2017/ 2018 Winter Newsletter - Part 1

Transcription

1 2017/ 2018 Winter Newsletter - Part 1 Inside this issue: Intro To Crystals Chakras Winter Solstice & Yule 2018 Holiday Calendar & Wheel

2 2017/ 2018 Winter Newsletter Part 1 of 2 CONTENTS: Page 4: 2018 Holiday and the Sabbaths Page 6: Winter Solstice - The longest night Page 9: Yule Page 12: Holiday Traditions Page 13: Wassail Recipe Page 14: Stones & Crystals for the Solstice Page 15: Intro to the Chakra s Page 19: Popular Chakra Stone & Crystals To pagans, the Yule tree, wreath and candles remind that spring is around the corner. Part 1 of 2... what s that all about?...well, we have SO much information this issue, we had to break it into 2 part to publish it in time, that part 2 will contain bridget, & imbolic!

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4 Holidays & Sabbats 2018 Calendar Year! February 2 IMBOLC Wiccans celebrate a variation of Imbolc as one of four fire festivals, which make up half of the eight holidays of the Wheel of the Year. Imbolc is defined as a cross-quarter day, midway between the winter solstice (Yule) and the spring equinox (Ostara). The precise astrological midpoint in the Northern hemisphere is when the sun reaches fifteen degrees of Aquarius. In the Southern hemisphere, if celebrated as the beginning of Spring, the date is the midpoint of Leo. Among Dianic Wiccans, Imbolc (also known as Candlemas ) is the traditional time for initiations. Among Reclaiming-style Wiccans, Imbolc is considered a traditional time for rededication and pledges for the coming year. Imbolc Article on Wikipedia Around March 21 SPRING EQUINOX / OSTARA Ostara is one of the four lesser Wiccan holidays or sabbats of the Wheel of the Year. Ostara is celebrated on the spring equinox, in the Northern hemisphere around March 21 and in the Southern hemisphere around September 23, depending upon the specific timing of the equinox. Among the Wiccan sabbats, it is preceded by Imbolc and followed by Beltane. In the book Eight Sabbats for Witches by Janet and Stewart Farrar, the festival Ostara is characterized by the rejoining of the Mother Goddess and her lover-consort-son, who spent the winter months in death. Other variations include the young God regaining strength in his youth after being born at Yule, and the Goddess returning to her Maiden aspect. Ostara article on Wikipedia May 1 BELTANE Wiccans and Wiccan-inspired Neopagans celebrate a variation of Beltane as a sabbat, one of the eight solar holidays. Although the holiday may use features of the Gaelic Bealtaine, such as the bonfire, it bears more relation to the Germanic May Day festival, both in its significance (focusing on fertility) and its rituals (such as maypole dancing). Some Wiccans celebrate High Beltaine by enacting a ritual union of the May Lord and Lady. Among the Wiccan sabbats, Beltane is a cross-quarter day; it is celebrated in the northern hemisphere on May 1 and in the southern hemisphere on November 1. Beltane follows Ostara and precedes Midsummer (see the Wheel of the Year). Beltane article on Wikipedia June 22 SUMMER SOLSTICE / MID-SUMMER / LITHA Litha is one of the eight solar holidays or sabbats observed by Wiccans, though the New Forest traditions (those referred to as British Traditional Wicca) tend to use the name Midsummer. It is celebrated on the Summer Solstice, or close to it. The holiday is considered the turning point at which summer reaches its height and the sun shines longest. Among the Wiccan sabbats, Midsummer is preceded by Beltane, and followed by Lughnasadh or Lammas. Midsummer article on Wikipedia August 1 LUGHNASADH / LAMMAS Lughnasadh is one of the eight sabbats or solar festivals in the Wiccan Wheel of the Year. It is the first of the three autumn harvest festivals, the other two being the Autumn equinox (or Mabon) and Samhain. Some Wiccans mark the holiday by baking a figure of the god in bread, and then symbolically sacrificing and eating it. The Celtic name seems to have been a late adoption among Wiccans, since in early versions of Wiccan literature the festival is merely referred to as August Eve. Many Wiccans also use the name Lammas for the sabbat, taken from the Anglo-Saxon and Christian

