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Peeking in the Shadows: Crafting a Book of Shadows and Light

A Journey Through the Witch’s Wheel of the Year 2022!

The Witch’s Wheel of the Year

 

We Finish Our Journey Through the Witch’s Wheel and celebrate Yule/Winter Solstice….

We began our journey at Imbolc and now we have arrived at Yule/Winter Solstice. I invite you to revisit the pages and writings that have been crafted this year…

Peeking in the Shadows: Imbolc

 

Yule

 

 

Although in many cases the celebration of Yule coincides with the astronomical date of the Winter Solstice, they are distinct in that Yule is a seasonal observance that often lasted longer than the single Sabbat date it is traditionally assigned of Dec. 20/21 (the Winter Solstice).

The season of Yule begins on the date of the Full Moon in late November or the first few weeks of December, and the season continues for two lunar months. In some Saxon-based traditions, the official celebration of the Yuletide does not actually begin until Mothers’ Night (the solstice) and continues for a week or two after this.


These celebrations may last from 10-12 days after the date of the Solstice, which nicely coincides with New Year’s celebrations. During this time, feasts, gift-giving and gatherings mark the celebrations.

The Witch’s Wheel of the Year uses the semantic of Yule as the name of the Sabbat celebrated on the date of the Winter Solstice. And with this title come all the symbols that make this one of the most joyful to celebrate. However you choose to celebrate this season, light is the underpinning. This aspect relates to the occurrence of the Winter Solstice during the Yuletide season and the cycle of the Light and Dark half of the year. And, in the Northern Hemisphere and Winter’s hold this light is prominent in celebrating ourselves.

 

Solstice Correspondences:

It’s always fun to sort through all of the things that are relevant and have been used for celebrations of the Sabbats. There are so many for the Winter Solstice/Yule because of the cluster of other holidays that occur during this time of the year. Many of the Christmas decorations and traditions were appropriated and adapted from the pagan practices.

Be creative and remember that the most important component in selecting a symbol, herb, color, etc… is intention. So, even if what you envision as the perfect Yule/Solstice representation is not to be found on any correspondence listing, go with your gut, hold your intention and make it be so!

To get you started…

 

Some Symbols Commonly Used:

    • Solar Imagery– represents the return of the Sun’s light and strength;
    • Holly-the red and green of rebirth;
    • Candles– representing the light of the Sun and used to call that light back, bringing warmth;
    • Evergreens-representing the defeat of death and winter because they remained green throughout the desolate months of the year;
    • Yule Log– Celtic in origins and sacred to the Oak King and decorated with the greens of the Holly King;
    • Bells– used to drive away negative and trickster spirits that moved through the dark cold winter;
    • Wreaths– represent the circular shape of the Sun, the continuum of the cycles of the Great Wheel and the permanence of mastering death (usually constructed from Evergreens).

 

Dig Deeper:

19-Days of Illuminated Darkness

Every year I post articles creating a countdown to Yule. I will be doing some new posts this year for 2022 and invite you to check out 2020’s offerings.

I would invite you to be open to the possibilities of what a Yule celebration could be for you. I say this, especially since it crowds in the mix of an established holiday season.

Follow your heart in what calls to you and most of all make this a celebration that brings you closer to those you love and forms a foundation of seasonal magick that you are excited to return to.

Blessings of the Sabbat…

**

THE WITCH’S WHEEL OF THE YEAR

Date: December 21.2022

Yule (aka. The Winter Solstice)

 

What have I learned about Yule?

 

How did I celebrate Yule?

 

How did I feel after my celebration?

 

What would I change-What would I add to make Yule more meaningful to me?

 

So Mote It Be!

Sign Your Magickal Name Here

 

End Note: An excellent resource for suggestions, visuals and ideas for making your Sabbat celebrations rich and visually beautiful, check out the Book Review listed here:

Book Review: The Ultimate Guide to the Witch’s Wheel of the Year-Rituals, Spells & Practices for Magical Sabbats, Holidays & Celebrations by Anjou Kiernan

 

Coming in 2023 Issues: Lunar Magick

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About the Author:

Robin Fennelly is an Elder within The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition and serves as High Priestess of Coven of the Mystic Path, the 12th Coven within the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition. She teaches and facilitates classes for the Pagan Experience Study Group that serves as foundation for membership within Coven of the Mystic Path.  

Her spiritual journey is strongly rooted in both Eastern philosophy and the Western Magickal systems from which she has formed a core foundation that is diverse in knowledge and rich in spiritual practice.  A life-long learner, her practice has evolved from the classical and philosophical teachings of books, practical experience and enrichment of this knowledge base by attending workshops of various spiritual traditions presented by master teachers.

Robin formally came to the Wiccan path in 1994. Following a practice as a solitary for 2 years, she dedicated to Oak and Willow Coven of The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition in November of 1996. She received her 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th (Elder) degrees within the Assembly Tradition and has served as High Priestess of two ASW covens since Samhain of 2001 and the Winter Solstice of 2015.


As a teacher of esoteric and magickal studies she uses Energetic Anatomy, Tarot, Astrology, Hermetic Qabala, Eastern Philosophy, and Numerology as the foundations of her diverse selection of workshops and writings for more than 25 years. Exploration of varied energetic protocol has been the focus of her work for some time now and the information gained through direct experience informs all of her magickal and spiritual work.

Robin’s writings have been featured online, and in print Internationally.  She has authored several books incorporating her unique style of writing making use of poetry, prose and pathworking to enhance the concepts presented.  She has taught extensively throughout the Pagan community, including Sacred Space Conference, Spring Magick, Between the Worlds Interfaith Conference and Free Spirit Gathering Festival. Her most recent projects include a channel on youtube: A Journey to the Inner Chamber. She also shares audio pathworkings and ritual on her bandcamp site: Teachings on the Path with Robin.

Robin is the owner of Holistic Embrace providing services for mind, body and spirit such as Tarot readings, Astrology reports, Spiritual Guidance and other related offerings.  She lives in Eastern Pennsylvania and her life is blessed by a 40+- year marriage, five children and the opportunity to work in the field of public education.

Robin’s Websitewww.robinfennelly.com

Coven of the Mystic Path, ASWwww.covenofthemysticpath.org

Her books can be found on Amazon or purchased directly through her website:

For more infohttp://www.robinfennelly.com/books.html

The Inner Chamber, Vol. 1 It’s Written in the Stars-Astrology

The Inner Chamber, Vol. 2 Poetry of the Spheres-Qabalah

The Inner Chamber, Vol. 3 Awakening the Paths-Qabalah

The Light of SELF: Consciousness, Spiritual Practice and Learning to Breathe

Magickal Verse: A Collection of Poetry and Prose

A Year of Gaia: The Eternal Cord

The Elemental Year: Aligning the Elements of SELF

Temple of the Sun and Moon: Luminous Devotions

Sleeping with the Goddess: Nights of Devotion

A Weekly Reflection: Musings for the Year

The Magickal Pen: A Collection of Esoteric Writings

The Enchanted Gate: Musings on the Magick of the Natural World

The Temple of the Sun: An Astrological Solar Year

Writings in the Shadow: An Exploration of the Shadow Nature