart, mind, body, and soul.

Go to the altar and light the two Green candles say: “I renew myself in light, I renew myself in Spirit.” Light the red candle: “I connect to all that has been to all that will be, and to all that is.” Light the Gold/Yellow candle after it is lighted put it within the cauldron or bowl. Close your eyes and visualize the child of light growing within the Goddess’s womb. Take the candle out symbolic of the Goddess giving birth. Say: “Lord of light and life I pray that you gain strength so that I may pass the Winter of darkness and death in peace and fullness. “ Begin and End in the East (following the path of the sun) Walk back to the altar take the flame to center of the circle. Raise it above your head and say: “Hail and welcome to the new born Sun. Hail Child of Light and Life, Hail Lord of the Sun.

It is done. You can now dance, praise, sing, surround yourself with light and life, leave an offering for the Goddess and God. And always remember even in the darkest hour there will always come a dawn.

Blessed Be

Tags: light, yule

• Spells & Rituals

Rose Embyrs December, 2010

Yule-Time Log Spell

Long ago, Pagan’s brought a live tree into their homes, then decorated it with symbolic items like bells that would ring when a Spirit was near. Small tasty treats hung on the tree to feed the hungry Spirits. The tree itself was for the wood spirits to keep warm out of the weather during winter. Green and red were the corresponding seasonal colors, and gift giving was embraced by all. Lastly, a pentagram was set atop the tree to represent Spirit, Earth, Water, Fire and Air.

If this ancient ritual sounds familiar, remember, Pagan’s had these traditions centuries before the Christians. Even the Horned God was represented as a stag during Yule, from December 20^th to the 23^rd in the Northern Hemisphere. Below is a traditional Yule spell that will bring good fortune to you and your loved ones.

What you will need:

• Yule log of oak, walnut or pine, but never Elder.
• Slips of paper and a pen for each member who joins you to celebrate.
• Charcoal or white chalk to draw on the Yule log.

Use fire during Yule to leave failure behind you and set new goals. Find a large log-sized piece of oak, pine or walnut. Elder is never to be used. Now draw a large circle with lines emanating from the “sun” to symbolize this Sabbath as the rebirth of the sun God.

During Yule, the longest night of the year, light the Yule log with your family indoors or outdoors. Your family should write their goals, then visualize achieving their goals as they toss each folded paper into the fire while saying:

Mother Goddess hear my Yule-time plea,

I wish to _______________ for all to see

Blessed Be, so mote it be!

When everyone has made their wishes, dampen the Yule log and save a portion of the wood to protect your home until next Yule. You’ll use the wood to light the new Yule log next year.

Tags: christmas, holiday, log, sabbat, yule

• Spells & Rituals

Miss Dana December, 2010

I love Winter Solstice!  It is the quiet moment before the holiday chaos.  The in-breath of stillness and peace brings the meaning of the season inward.

We have created a ritual for our family consisting of  walking a beautiful spiral labrinth.   Each person carries an unlit candle and walks the path to the center where they light their candle and then find a place on the spiral to stand and bring their “light to the world”.

An indoor spiral is created in our living room using stars cut out of white, gold or silver paper. I let the kids trace star cookie cutters onto the paper and then cut out. Glitter glue or other embellishments are sometimes added. Larger stars can be made out of paper plates and then covered in foil.

Lay a simple spiral of stars on the floor. Allow a 2-foot   path to walk on. Once set up, have everyone leave the space except mother. When called or on a musical cue the family enters, youngest to oldest, and walks the path one at a time.  At the center sits mother holding a lit candle.  Upon getting to mother, the child lights a candle and finds a place on the path for it to go and walks out of the spiral. Quietly each one takes their turn.

We use tea lights and votive holders for little ones. Mother lights their candle for them. When the children are older, other candles can be used. I have seen battery operated candles for house windows that could also be used if you had very active children.  I don’t even need to go into the list of safety issues needing to be in place in order to use candles, do I?

Gentle music playing and a story or poem read before and after everyone has walked the path. Then a quiet moment to take in the beauty of the room and the peace of the ceremony. Quietly leave the space with a parent staying behind to blow out candles. It is best not to let your children blow them out. To keep the image in mind is what we are after.

One year my oldest daughter made a very big spiral in our backyard  with strings of Christmas lights. I stood in the center and each person walked the twinkling path holding an apple with a candle in it. After lighting the candles, our family stayed on the path where they wanted their light to shine. It was lovely in the cold, clear night.   The spiral remained in our backyard for the whole season. It was magical to see it out the window at night.

Tags: christmas, solstice, yule

• Articles

Ceilteach Moon December, 2010

Salem’s Best Cranberry Relish

Yule is fast approaching and this is one staple condiment you will want to keep in your refrigerator throughout the season. It is simple and will last for at least a month under refrigeration, and taste great on top of your favorite stuffing.

Salem’s Best Cranberry Relish (No Cook)

2 bags washed and stemmed fresh cranberries

1 Large sweet seedless orange (Blood oranges work nicely here as well)

1/2 cup granulated raw sugar

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Prep the cranberries, quarter the orange, run cranberries and whole quartered orange through food processor with a grater blade attached pour contents into a deep bowl, stir in sugar. Place in an air tight storage container and refrigerate for at least 24 hrs in order for flavors to marry, enjoy.

Yule Wreaths

3 Tablespoons butter

3 cups mini marshmallows

1/2 teaspoon orange extract

1/2 teaspoon green food coloring

4 cups crispy rice cereal

Melt butter and marshmallows over low heat, stirring. Remove from heat and add orange extract and food coloring. Stir. Fold in rice crispies. On wax paper, , shape into wreaths. Add red hot candies to decorate. Let cool and enjoy.