5 holiday which occurs at about the same time. As the name (from the Anglo-Saxon hlafmæsse loaf-mass, loaves festival ) implies, it is an agrarian-based festival and feast of thanksgiving for grain and bread, which symbolizes the first fruits of the harvest. Wiccan and other eclectic Neopagan rituals may incorporate elements from either festival. Lughnasadh article on Wikipedia September 21 AUGUST EQUINOX / MABON Mabon is the name used by some Wiccan traditions as well as some other forms of Neo-Paganism for one of the eight annual holidays central to their Beliefs. It is celebrated on the Autumnal Equinox, which in the northern hemisphere occurs on or around September 23rd (occasionally the 22nd). Many celebrate on the 21st since most early Wiccan and Neopagan sources reference this date as Mabon. Although due to Global Warming it no longer falls that early. In the southern hemisphere, the Autumnal Equinox occurs usually around March 21. Also called Harvest Home, the Feast of the Ingathering, Meán Fómhair, or as Alban Elfed by Neo-Druidic traditions, this holiday is a ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessings of the Goddess and God during the winter months. The name may derive from Mabon ap Modron, a character from Welsh mythology, although the connection is unclear (see below). October 31 SAMHAIN Samhain is considered by most Wiccans to be the most important of the four greater Sabbats. It is generally observed on October 31st in the Northern Hemisphere, starting at sundown. Samhain is considered by most Wiccans as a celebration of death and of the dead, and it often involves paying respect to ancestors, family members, elders of the faith, friends, pets and other loved ones who have died. In some rituals the spirits of the departed are invited to attend the festivities. It is seen as a festival of darkness and death, which is balanced at the opposite point of the wheel by the spring festival of Beltane, which Wiccans celebrate as a festival of life and fertility. On a personal side, my path as a hereditary witch holds that Samhain marks the beginning of turning of the wheel. I ve always thought of Samhain as the Pagan New Year, and celebrate it as such. Samhain article on Wikipedia December 22 WINTER SOLSTICE / YULE Many Wiccan based sects favor a plethora of sources on winter solstice holidays to recreate a type of Yule holiday. While the name Yule is used, it is not a reconstruction of the historical holiday. Wreaths, Yule logs, decoration of trees, decorating with mistletoe, holly, and ivy, exchanges of presents, and even wassailing are incorporated and regarded as sacred. The return of the Sun as Frey is commemorated in some groups. In most Wiccan traditions, this holiday is also celebrated as the rebirth of the Great God, who is viewed as the newborn solstice sun. The method of gathering for this sabbat varies by practitioner. Some have private ceremonies at home, while others do so with their covens. Yule article on Wikipedia Mabon article on Wikipedia Image credit: Winter forest. Public domain via Pixabay

6 Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere will be at 11:28am on Thursday, December 21 Winter Solstice The longest night of the year! The winter solstice settles on 21 December this year, which means it s the day with the least amount of sunlight. It s the official first day of winter, although people have been braving the cold for weeks, huddled in coats and scarves and probably wool socks. It s easy to pass over the winter solstice because of the holidays; however, many traditions center around the solstices and equinoxes, and even Christmas has borrowed some ideas from the midwinter celebration. Below are a few facts about the winter solstice and the influence it has had on religion. 1. The winter solstice occurs when the sun at noon is in its lowest position in the sky, which puts it over the Tropic of Capricorn (22-23 December). 2. The astronomical solstice is 21 December, but midwinter or Yule covers a few weeks during the time of the solstice. During medieval times, this period would stretch from the feast of St. Nicholas (6 December) and Christmas Day, then from Christmas to Epiphany or Candlemas 3. It is most likely untrue that Christmas is the birthdate of Christ. However, it was likely set on 25 December to coincide with the already well-established Pagan holidays. In ancient times, the winter solstice was celebrated as the birthday of the two gods Sol Invictus (the invincible sun) and Mithras. 4. In contemporary Paganism, Yule celebrates the rebirth of the sun with the winter solstice, as it is the darkest time of the year with the days get longer after the solstice. 5. The Christmas traditions of gift-giving, candles, mistletoe, evergreens, holly, yule logs, Old Father Time, red and white colors, and others all come from Latin and Germanic yuletide celebrations. The word yule is thought to have originated from the Anglo-Saxon word for yoke, although it is possible it is connected to the words for sun in Cornish and Breton. 6. Calendar customs are cultural expressions of repetitive seasonal rhythms. Generally, holidays and customs follow along the changing of the seasons. Midsummer and midwinter especially pair together as the longest day and longest night of the year. Headline & image credit: Winter forest. Public domain via Pixabay. All Credit due Public Domain search & blog.oup.com Return Of The Light: This is the time of the year when we witches and pagans start our Winter Solstice celebrations, but what does that actually mean? From a scientific standpoint the Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Literally, the axial tilt of the planet is pushed so far away from the Sun that we have the least amount of daylight on the Winter Solstice than on any other day of the year. Depending on exactly where you live in the Northern Hemisphere, the sunset is happening around 4 pm. Leading up to the Winter Solstice we spend an increasingly longer time in the darkness than we do in the daylight. On the Solstice we reach the fulcrum point where all of that changes. It s the center point of the pendulum swing and from that moment forward, we begin gaining more minutes of daylight each day. How do we as modern witches and pagans honor and connect to this celestial and earthly happening with our personal magic? What do we honor and celebrate at this time of the year? We ve noticed rituals often focus on the light returning. Makes perfect sense, of course, but if we only look to the light we can miss the beauty and importance of the dark. Dark is not bad, light is not good. There are so many wonderful, transformative, and delicious moments that happen in the dark. A Winter Solstice ritual is a powerful time to sink into the darkness all

