Secular Celebrations - Yule

At the very end of the Gregorian calendar comes the winter solstice and Yule. Technically, this is the FIRST holiday on the Wheel, since Samhain is the boundary between the old year and the new. But since most of us have to follow the January to December schedule in our day-to-day lives, we’ll end with Yule.

The winter solstice is a time when we focus on hunkering down and staying warm. We look to the homestead, we take care of our families, and we make sure our communities are surviving the winter as comfortably as possible. This is one of the times that the Wild Hunt was said to ride, their presence indicated by howling winds and stormy nights when it wasn’t safe to venture out. All manner of entities personifying hunger and cold and death stalk the landscapes of winter mythology, so we fortify our homes however we can and indulge in a little midwinter revelry to keep ourselves going until the spring.

Decorate with pine bunting, pine cones, holly, mistletoe, snow symbols, fairy lights, electric candles, ribbons, streamers, local fauna active during winter, whatever you like. There are plenty of Christmas wreaths out there, so don’t be afraid to make a witchy one with a big old star in the middle. Make sure that any ACTUAL foliage is kept away from the pets, and of course, observe fire safety for any lights you put up. Way too many house fires are caused by electrical shorts in holiday lights, so be extra careful. Do NOT plug an extension cord into a power strip. And go easy on the plastic glitter. Anathema to some, I know, but the more of that we can keep out of the waste cycle and the water system, the less will end up in the oceans.

If you have a fireplace, you can burn a symbolic log “to drive the cold winter away.” Or, if you only have a cauldron or a burning bowl, you can find an outdoor space to burn some twigs and incense for the same purpose. Or you can light some candles with appropriately wintry scents. Or, if you can’t burn anything at all, an LED candle left alight overnight on the altar should do the trick. The whole idea is to symbolize keeping warmth in the home, keeping the dark and the cold at bay, and keeping the home fires literally burning for those who must be elsewhere. However you manage this is fine.

Spend time with your near-and-dear, if you can. Eat good food, drink good wine, and do cozy things. Share treasured memories, and tell stories. Fun fact: Yule and Christmas are another traditional time of year for ghost stories, so feel free to pull those out again. If there’s a family tradition of feasting and gift-giving, lean into it. There are a lot of Christian traditions from Christmas that have made their way into the secular sphere. Sure, they still have some religious associations, but I know plenty of atheists who still exchange presents because it’s FUN. You can also give gifts to others by contributing to charitable organizations, donating to clothing drives and food pantries, or through random acts of kindness to those who need it.

Charity and compassion should be emphasized during this time of year. I mean, you should be charitable and compassionate ALL year when you can manage it, that’s just common decency. But especially when it’s cold and people are feeling that lack of money or resources and we’re surrounded by all these super-capitalistic ad campaigns telling us that our love for others is worth only as much as the kitchen appliances and diamond jewelry we put under the tree….yeah, maybe bring something a little more altruistic to the table. It doesn’t have to be huge, it doesn’t have to be performative. Just look for those opportunities to help someone out or make their life a little easier. You’ll know them when you see them.

If you’re crafty, pull out those projects you’ve been saving for a rainy day. We often spend a lot of time cooped up in the house during cold weather, the more so in 2020 with the various lockdowns, so why not turn it into something productive? Fix something, create something new, work on that scarf you’ve been meaning to finish since last winter. Make a pinecone feeder for the local birds, or scatter some nuts and dried berries for any critters that happen to be out and about. Do winter crafts with your kids to keep them occupied, if they happen to get bored of watching Frozen 2 for the hundredth time this week. (Hey, I only have nieces and a nephew, but I’ve still heard the horror stories.)

Let me pause a moment to address the proverbial elephant in the room. And this MIGHT be dipping a toe into the religion pool, but it’s an issue that a lot of us face. Late December can be a tough time for witches who were raised Christian but are, for one reason or another, disconnected from the faith or the Church at present. There’s the constant symbolism in music and decorations all around, pressure from our friends and families, people gnashing their teeth about red coffee cups, and so on. And we’re not even going to talk about the annual arguments over who stole whose holidays. If you know me, you know exactly how salty I can get on the topic, and we don’t have time for that today. This is about finding ways to celebrate, not my personal rage over people who don’t understand the difference between conflation and syncretism, and can’t be arsed to read history that doesn’t come from-...

Ooooo deep cleansing breath. Come on, Bree, you promised. (-hiss- I LIED.)

