Old Yule Ways
15:55 Feb 19 2010
Times Read: 530
Old Yule Ways
Try to imagine yourself in a very cold climate, where the Winter nights are very long, indeed. Firewood and food are both becoming very scarce and you have begun to fear for your own survival. As you keep a lonely vigil through this, the Longest Night, you feel as though the Darkness has taken over the Earth and the Light will never come again. Imagine your joy at that first spark of light and your hopes that, someday soon, the snow will melt and you will be warm and well fed! This is the way our ancestors must have felt about this time of celebration.
The celebration of the Winter Solstice, as often as not referred to as Yule, is common to almost every culture. For this reason, although the Christian Church has long since adopted it as the birthdate of Jesus, it has retained more of the ancient Pagan tradition then any other holiday or festival. In early times, December 25th (the date now recognized as Christmas) was commemorated as the Birth of the Sun God, Mithra, and January 6 (Old Christmas) was a Dionysian festival. In Egypt, a celebration dedicated to Osiris was held at this time.
The word Yule probably derives from the Norse "iul" or the Anglo-Saxon "hweol", both meaning "wheel". According to Webster's Dictionary, however, it originates in "geola" (Old English for "ice"), another name for the month during which it was celebrated. "Modronacht" (Mother's Night) is yet another Name for the Midwinter Festival.
Many customs have survived from Pre-Christian times that lend themselves quite nicely to our rituals today. Among them is the ever-popular Yule Log. Traditionally, the Yule Log has been of oak, ash or beech, ritually cut (often at Dawn) and ceremonially carried into the house. It was lit by the head of the family with much ado. Toasts were often drunk with wine, cider or brandy, in those early morning hours, giving the participants a good head-start on the festivities. A lesser known tradition is that of the Yule Clog. The Clog was a knobby block of wood, burnt in the kitchen hearth. Household servants were entitled to ale with their meals for as long as the Clog was kept burning. In many parts of Scandinavia, the object burnt was a fat wax candle, instead of a log. The candle was lit at Dawn and must burn until Midnight, or be considered an ill omen
The Yule Log was said to have many magickal properties Remnants of it, or its ashes, were kept in the house throughout the year for many purposes. Among these were protection from thunderstorms or lightning, protection from hail, preserving humans from chilblains and animals from various diseases. Mixed with fodder, the ashes would make the cows calve and brands were thrown into the soil to keep corn healthy. Women often kept fragments until Twelfth Night to ensure a thriving poultry flock in the coming year. It was customary to pour libations of wine or brandy upon the Log and to make offerings by scattering corn or bread crumbs over it. Even money was placed on the Log. Those charred "lucky coins" were then given to children or servants as gifts.
Wassailing is another happy survival of an old tradition. "Wassail" comes from the Anglo-Saxon "Waes Hael", which has been translated to "Be Well," "Be Whole" or "Be Healthy." The proper response to this toast is "Drink Hael", making it a shared blessing, a mutual well-wishing. Traditionally, carolers went from door to door, singing and bearing their "Wassail Cups", to be rewarded with the drink and fruited breads or other sweets.
Even with the Yule Log and the Wassail Bowl, no Yule celebration would be complete without a decorated tree. This custom is thought to originate in the Roman custom of decorating homes with laurel and evergreen trees at the Kalends of January (the Roman Winter Solstice celebration). It is interesting to note that, as with many other traditions adopted by the Church, the decorated evergreen (now called a "Christmas Tree") was originally condemned by Rome. An early Christian writer...
Wiccan Law
15:53 Feb 19 2010
Times Read: 531
These are the basics of what the Wiccan Law stands for and represents as a religion if you can't follow these you are in the wrong cult/religion and you will get Karma if you break the Law Chain.
Bide the Wiccan Laws ye must, in perfect love and perfect trust. Ye must live and let live, fairly take and fairly give. Cast the circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out. To bind the spell well everytime, let the spell be spoken in rhyme. Soft of eye and light of touch, speak ye little and listen much. Deosil go by waxing moon, chanting out the Wiccan Runes. Widdershins go by waning chanting out the baneful tune. When the Lady?s Moon is new, kiss the hand to her times two. When the Moon rides at her peak, then the heart?s desire seek. Heed the North winds mighty gale, lock the door and trim the sail. When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss thee on the mouth. When the Moor wind blows from the West, departed spirits have no rest. When the wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast. Nine woods in the cauldron go, burn then quick and burn them slow. Elder be the Lady?s tree, burn it not, or cursed ye?ll be. When the wheel begins to turn, let the Beltane fires burn. When the wheel has turned to Yule, light the log and the Horned One rules. Heed ye flower, bush and tree, by the Lady, Blessed Be. Where the rippling waters go, cast a stone the truth to know. When ye have and hold a need, hearken not to others greed. With a fool no season spend, lest be counted as his friend. Merry ye meet, and merry ye part, bright the cheeks and warm the heart. Mind the three fold law ye should, three times bad and three times good. When misfortune is enow, wear the blue star on thy brow. True in love ye must be, lest thy love be false to thee. These eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfill; An ye harm none, do what ye will.
However, Wiccanism may not be your type of thing, So heed warning before entering this world ;) , Before trying anything to difficult, Try visualisation with the mind etc etc, With wiican music would help, If you wish to pursue into this further leave me a comment etc etc.
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