7 around and see what might be waiting there. Yes, this time is traditionally a moment to celebrate the Sun, but let s also celebrate the Sun s luscious sister, the Darkness. But the Winter Solstice is also about the light, right? So let s spend a few moments there too. We might gather in the darkness, but what is the first thing that we do in circle? We light candles. We bring the fire, the heat, the light into the ritual space. We honor the balance of dark and of light. Just as there is power in the darkness there is a power in stepping into the light. Like the story of Amaterasu, Goddess of the Sun, who upon stepping out from a cave sees her beauty for the first time. Allowing ourselves to shine can be tricky and can sometimes feel dangerous, but allowing ourselves to shine is one way to find our own balance in the world. We once attended a ritual where a beautiful piece of pottery was brought into the center of the ritual and smashed. As two hundred or more witches spiraled and sang and raised energy, Priestesses worked furiously in the dark to glue the pottery back together again. When the spell was completed and the cone of power was released into the world, the reconstructed vase revealed. What we saw was a cracked and imperfect thing of beauty. With one candle burning in the center of the vase, sending out such a sweet little light we began singing: Forget your perfect offering. Ring the bells that still can ring. There is a crack in everything. That s how the light gets in., an adaptation of the Leonard Cohen song Anthem. This year we will be gathering in public ritual as our local community has for nearly 30 years. Many of us are feeling stuck in the shadow; the world, the political climate, and our personal struggles feel harder this year than they have for a long time. As we move forward, through the Winter Solstice and into a new calendar year and, perhaps, a scarier uncertain time, we will sing and spiral. As we move forward we invite the Sun to shine on the things that need healing. As we move forward we honor the restorative justice of the things grown in the dark. Credit to: Public Domain information and Public domain search & Image Credit to Public Domain search, public domain free image with credit to :Dreamtime

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9 Yule For other uses, see Yule (disambiguation). Also called Yuletide, Yulefest Observed by Various Northern Europeans, Neopagans, Unitarian Universalists Type Cultural, Germanic Pagan then Christian, secular, contemporary Paganism Significance Winter Festival Date: winter solstice Frequency annual Related to Winter solstice (Midwinter), Christmastide, quarter days, Wheel of the Year, Winter festivals, Christmas Yule or Yuletide ( Yule time ) was and is a festival observed by the historical Germanic peoples. Scholars have connected the celebration to the Wild Hunt, the god Odin, and the pagan Anglo-Saxon Mōdraniht. It later underwent Christianised reformulation resulting in the term Christmastide. Terms with an etymological equivalent to Yule are used in the Nordic countries for Christmas with its religious rites, but also for the holidays of this season. Today Yule is also used to a lesser extent in the English-speaking world as a synonym for Christmas. Present day Christmas customs and traditions such as the Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar, Yule singing, and others stem from pagan Yule. Today the event is celebrated in Heathenry and some other forms of Modern Paganism. Etymology Yule is the modern English representation of the Old English words ġéol or ġéohol and ġéola or ġéoli, with the former indicating the 12-day festival of Yule (later: Christmastide ) and the latter indicating the month of Yule, whereby ǽrra ġéola referred to the period before the Yule festival (December) and æftera ġéola referred to the period after Yule (January). Both words are thought to be derived from Common Germanic *jeχla-, and are cognate with Gothic (fruma) jiuleis; Old Norse, Icelandic, Faroese and Norwegian Nynorsk jól, jol, ýlir; Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian Bokmål jul. The etymological pedigree of the word, however, remains uncertain, though numerous speculative attempts have been made to find Indo-European cognates outside the Germanic group, too. The noun Yuletide is first attested from around The word is attested in an explicitly pre-christian context primarily in Old Norse. Among many others (see List of names of Odin), the long-bearded god Odin bears the names jólfaðr (Old Norse for Yule father ) and jólnir ( the Yule one ). In plural (Old Norse jólnar, the Yule ones ) may refer to the Norse gods in general. In Old Norse poetry, the word is often employed as a synonym for feast, such as in the kenning hugins jól (Old Norse Huginn s Yule a raven s feast ). Jolly may share the same etymology, but was borrowed from Old French jolif (French joli), itself from Old Norse jól + Old French suffix -if (compare Old French aisif easy, Modern French festif = fest feast + -if). The word was first mentioned by the Anglo-Norman chronicler Geoffrey Gaimar in his Estoire des Engleis, or History of the English People, written between Germanic paganism Yule was an indigenous midwinter festival celebrated by the Germanic peoples. The earliest references to it are in the form of month names, where the Yule-tide period lasts somewhere around two months in length, falling along the end of the modern calendar year between what is now mid-november and early January. Attestations Yule is attested early in the history of the Germanic peoples; from the 4th-century Gothic language it appears in the month name fruma jiuleis, and, in the 8th century, the English historian Bede wrote that the Anglo-Saxon calendar included the months geola or giuli corresponding with either modern December or December and January. While the Old Norse month name ýlir is similarly