Tags: christmas, cranberry, yule

• Recipes

Medicyne_Eagle December, 2010

PAGAN YULE

Once again it is Yule and we still have many Troops deployed in hostile environments. Let us not forget them as we sit around our fires this year, attending festive parties, gorging ourselves incessantly and opening presents from the big jolly man. I will close reverently with this poem, author unknown but it always brings a tear to my eye as I can relate and feel pride with this Soldier.

Twas the night before Christmas,
he lived all alone,
in a one-bedroom home made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney with presents to give
and to see just whom in this house did live.
I looked all about, a strange sight did I see.
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by mantle, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land,
with medals and badges, awards of all kinds,
a sober thought came to mind.

For this house was different, it was dark and dreary.
I had found the home of a soldier, once I could see.
The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle, the room in disorder,
not how I pictured a United States soldier.
Was this the hero of whom I’d just read?
Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?

I realized the families that I saw this night,
owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.
Soon round the world the children would play,
and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.

They enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.
I couldn’t wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve in a land far from home.

The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.

The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,
“Santa don’t cry, this is the life of my choice,
I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more,
my life is my God, my country, my corps.”

The soldier rolled over and drifted to sleep,
I couldn’t control it, and continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,
and we both shivered from the cold winter’s chill.

I didn’t want to leave on that cold, dark night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
Then the soldier rolled over, whispered with a voice soft and pure,
“Carry on Santa, It’s Christmas day and all is secure.”

One look at my watch and I knew he was right,

“Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!”

Tags: christmas, yule

• Articles

Gail Wood December, 2010

Let’s Spell It Out

The Magic of Gift Giving

By Gail Wood

For pagans, The Wheel of the Year turns at Samhain and we move inward as we wait for the promise of Yule, its gift to us is the return of the light.  Like so many other spiritual paths and religions, we are also beginning the time of celebrating gifts from our gods, whether it is the return of sunlight, the birth of a son, or the passing over of danger and injustice.  We also seek to emulate the generosity of our gods in our own celebration of giving.  Unfortunately gifts and gift giving also brings stress and worry.  Worries about money, qualms about family dynamics, and worries about time and choosing the right gift all drain our enjoyment of this season.

The energy of the Universe is one of constant motion between the polarities; of giving and receiving, male and female; of dark and light and so forth.  Never truly still, the Universe is constantly creating and expanding.  As magical people, we can step into that energy and be a true part of the holiday giving and receiving.  We flow into that power, use it, and, and contribute to the expansion.  When we do that, the motion will help us lose the power worry and negative emotions have over us.

While this might seem a notion too big to harness, we can do so in many simple ways.  Spells help practitioners move into the flow of energy and make changes in their lives and their attitudes.

What anxiety these simple shopping lists can evoke.  Can I afford the gifts?  Will he/she/they like the gift?   Will I have the time to get everything done?  Can I infuse the gifts with love, affection, or respect (can I overcome resentment, anger, despair where this person is concerned? and can I find what I want?  All of these questions make even the making of a list a daunting task.

A Good and Affordable Shopping List Spell

You will need:

Paper

Pencil

Small eraser or part of an eraser

An empty coin purse or wallet

A dime, a dollar bill, and a penny

A clear crystal

A bell

Your athame and wand

Do this spell before you altar.  If that is not possible, perform this spell at a table surrounded by the sacred objects you usually use.  List all the recipients of your gifts along with what you plan to give.  If you have a budget, write the number(s) at the bottom.  Ring the bell to call the attention of the empowering spirits of air, fire, water, earth and the spirits.  Chant this rhyme:

Here’s my list, my shopping list

Remind me soon of the ones I’ve missed.

Place the dollar bill on the paper with the crystal to amplify the magic.

Bless these items and all my money

So I can be generous, kind, and even funny.

Touch the paper with your wand to energize it.

Fold the dollar bill three times.  Place it with the dime, the bit of eraser, and the penny in the coin purse.  Fold the list and tuck it inside the list.  The eraser is in case you need to change your list.

Close the purse and hold it up and say
Time enough to go out shopping

Success and love without stopping

Bless my gifts with my love.

As below, so above

As I will it, so mote it be!!!

And off you go.  When the shopping is done, there is more to do including wrapping the gifts.  Often a tedious chore, you can look at wrapping as a magical act infusing your gift with your loving energy.  If you are wrapping, envision the gift as the person or your positive relationship and see the paper or bag as a shawl or envelope that keeps it all together.  Tape can keep a connection between you and the other person, and a bow or other embellishment can be that extra pizzazz of fun every relationship needs!  As you get it ready to go, whether you deliver it in person or through the mail, you can send it off with a chant:

The merry light of the season

Gives me the cheerful reason

To wish you love and happiness.

With this gift may you find the best

Of life and love, and joy.

From my heart I give freely

All the sweetness of this season.

Blessed be and so mote it be.

No matter what you might feel or long for, chanting these kinds of ditties can make the stress of family gatherings and holidays recede into the background.  The only person you can truly change is yourself so let the delight of the charm be yours, regardless of what the recipient may feel or how they may act.  If you know a gathering is going to be full of stress and undercurrents, be sure to ground yourself in the love of Mother Earth and surround yourself with the love of your gods.  Find the good in a situation so that you may be blessed with the merriment of the season.  May you find delight at each turning of the Wheel.

Tags: yule

• Spells & Rituals