ANYWAY. Yule is a time when it might be worth remembering literally anything positive that came out of your experience with Christianity. Some of us have it, some of us don’t, that’s purely a personal matter. Some of us miss the carols, okay? There can be a lot of nostalgia involved in the season that’s disconnected from whatever trauma or differences in belief led to that split. And if you want to pause and remember that fondly, that’s okay. I will fully confess to singing along to Christmas hymns on the radio in my car at top volume because that’s a big part of the season for me and always has been. Heck, I might even attend a service at the local Unitarian church. They’re nice and non-denominational and they focus much more on the meaning behind the season than any particular holiday. So if you feel the need for that fellowship, see if there’s a UU church near you, or a virtual service online. There’s nothing wrong with revisiting your roots.

Moving back into witchcraft territory, you can collect clean snow and icicles to melt for winter moon water. This isn’t really much different from moon water you’d make at any other time of year, but it’s another method of gathering the base material. Also, icicles are great for any water you’re setting aside for more aggressive or protective purposes. The fact that they look like hanging spears isn’t lost on me.

Check your household protections and see if anything needs shoring up. Like I said, I cast my wards every year at Samhain, but they always seem to need a bit of detail work by the time Yule rolls around. Or heck, you might find Yule a more appropriate time to perform that casting, or maybe you refresh your wards at every holiday, who knows. Whatever works for you, as long as you remember to do it at some point. Cleanse your thresholds and the corners of your home, at the very least, just for good measure. But don’t go sweeping anything out the door. That’s sweeping away your good luck for next year.

And speaking of New Year’s, if the year you’ve had has been particularly….well, like the year we’ve had, you can also burn the year in effigy and cleanse with incense for a fresh start. Just write it on a piece of paper and burn that S.O.B. in the cauldron. While you’re at it, you can symbolically burn lingering worries, bad habits, bad memories, and regrets with either candle flame or a burning bowl. And yes, that includes all those negative things you think about yourself that you wish would go away.

And finally, reflect on the year as a whole, with all the joys and lessons it’s brought you. What memories have you made? What has brought you joy? What do you regret? What have you learned? What skills have you developed and how will you use them? What improvements do you still wish to make? And what do you want to do with the coming year?

And around and around it goes….

Like I said at the beginning, this is by no means exhaustive. These are just some basic ideas to get you started. You can make your own celebrations and your own traditions as you, either by building off of existing ones or by creating something new. As long as it has meaning to you and marks the occasions you deem important in ways that are fun and festive, it’s all good. This is something I’d love to see more often as a discussion - personal traditions, things that are unique to families or particular regions or individual witches, all the places they intersect, and all the various ways that we celebrate ourselves and each other and our craft.

- Hex Positive, Ep. 011 - Secular Celebrations (November 1, 2020)

common outdoor items & their uses

a guide to common outdoor items and their magickal uses.

acorns- luck, protection, wisdom, power

walnuts- healing, protection, self care

pinecones- fertility, masculinity, growth, nature

pine needles- cleansing, healing, strength, banishment

pecans- employment, protection, success, abundance, prosperity

grass- growth, learning, healing, new beginning, grief, recovery

maple leaves- feminine, travel, change, decisions, healing

oak leaves- truth, justice, knowledge, steadfastness, protection, guidance

birch leaves- protection, cleansing, fertility, purification

dandelions- calling spirits, divination, healing

dandelion seeds- divination, wishes, manifestation, dreams, luck

dandelion leaves- defeating negativity, steadfastness, growth, purification

2 leaf clovers- love, luck, courage, cleansing

3 leaf clovers- protection, luck, fidelity, divination

4 leaf clovers- spirit work, luck, psychic ability, attraction

5+ leaf clovers- wealth, luck, attracting money, sanity

wild clover flowers- animal magick, blessings, breaking curses, luck, love

apple seeds- love, secrets, knowledge, gateways, divination, prosperity

tree bark- protection, binding, banishment, cleansing, purification

rocks- many rocks have crystals hidden inside, the most common is quartz types. if unsure, rockcs can represent strength, stability, protection and banishing. if you suspect its a crystal, look it up and discover the correspondences that matter to you!

will add more as i can, feel free to add your own!!

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greenswitchery

5 years ago

Spell Writing Tips for Beginners

Hello Lovelies!

So you’ve decided to write a spell, great! Everyone has the capacity and capability to write a working spell. This is a list of some beginner tips for new spell writers, or for experienced writers who feel they need to go back to the basics.

1. Don’t be afraid of your own style.

Some spells are super flowery with long words and Shakespearian phrases. Some spells require 18 ingredients and 3 days to cast them. Some spells require specific times to cast them and the perfect astrological conditions. Some spells are simple, consisting of a single phrase. Don’t be afraid of your own individual style. A spell written by you, for you, should be a personal experience. Just because your spell doesn’t flow a certain way doesn’t mean it’s “wrong” or won’t work. Spell writing is a form of self expression and each spell will be as individual and unique as the person writing it.