10 attested, the Old Norse corpus also contains numerous references to an event by the Old Norse form of the name, jól. In chapter 55 of the Prose Edda book Skáldskaparmál, different names for the gods are given. One of the names provided is Yule-beings. A work by the skald Eyvindr skáldaspillir that uses the term is then quoted, which reads again we have produced Yule-being s feast [mead of poetry], our rulers eulogy, like a bridge of masonry. In addition, one of the numerous names of Odin is Jólnir, referring to the event. The Saga of Hákon the Good credits King Haakon I of Norway with the Christianisation of Norway as well as rescheduling the date of Yule to coincide with Christian celebrations held at the time. The saga states that when Haakon arrived in Norway he was confirmed a Christian, but since the land was still altogether heathen and the people retained their pagan practices, Haakon hid his Christianity to receive the help of the great chieftains. In time, Haakon had a law passed establishing that Yule celebrations were to take place at the same time as the Christians celebrated Christmas, and at that time everyone was to have ale for the celebration with a measure of grain, or else pay fines, and had to keep the holiday while the ale lasted. Yule had previously been celebrated for three nights from midwinter night, according to the saga. Haakon planned that when he had solidly established himself and held power over the whole country, he would then have the gospel preached. According to the saga, the result was that his popularity caused many to allow themselves to be baptised, and some people stopped making sacrifices. Haakon spent most of this time in Trondheim. When Haakon believed that he wielded enough power, he requested a bishop and other priests from England, and they came to Norway. On their arrival, Haakon made it known that he would have the gospel preached in the whole country. The saga continues, describing the different reactions of various regional things. A description of pagan Yule practices is provided (notes are Hollander s own): It was ancient custom that when sacrifice was to be made, all farmers were to come to the heathen temple and bring along with them the food they needed while the feast lasted. At this feast all were to take part of the drinking of ale. Also all kinds of livestock were killed in connection with it, horses also; and all the blood from them was called hlaut [sacrificial blood], and hlautbolli, the vessel holding the blood; and hlautteinar, the sacrificial twigs [ aspergills ]. These were fashioned like sprinklers, and with them were to be smeared all over with blood the pedestals of the idols and also the walls of the temple within and without; and likewise the men present were to be sprinkled with blood. But the meat of the animals was to be boiled and served as food at the banquet. Fires were to be lighted in the middle of the temple floor, and kettles hung over them. The sacrificial beaker was to be borne around the fire, and he who made the feast and was chieftain, was to bless the beaker as well as all the sacrificial meat. The narrative continues that toasts were to be drunk. The first toast was to be drunk to Odin for victory and power to the king, the second to the gods Njörðr and Freyr for good harvests and for peace, and thirdly a beaker was to be drunk to the king himself. In addition, toasts were drunk to the memory of departed kinsfolk. These were called minni. Theories and interpretation Scholars have connected the month event and Yule time period to the Wild Hunt (a ghostly procession in the winter sky), the god Odin (who is attested in Germanic areas as leading the Wild Hunt and, as mentioned above, bears the name Jólnir), and increased supernatural activity, such as the aforementioned Wild Hunt and the increased activities of draugar undead beings who walk the earth. Mōdraniht, an event focused on collective female beings attested by Bede as having occurred among the pagan Anglo-Saxons on what is now Christmas Eve, has been seen as further evidence of a fertility event during the Yule period. The events of Yule are generally held to have centred on Midwinter (although specific dating is a matter of debate), and feasting, drinking, and sacrifice (blót) were involved. Scholar Rudolf Simek comments that the pagan Yule feast had a pronounced religious character and comments that it is uncertain whether the Germanic Yule feast still had a function in the

11 cult of the dead and in the veneration of the ancestors, a function which the mid-winter sacrifice certainly held for the West European Stone and Bronze Ages. The traditions of the Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar (Sonargöltr) still reflected in the Christmas ham, Yule singing, and others stem from Yule customs, and customs which Simek says indicates the significance of the feast in pre-christian times. Contemporary traditions In modern Germanic language-speaking areas and some other Northern European countries, historical cognates to English yule denote the Christmas holiday season. Examples include Jul in Sweden, in Denmark, Jul and in Norway, Jól in Iceland and the Faroe Islands, Joulu in Finland, Joelfest in Friesland, Joelfeest in the Netherlands and jõulud in Estonia. Neopaganism As forms of Neopaganism can be quite different and have very different origins, these representations can vary considerably despite the shared name. Some celebrate in a way as close as possible to how they believe Ancient Germanic pagans observed the tradition, while others observe the holiday with rituals assembled from different sources. In Germanic Neopagan sects, Yule is celebrated with gatherings that often involve a meal and gift giving. Groups such as the Asatru Folk Assembly in the US recognise the celebration as lasting 12 days, beginning on the date of the winter solstice. In most forms of Wicca, this holiday is celebrated at the winter solstice as the rebirth of the Great horned hunter god, who is viewed as the newborn solstice sun. The method of gathering for this sabbat varies by practitioner. Some have private ceremonies at home, while others do so with their covens. See also: Dísablót, an event attested from Old Norse sources as having occurred among the pagan Norse. Mōdraniht, an event attested by Bede as having occurred among the pagan Anglo-Saxons on what is now Christmas Eve Saturnalia, an ancient Roman festival in honour of the deity Saturn, held on 17 December and expanded with festivities through 23 December. Yaldā Night, an Iranian festival celebrated on the longest and darkest night of the year. Credit: Public Domain Shared Content: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia & Wikimedia Commons - Additioanl Credit & Reference to: Barnhart, Robert K. (1995). The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology. Harper Collins. Bosworth, Joseph; Toller, T. Northcote (1898). An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Faulkes, Anthony (Trans.) (1995). Edda. Everyman. Guðbrandur Vigfússon (1874). An Icelandic-English Dictionary: Based on the Ms. Collections of the Late Richard Cleasby. Clarendon Press. Hoad, T. F. (1996). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hollander, M. Lee (Trans.) (2007). Heimskringla: History of the Kings of Norway. University of Texas Press. Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN Orel, Vladimir (2003). A Handbook of Germanic Etymology. Leiden: Brill Publishers. pg Simek, Rudolf (2007) translated by Angela Hall. Dictionary of Northern Mythology.

