Yule Magic Blog Party

Welcome Blog Party People!  Many blessings to you and yours through this season and many thanks to Sally of The Village Witch for hosting.

My favorite part of Yule is what we, as modern pagans, rarely get to do... just sit and enjoy the silence of the season.  Yule is the quiet time of the growing earth and, for me, a time to sit in silence and breath before I have to come to life again, just as the earth does.

So my gift to you all is permission to STOP, go outside, look around you and just breath in the stillness.

Blessed Yule and all Hail the re-birth of the Sun.

WINTER WONDER by Esther Remmington

** Much thanks to Ms. Remmington for agreeing to share this beautiful image with all of us!.

Yuletide Blessings 2011 Blog Party

Welcome Blog Party People!  Many blessings to you and yours through this season and many thanks to Astraea for hosting.

My favorite set of Family holiday Traditions starts about a week before Christmas and a day full of cookie baking is involved.  When I was younger my two sisters and I helped my dad make tray after tray of different cookies so we could give away cookie plates to people in our neighborhood, at work and at school.  Now I'm older and out of the house so my 5 year-old Valkyrie gets to make cookies with her awesome AuntRose and Grandpa and I get an afternoon off :)

My Aunt Betty in USCG uniform

The one Christmas Eve arrives the tradition I miss most is dinner with my Great Aunt.  She passed Samhain a few years ago and I still miss her.  She was an amazing lady and I hope to be 1/3 as amazing by the time I get to year 70.

Next comes Midnight Mass.  This may seem a bit weird until you think about how much ritual is in a Catholic Mass and think about how it's a celebration of the return of the Son, not all that different than the Sun.  The church is always SO packed, Dad is typically a lector and Mom's busy singing in the choir so my sisters and I get to sit together, just us three, and then two of us sneak into the soprano section to sing the Hallelujah Chorus to end the night.  It's moving and powerful and comforting in the winter night.

Christmas itself is rife with more tradition.  My sisters come down stairs and wake me up, now they wake my Valkyrie up too.  We hang out till 7am, make coffee and send the cute one up to wake up Mom and Dad (now Grandma and Grandpa).  Stockings can be opened while coffee is made with Irish cream and then presents are opened in age order, youngest to oldest.  Breakfast is french Texas toast wrapped in bacon and dinner is roast beef.  The day is ended with Irish Coffee, friends and family and much warmth.

Blessings to you and yours!.

Featured Favorites Friday: It's almost Yule

'Favorites of the Season' by ReadingsByKat

Beautiful seasonal offerings from my favorites

God's Gift Card JanetAndersonA... $3.00	Chainmail Candle Holder... SerenityInChai... $25.00	Tatted Christmas Tree D... TataniaRosa $5.00	Lunar Alchemy Witches M... WhiteMagickAlc... $12.95
Yule Spoon Wand thewhimsicalco... $24.00	Frosted White Bells Flo... fringeandflour... $8.00	NEW Bracelet, Arm Cuff,... thecuriouscupc... $10.00	Christmas Ornaments Sab... PaperMeJewels $14.00
Holly Berries Christmas... chuckhljal $32.00	3 Small Twists goodclayworks $27.00	Red Hot Beaded Guitar S... Stringcycle $30.00	Pressed Glass and Snowm... nitebyrd $6.00
Holly King Yule winter... Cronesmagicalc... $31.00	Embroidered Black Chris... gualtiem $7.50	Vintage Christmas Table... mulberrypatchw... $21.95	ON SALE Cascade Earring... Surori $16.20

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

The Witches Yuletide Ball Blog Party

*** Don't forget to enter the giveaway.  1 week left! ***

Welcome Blog Party People!  Many blessings to you and yours through this season and many thanks to Dana & Tenae for hosting.

My offering for you all this Solstice is as ritual: Winter's Night and Re-Birth of the Sun

Yule Elements Enchanted Witchery Candles

I take my time setting up the altar, making sure I have all four elements represented as well as the Divine Feminine and Masculine.  It's important to me to keep the spirit of the season so I will probably bring in some evergreens to scent the air.

The longest night begins and it with it, my ritual.

Love of the Goddess: Giveaway from The Whimsical Pixie!

Not that I want any of you to win (cause then how could I?!) but check out this great blog and FANTASTIC giveaway!

Love of the Goddess: Giveaway from The Whimsical Pixie!: This month's giveaway comes to us from The Whimsical Pixie . The owner Paula, has donated a gorgeous Pagan ornament for your Yule/Christmas...

Triple Moon Goddess and Pentacle Millefiori Ornament

New stuff for the next season

Winter is one of my favorite seasons.  Between Samhain and Imbolc even with the craziness of the modern holidays, the chance to chill is great.  This weekend I finally had enough time to put some new stuff together and get it actually listed in time!  Check it out!

Yule Wishes Holly and Candle Spell

First the simple and festive use of color magic, oils and scents, and some basic tree lore to have the Holly bring positive opportunities into your life.  I love that this spell is so simple but could be very effective in bringing the spirit of the season into your home.

Red is a color of passion and renewal through fire and the blessed and dressed candle will help focus your intention.

Holly is known as a plant of protection and in this spell you will use the leaves to protect your magical intention through the winter so you can see results as the spring approaches.

Spell Kit - Longest Night and Return of the Sun

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My second offering of the season is a two part spell kit that is designed to honor and celebrate the Longest Night and then to welcome the return of the Sun.  Included are two spell candles that will be blessed and dressed with oils, a hand blended spell mix and a mini-altar cloth covered in blue stars.

With this kit my goal is to help people take a few moments and celebrate the Sabbat within the Wheel.

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