2. Don’t think too much.

Spell writing (for me anyway) is more of a spiritual experience than an intellectual one. I usually sit down with my pen and paper. Then I meditate for a minute thinking about what I want to achieve. Then I just let the words flow out onto the paper, without thinking about what it all means. You can always read it after and make adjustments. If you just sit down and let it happen, you may be surprised by what you come up with!

3. Make your own associations.

Don’t feel like you have to research the meaning of every ingredient or color that you use. I may think red is a color for lust while you see it as a color for anger. Both associations are right. If something doesn’t feel right to you, or you personally feel different about something. It’s ok to use an ingredient in a different way than what is “traditional”.

4 Do research on any ingredients you use.

This may seem contradictory to my last tip, but this time I’m talking about physical properties. Will your gemstone dissolve in water? Is that herb you want to use toxic? Could you have an allergy to that essential oil? It’s important to do your research because some of the ingredients used in spell craft can be very potent. 5. Have fun!

If spell writing is stressing you out, try taking a break and coming back to it later. Whatever energy you have while writing your spell is going to show up in the casting of your spell. If you’re angry while writing a healing spell, it probably won’t work as well as you wanted it to. Don’t get frustrated with yourself. You’re new at this it will take some time. Just have patience with yourself.

I hope these tips are helpful for any new spell writers! Happy writing! -Liz

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greenswitchery

5 years ago

BABY WITCH FAQ ~ 2

a masterpost by noonymoon

click here for part one

what can it mean being drawn to an element?

spirit work – a few essential and basic tips

soul work – some methods for doing soul related work

crystals – how to identify lemurian crystals

i am feeling spiritually drained and i have nightmares

crystals – ideas to protect your crystals from breaking

nature offerings – what to leave and not leave in nature

full moon eclipse – are spells recommended in such nights?

full moon eclipse – is charging recommended in such nights?

spells – what’s your take on these types of magic?

water magic – does moon water with a cloudy sky work?

low spoons – some methods to refresh your spiritual energy

secret witch – i can’t perform spells because i don’t have…

crystals – how can i learn more about crystals?

sun magic – how to appreciate the sun in many ways

soul work – is it possible to remember things or feel familiar?

witchy books – a few books that i can recommend

a few thoughts on the elements and our souls

anxiety – aroma therapy and some other pointers

spells – creative witchcraft is amazing

spells – all the things you can do with words

angels – some words on angels, spirits and guides

astral work – i’ve experienced a ringing in my ear

energy work – how to keep your third eye healthy

divination – tarot cards that pop up at you

crystals – this one crystal makes me nauseous

sigils – some cool things to know about them

crystals – why do i loose the crystals that i like the most?

spells – can you do any magic with clouds?

divination – some really good pointers for pendulum work

grimoire – read this if you are struggling with your grimoire

dreams – i am dreaming of having angel wings and flying

deity work – i want to do something nice for Aphrodite

spirit work – how can i find out about my spirit guide?

spirit work – thought on fae work for beginners

is it possible that certain months hold specific meanings?

spirit work – how did you know about your spirit guide?

divination – some of my favourite tarot decks

crystals – i always get a headache with hematite

synchronicities – what does the number 42 mean?

soul work – how do i find out how many lives i’ve had?

soul work – how do i find out more about my past lives?

divination – how long should i practice before digging deep?

spiritual growth – how do one get in touch with the higher self?

soul work – how do i find stuff out without divination?

mental health - can i still have intuition and magical powers?

angels – how to go about the whole angel topic

spiritual growth – what’s it like to feel the higher self?

spirit work – some words on deities, spirits and guides

soul work – how important your original soul self is

synchronicities – angel numbers and how to read them

altars – what can i put on an altar for spring?

cleansing – general thoughts on cleansing a room

witchcraft isn’t always doing spells and rituals - it’s much more

grimoire – of course you can have an electronic grimoire

astrology – basic explanation of the zodiac and chart

divination – example reading for how to do Lenormand

potions – some basic beginner advice for simple potions

personal growth – how to deal with anger and frustration

astrology – some thoughts on planets in retrograde

astrology – what are planetary influences?

spells – some advice on how to heal a broken heart

synchronicities – seeing your birthday numbers

synchronicities – seeing certain letters or initials everywhere

spells – gender validation spell for LGBTQ+ witches

soul work – does it work with only tarot cards?

flowers – and general thoughts on correspondences

herbs – do i have to pick herbs in some special way?

astrology – thoughts on compatibility and romance

shops – members of our community with witch shops

soul work – what is possible? past lives as animals?

crystals – to lift up someones vitality and mental state

manifestation – thoughts on my birthday manifestation

full moon – the moon and the energies of the zodiac

soul work – can you feel a soulmate somehow?