12 Holidays & Traditions Other Celebrations around the Winter solstice! The December solstice is the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the Summer Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. The day has astronomical, cultural and religious significance. In the Northern Hemisphere, the December Solstice is the Winter Solstice and the shortest day of the year. Although winter is the season of dormancy, darkness and cold, the December Solstice marks the turning of the Sun and the days slowly get longer. Celebrations of the lighter days to come and nature s continuing cycle have been common thorughout cultures and history with feasts, festivals and holidays around the December Solstice. Christmas Celebrations In modern times Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day, which falls on December 25. However, it s believed that this date was chosen to offset pagan celebrations of Saturnalia and Natalis Invicti. Some believe that celebrating the birth of the true light of the world was set in synchronization with the December solstice because from that point onwards, the days began to have more daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. Christmas is also referred to as Yule, which is derived from the Norse word jól, referring to the pre-christian winter solstice festival. Yule is also known as Alban Arthan and was one of the Lesser Sabbats of the Wiccan year in a time when ancient believers celebrated the rebirth of the Sun God and days with more light. This took place annually around the time of the December solstice and lasted for 12 days. The Lesser Sabbats fall on the solstices and equinoxes. Feast of Juul The Feast of Juul was a pre-christian festival observed in Scandinavia at the time of the December solstice. Fires were lit to symbolize the heat, light and life-giving properties of the returning sun. A Yule or Juul log was brought in and burned on the hearth in honor of the Scandinavian god Thor. A piece of the log was kept as both a token of good luck and as kindling for the following year s log. In England, Germany, France and other European countries, the Yule log was burned until nothing but ash remained. The ashes were then collected and either strewn on the fields as fertilizer every night until Twelfth Night or kept as a charm and or as medicine. French peasants believed that if the ashes were kept under the bed, they would protect the house against thunder and lightning. The present day custom of lighting a Yule log at Christmas is believed to have originated in the bonfires associated with the feast of Juul. Saturnalia in Ancient Rome In Ancient Rome the Winter Solstice festival Saturnalia began on December 17 and lasted for seven days. Saturday: Day of Saturn Saturnalian banquets were held from as far back as around 217 BCE. The festival was held to honor Saturn, the father of the gods and was characterized by the suspension of discipline and reversal of the usual order. Grudges and quarrels were forgotten while businesses, courts and schools were closed. Wars were interrupted or postponed and slaves were served by their masters. Masquerades often occurred during this time. It was traditional to offer gifts of imitation fruit (a symbol of fertility), dolls (symbolic of the custom of human sacrifice), and candles (reminiscent of the bonfires traditionally associated with pagan solstice celebrations). A mock king was chosen, usually from a group of slaves or criminals, and although he was permitted to behave in an unrestrained manner for seven days of the festival, he was usually killed at the end. The Saturnalia eventually degenerated into

