Yule/Winter Solstice

 
Yule is the longest night of the year.  It is the time of darkness before the dawn.  In many cultures this was the time to celebrate the rebirth of the invincible sun.  The evening before Yule is often celebrated as Mother's Night, a time to honor the Great Mother for giving birth to the Divine Child.  The Divine Child's birth signals that the light will return.  This archetype is seen in many cultures, from Pagan Britain with its myth of Mabon ap Modron to Christianity and the Christ Child.  In many of these tales the Divine Child is raised in secrecy and is often unaware of his/her divine heritage.  Many beloved legends fit in with this timeless archetype.  The legend of King Arthur, Finn McCool, the Sigurd saga in Germanic legend - all of these tales detail the stories of great heroes whose childhoods are shrouded in secrecy because they have enemies who would seek to destroy them.  They triumph over these enemies and live legendary lives full of magnificent exploits.  Each also sows the seeds of his own destruction.  Even the Divine Child must die.  In many of the legends they are believed to be sleeping and will return once again when they are needed.  

For those following a Celtic path, Yule might be a good time to honor the Divine Child in the form of Finn Mccool or

From an astrological point of view, Yule is when the Sun enters the sign of Capricorn.  Capricorns are know for their tenacity and hard work.  They manage to find their footing even in the rockiest terrain.  Honor that side of you that never quits, that isn't afraid of the dark and knows there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Create a lovely Yule incense by combining:


3 drops Orange essential oil
2 drops Rosemary essential oil
1 drop Clove essential oil

You can either add the blend to a potpourri pot or to a self-igniting incense base.

Crafts:

  •  Instead of a cut or articificial tree buy a small live tree and plant it at Ostara
  • Create ornaments for the family Yule tree using items you can find around the house. One craft I learned at camp was to shave crayons between two pieces of wax paper.  Fold the wax paper together (like a sandwich).  Hold a hot iron on the wax paper until the crayons have melted.  This create a lovely stained glass window effect.  The trim the wax paper into the shape you want and use construction paper to trim and seal it.  
  • Decorate your home with a variety of Sun images to welcome her home.
  • Create a pomander using a whole orange and some cloves.
  • Make a small Yule log (simple instructions are offered in Wheel of the Year by Pauline and Dan Campanelli).
  • Find some Paganized Yule carols or create a few of your own.

Here are some great sites to check out for recipes to use:

Enjoy!