aphantasia – how to be magical nonetheless

magical girl – some cute magical girl content of mine

spells – some ideas for binding spells to prevent harm

water magic – some thoughts on moon water

cleansing – can i cleanse with candle smoke?

grimoire – group grimoire with trusted witches // updated on April 30th 2019

divination – how to pick your first tarot deck

beginner witchcraft advice on books

divination – general advice on reading cards

synchronicities – some tips for angel numbers

divination – creative advice for shufflemancy

divination – trust your intuition & do pendulum

ways to cleanse without smoke and essential oils

angels – in my opinion fallen angels aren’t a thing

spirit work – some words on fae and protection

energy work – meditation is a good start

crystals – some thoughts on crystal grids

dream work – tarot and dream interpretation

synchronicities – numerology & angel numbers

spirit work – personal thoughts on material offerings

you will never have to do something that scares you

cleansing – do you think i did this right…?

sigils – the “forgetting method” isn’t the only method

soul work – some general angel soul wisdom

dream work – dreaming of the “death” tarot card

energy work – cleansing and grounding

aphantasia – how to work around some things

divination – some ways to bond with your deck

hearing weird things with tarot deck under pillow

divination – painting your own tarot deck

clair-abilities – knowing peoples intentions

spirit work – my personal views on spirit conjuring

astrology – how to read your natal chart, easy!

clair-abilities – what could this experience mean?

crystals – what i personally love to do with them

can i use a pocket knife as an athame?

general advice on how to roll with your own craft

advice on how to enchant objects effectively

clair-abilities – some thoughts on being an empath

crystals – moss agate to keep your plants healthy

spells – can ingredients energies go bad?

divination – starting tarot with a traditional deck

crystals – what to look out for when purchasing online

spells – the entire moon cycle and its meanings

deity work – always investigate what you feel drawn to

crystals – few words on real and fake crystals

divination – the major arcana of the tarot

divination – how do people read for others online?

spirit work – how to reach out to your guides

angels – how to have faith and how to believe

magical powers only come at the age of 16….?

spirit work – can i worship nymphs?

my personal beliefs around worship and deities

crystals – i get a headache with this one crystal

really small advice on being a secret witch

clair-abilities – working with your intuition and skills

for what could i use sea shells and sand?

angels – communication through music and writing

divination – how to cleanse your tarot deck

soul work – experiences with the higher self

spirit work – the relationship with your guides

spells – black moon, dark moon and blue moon

being a witch and feeling anxious and disconnected

soul work – how to find out about past lives

angels – was this a real angel encounter…?

divination – pendulum letter board

astral work – is astral work a safe practice?

angels – how to find out about your angels

pointers on how to create a witch work space!

how to be spiritual despite nothing seems to work

dreams – what could it mean to dream about uranus

aphantasia – meeting my guides despite having it

human 101 – how to be kind in our community

divination – my deck was acting really weird

crystals – thoughts on lepidolite crystals

crystals – some crystals for working with angels

crystals – what exactly are lemurian crystals..?

updated on nov 8th 2019

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greenswitchery

1 year ago

I’ve been feeling really good recently.

Starting my craft again and putting my heart into it has helped immensely. It has helped me feel more grounded than I did a couple weeks ago and I am starting to feel like myself.

I still have my bad moments and that’s okay because most have been good moments.

I’ve been reading The Crooked Path by Kelden and I’ve been really enjoying it. Makes me want to read more nonfiction books and has gotten me back into reading!

My girlfriend (of 5 years<3) is getting a little into herbs and that has me very excited!

I’m really loving where I’m at right now.

passive and active energies.

the passive and active. they are opposites, but there is a part of each within the other; both energies exist in all things.

for everything, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

energy is not created or destroyed, it is only changed.

this is to say, all energy is one and the same; expressing and manifesting itself through different lenses, in different forms.

the passive. moon. earth. empathy. external. value of others. shield. existence. tranquility. allowance. creativity. silence.

the active. sun. heaven. strength. internal. value of self. sword. action. strife. control. logic. expression.

neither energy is more or less important or valuable.

if you have more empathy than strength, you bring harm unto yourself.

if you have more strength than empathy, you bring harm unto others.

what is expression without creativity?

what is creativity without expression?

balance is essential.

application to the craft:

most importantly, in my opinion, is learning that balance in all things comes first from balance within. this is something that can- and often does- take a lifetime to attain. to err is human, to err with one energy is natural. but finding an overall acceptance of both energies in and around your life can help bring understanding and peace.

use energies to inform intentions, to guide focus. an active intention may require more activity in your thought, whereas a passive intention may require more tranquility.

use the natural energies of elements and existences around you to help manifest your intentions. use the passive or active phases of the moon to inform and amplify your intentions.

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