13 a week-long spree of debauchery and crime giving rise to the modern use of the tern saturnalia, meaning a period of unrestrained license and revelry. Modern Day Celebrations In Poland the ancient December solstice observance prior to Christianity involved people showing forgiveness and sharing food. It was a tradition that can still be seen in what is known as Gody. In the northwestern corner of Pakistan, a festival called Chaomos, takes place among the Kalasha or Kalash Kafir people. It lasts for at least seven days, including the day of the December solstice. It involves ritual baths as part of a purification process, as well as singing and chanting, a torchlight procession, dancing, bonfires and festive eating. Santo Tomas in Guatemala Celebrating Santo Tomas in Chichicastenango, Guatemala, 21 December 2008 On the 21st of December. Celebrations in Guatemala. Many Christians celebrate St Thomas Day in honor of St Thomas the Apostle on December 21. In Guatemala on this day, Mayan Indians honor the sun god they worshipped long before they became Christians with a dangerous ritual known as the polo voladore, or flying pole dance. Three men climb on top of a 50-foot pole. As one of them beats a drum and plays a flute, the other two men wind a rope attached to the pole around one foot and jump. If they land on their feet, it is believed that the sun god will be pleased and that the days will start getting longer. Some churches celebrate St Thomas Day on other days in the year. The ancient Incas celebrated a special festival to honor the sun god at the time of the December solstice. In the 16th century ceremonies were banned by the Roman Catholics in their bid to convert the Inca people to Christianity. A local group of Quecia Indians in Cusco, Peru, revived the festival in the 1950s. It is now a major festival that begins in Cusco and proceeds to an ancient amphitheater a few miles away. Credit: Public Domain and public License : timeanddate.com Wassail is a favorite Yuletide beverage. The word wassail comes from two Anglo-Saxon words: Waes Hael, a combination of a greeting and a toast. Now, it s a holiday drink made popular by wassailing songs. To hear Ralph Vaughn Williams Wassail Song based on the Gloucesershire Wassail. Quick and Easy Wassail 7 pints of brown ale, 1 bottle of dry sherry, a cinnamon stick, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, and lemon slices. Cook to a Boil & Serve HOT. Traditional Wassail Nourished Kitchen offers a more fulsome recipe for traditional wassail. The addition of egg helps the liver cope with all the alcohol. Scoop out the cores of four small apples. Fill each apple with a tablespoon of unrefined cane sugar, and put them on a baking sheet. Stud an orange with 13 cloves and add it to the baking sheet. Bake the fruit at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Pour 2 quarts of hard apple cider and half a cup of brandy into a heavy bottomed stock pot. Warm the mixture and whisk in 1 tablesppon of powdered ginger and 1 teaspoon of grated nutmeg. Do not boil. Make a spice bag: Put 6 allspice berries and 2 cinnamon sticks into a small square of buttered muslin. Float this in the wassail as it warms. Separate 6 large eggs. Beat egg yolks. In a separate bowl, whip egg whites. Fold yolks into whites. Pour half a cup of wassail into the egg mix. Take the spice muslin square out of the wassail pot. Pour in the egg mixture. Combine. Pour entire mixture into a very large punchbowl. Float the apples and orange in the wassail. Credit: Featured Image: English Holly, Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons. & Creative Commons & Zoe Mintz. Winter Solstice Dec. 19, 2014.

14 Stones & Crystals for the Solstice Stimulation Stones... Arouse energy and get relief from post-holiday doldrums or winter melancholy. Due to a perceived lack of sunshine, many people suffer from depression during the winter months. People who live in colder climates can find themselves feeling depleted as a grey winter persists for months on end. These stones boost physical and mental energy. They will lift your spirits and brighten a dull or despondent environment. Lemon Quartz (for abundance, warmth, creativity) Golden Calcite (for super energy) Sunstone (for creativity) Unakite (for joy in daily life) Ametrine (for optimism) Goldstone (pure sparkling vitality!) Lepidolite (Violet ray burns away greyness) Hemimorphite (increases energy to complete projects) Place these around your home of office. They will beat your blues on gloomy winter days.

15 Intro to the Chakra s Affirmations for each Chakra are very beneficial as well, as the thoughts we think and the words we speak create our experiences in being able to balance the Chakras. For each Chakra your mind, body and soul can obtain a clearer perception and acquire a new inner strength and guidance to be able to handle any issues that life throws at you. Below you will find a brief explanation of the Seven Major Chakras. All are associated with different body parts, emotions and life areas. Each Chakra is represented by a color of the rainbow - Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet). Each of the 7 chakra stones represents a particular set of body part. Chakra is a Sanskrit word which means wheel. According to the belief, the body has energy centers associated with the wheels. Each of the wheels is represented by a unique color and specific gemstone. If you want to have a healthy body, you have to have all the 7 chakras balanced. They will help improve your overall quality of life. Root/Red This is situated at the lower end of the spine. Of the 7 chakra stones, this one is associated with the functions of the blood, kidney, muscles and all organs found in the lower part of the body. It represents stability and balance. If you are feeling worried about the things around you, the root chakra may be out of balance. Consider adding shades of red around you. Examples of gemstones under it are red jasper, smoky quartz and ruby. Sacral/Orange The bladder, reproductive system and stomach are all under the sacral chakra. It also relate to creativity and sexuality. Gemstones like fire opal and orange jasper are used to treat sexual malfunctions and urinary tract problems. You can also add oranges in your kitchen to add spice in your life. Solar Plexus/ Yellow The third color represents the organ found on the upper abdominal region. Yellow zircon, topaz and amber are the gemstones important to treat illnesses like ulcer, digestive problems, and diabetes and adrenal dysfunctions. Yellow is the color that relates to self-esteem and confidence. If you are feeling disempowered, add a tinge of yellow around you. Heart/Green As the name suggests, green is responsible for the vital organ including the nervous system. The important gemstones to promote the health of the heart are jade, emerald and rose quartz malachite. It relates about love. Decorative green plants allow the flow of this energy into your home. Throat/Blue Based on the 7 chakra stones, this is responsible for the whole respiratory system. It is the communication center. Blue topaz, aquamarine, lapis lazuli and sapphire are the gemstones that promote their health. Third Eye/Indigo This is responsible for the eyes, nose and ears. Azurite and sapphire are the stones important for this chakra. Crown/Violet This is the highest of all the 7 chakra stones because it represents the brain and the rest of the central nervous system. This should be your focus if you wish to treat mental illness and diseases like insomnia. It is all about upliftment, peace of mind and spiritual enlightenment. C 2017 The Wizards Hat

16 Cleaning and care: There are many methods of cleaning stones and you must use common sense and have some knowledge of the stone and what you are cleaning it off to select the best cleansing method. There are several methods for cleaning crystals, please select the best for your individual stone, and remember to be careful of wrapped stones as these require different cleaning not to damage the jewelry parts. MOONLIGHT - Place your stone in the full moon light. Best to do on the night of the full moon and leave overnight but remember to bring in a dry if you are cleaning a jewelry encased stone; these are best left in a windowsill. SEA SALT (DRY) - Use with caution. This is probably the best all around method to use. It may however cause damage to softer stones and finished stones. This will also damage jewelry grade wrappings. If you live near the Ocean you can clean with ocean water for the best natural cleaning. DO NOT use table salt because the process and chemicals could damage stone. Place the stone with the point downward in the sea salt and leave for at least 5 hours up to 24 hours. SEA SALT (WET) - Use with caution as salt MAY DAMAGE CERTAIN STONES, AND JEWELRY. DO not use tap water, use spring or bottled water. Use 1/4 cup of sea salt to 1/2 cup fresh water. Allow to soak 5-24 hours depending on the stone and the need. Allow to dry natural either in the sun or moonlight depending on the stone. SAND/EARTH - Some very natural stones prefer to return to Mother Earth to be cleaned. This method is best for unpolished non-jewelry natural stones. Place the stones in sand or earth then using spring water pour about a cup over the place where the stone is buried and allow it to regenerate for 24 hours SMUDGE - Using sage, sweat grass, frankincense or cedar to smudge the stone. Make sure the stone gets completely covered in the smoke, and then allow the stone to rest for several hours afterwards. Charging: Charge your stones my either Moonlight or sunlight, but be careful as the sun may damage certain stones. C 2017 The Wizards Hat Working with the Chakras Some recommendations for working with your chakras It is generally considered to be best to open the chakras from the lower chakras up. So you make sure that first the Root chakra is open and then you proceed to the Sacral chakra, then Navel, Heart, Throat, Third Eye and finally Crown chakra. The Root chakra is the foundation. When the Root chakra is open, you re able to feel secure and welcome. Having opened this chakra, you ll feel you ll have territory. Only when you feel secure and welcome, are you able to express feelings and sexuality appropriately, the domain of the Sacral chakra. This is generally contact with one person at a time. Feelings get you an idea of what you want and when you are aware of that, you can open the Navel chakra, to assert your wants, to decide upon them. This assertion is something that s done between people, in groups, in social situations. Being able to deal with social situations, you can form affectionate relationships, which is the domain of the Heart chakra. This tames the aggression of the Navel chakra. When relationships are formed, you are able to express yourself, by the Throat chakra. This is also the basis of thinking,

17 which makes insight possible, by opening the Third Eye chakra. When all these chakras are open, you re ready for the Crown chakra, to develop wisdom, self-awareness and awareness of the whole. What period of time you spend on each chakra, is something you ll have to find out for yourself. Be aware of how you feel and what you do and don t do. Notice if you really do need to open certain chakras and if you can sustain higher ones. It s probably a process of years, if not decades, although you ll be enjoying benefits immediately. It will not always be necessary to rigidly follow the order of the chakras, as long as you re aware of what s happening with you. The test for the chakras can help you determine which ones you ll need to open. However, don t rely on this alone, but also read about the chakras in other contexts. It s mostly a matter of being aware what your state is. To develop this awareness, it s a good idea to do meditation. That also helps to balance the chakras, and is particularly helpful when you have over-active chakras. Vipassana and Zen meditation are in particular recommended. Please -Do not be like most people today who discredit the Chakras. The only reason why they think that way is because they do not understand them. You have the opportunity to take the step that many people never take and gain control over your life by simply learning how to use the power of your Chakras. Remember, when the Chakras are open, aligned and balanced you are at an absolute optimal level of health. But when one or more of your Chakras becomes closed, unbalanced or out of alignment you can suffer from great discomfort and even a wide variety of health problems. PROGRAMMING AND DEDICATING STONES After you choose and cleaned your gemstone or crystal, it is a good idea to dedicate it or program it. The purpose of programming a crystal or gemstone is to focus its abilities on something you specifically need, thereby magnifying the stone s intent through your own. The purpose of dedicating the stone to a high level healing energy or Goddess (God) is to protect it from negative energy. A crystal or stone that is programmed and dedicated in these ways becomes much more powerful and useful as a tool. This is a very simple process. Hold the crystal or gemstone in your hand and sense its energy. With the stone being newly cleared, the energy will feel stronger and even more appealing that before. As you sense this energy and appreciate it, ask quietly to be connected to the deva of the crystal or gemstone. Though not animate, stones are living things and the deva of the piece is the stone s life-force energy. Once you feel you have sensed what you can from the energy, think of what you will be using the stone for. Think of these uses, then quietly ask the gemstone if it is willing to act in the way you wish. The crystals energy may increase with a yes or seem to disappear with a no. If the stone accepts your intent, state in your mind that it be so. Once a stone is programmed, it will hold its intent until you or someone else reprograms it. To prevent any negative energy from attaching itself to your crystal you may with to dedicate it. To do this, simply hold the crystal or gemstone in your hand and state clearly in your mind: Only the most positive high-level energy may work through this healing tool. Focus on your intent for awhile, then end your sensing (meditation) with SO BE IT. The stone is now dedicated. You may also choose to dedicate your gemstone or crystal to a specific healing energy, for example, to a Goddess of healing. There are many healing goddesses, including Isis, Yemaya, Diana, and White Buffalo Calf Woman. For stones programmed for protection, Hecate or Kali are strong protection Goddesses. LAYING ON OF STONES The technique of using crystals and gemstones on the receiver s body for healing is called laying on of stones. It is a powerful method of cleansing negative energy, clearing and balancing the chakras, effecting emotional release, and bringing light and healing into all the aura bodies. Cleared, programmed, and dedicated stones move the receiver s vibration

18 into alignment with the planet and the universal grid. This results in a freeing of life force energy in the chakras and aura, a healing of the Body of Light, and a transformation of negative or dis-ease into health. The process may be done with clear quartz crystals only, colored gemstones only, or a combination of both. The stones may be used alone or with a hands on healing (ie;reiki). The stones are placed upon the receiver s body from feet to head. The healer then begins using her hands as usual starting at the head and moving toward the feet. (Use gemstones with colors matching each chakra s color. The stones can be in any form-faceted, raw, tumbled, eggs, or beads.) Energy in this type of healing needs to move in one direction through the body, either Earth to sky or sky to Earth. If the energy is Earth to sky, all the gemstones that have points are placed with the points turned towards the receiver s crown. The effect of this direction is to move the receiver s energy to a higher vibration or more spiritual level. If the direction is from sky to Earth, it is the opposite, with the crystals pointing toward the feet. This direction moves life force energy from crown to feet for grounding and rooting into Earth. To begin, the receiver lies on her back on a padded floor or massage table, with pillows under her head and knees for comfort. The space should be quiet, comfortable, and warm. Use only stones that have been dedicated to positive energy and programmed for healing. Invite spirit guides and angels into the session if you wish. Start by placing a clear quartz crystal above her head and below her feet. In the right hand place another crystal and in the left hand place a rose quartz gemstone. (my personal method). Then go chakra by chakra, moving from the feet to crown and placing the appropriate colored gemstone for each center. (Be sure you have your healing stones spread out where you can reach them easily.) There may be stones that you are drawn to for a particular reason, let yourself be guided, there are no real rules. You cannot do it wrong. A stone that is not needed for the session or is inappropriate for the receiver s energy will roll right off or roll to another place where it is better utilized. Allow this to occur. If the receiver feels uncomfortable with a particular stone, remove it, the energy is not right for her needs. When the stones are all in place, the healer has two options. She (he) can go to the head and begin a hands on healing. Be sure to cover the stones with your hands carefully in order not to scatter the gemstones. While your hands are covering each chakra over the stone, visualize the bright color of the gemstone entering the chakra, making it appear bright, balanced, centered, and healthy. Do this visualization until you feel confident to move to the next chakra. Be sure to flick fingers to release any negative energy before going to the next center. End with a complete brushing of the aura, The other option a healer has once the stones are placed is to sit beside the receiver and simply wait, allowing the gemstones and spirit guides to do the healing. As the receiver s chakras and aura absorb and are balanced by the crystal and gem energies, the stones begin to roll off one by one. When all the stones are off, or the receiver feels finished with those that remain, the healing is over. End with a complete brushing of the aura and allow the receiver to lie quietly without the stones. Ask for feedback and discuss anything that you feel should be discussed. While she is doing this, the healer can gather up the stones from the table or floor and clear them again before putting them away. Put them into your protective box. Laying on of stones healing can be quite intense. There is often a major energy shift during this type of healing. More frequent emotional releases, past life and this life trauma openings and other transformative events. The healers role in this is to wait for the release to end and to be entirely non-judgmental. After a session, there may also be a physical detoxification process that can continue for up to a week. Be aware of what is happening and again, allow it. The changes are always positive and are usually gentle. C 2017 The Wizards Hat

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