Lammas- The First Harvest Festival!

Lammas: August 2, July 31st/Aug 1st

Frey Fest/Lughnasa/Lugnasad/Lammas

This is an Irish Gaelic name for the feast which commemorates the funeral games of Lugh, Celtic god of light, and son of the Sun.  In the mythological story of the Wheel of the Year, the Sun God transfers his power into the grain, and is sacrificed when the grain is harvested.  So we have a dying, self-sacrificing and resurrecting god of the harvest, who dies for his people so that they may live.  Sound familiar?

The power of the sun goes into the grain as it ripens. It is then harvested and made into the first new bread of the season.  This is the Saxon hlaef-masse or loaf-mass, now lammas.  Seed grain is also saved for planting for next year’s crop, so the sun god may be seen to rise again in Spring with the new green shoots, as the sun also rises in the sky.  There are many traditions and customs all over the country that are still carried on at harvest-time today.

Lammas is a festival celebrating the first fruits of harvest, the fruits of our labours, and seeing the desires that we had at the start of the year unfold so rituals will be centred around this.  Lammas is an early Christian festival, “lammas” means loaf mass and represented the first loaves baked from that years crop. These were taken to church and laid on the altar.

It’s a time for bread-making and corn-dollies. Goddesses celebrated around this time include Demeter and Ceres. Trees associated with lammas are Hazel and Gorse and herbs are Sage and Meadowsweet. Colours associated with lammas are golds, yellows and orange for the God and red for the Goddess as mother.

Lammas is traditionally first harvest. Look around you and you will see various trees namely Rowan yeilding bright red berries and brambles showing ripening fruits alongwith apple and pear trees. In this day and age when food is mass produced and imported so we get fruits and veg and corn no matter what time of year it is, it is easy to loose touch with the natural cycle of things.

Suggested Activities:

Creating and or decorating ritual items such as a Stang.  Walk through the woods to spend some time meditating in beautiful surroundings.  Making bread, make a wicker man and put all of your bad habits that you want to be rid of inside him and throw him in the bonfire. Making corn dollies.

Simple ritual ideas for Lammas or First Harvest

August 1 in the northern hemisphere marks the great First Harvest, known as Lammas or Lughnasadh in Celtic traditions (down in the southern hem, you lovelies are celebrating Imbolc, or first hint of spring). You know that I love ritual and ceremony and as a working mother, I also need my rituals to be simple. Let me tell you about the holiday first and then recommend some easy ways to celebrate this special day with friends, fellow magicians, loved ones, or as a solitary practitioner.

Lammas, the festival of light and first harvest, falls technically when the sun reaches 15 degrees Leo. This tends to happen on or around August 1, so we use this as a catchall date for celebration. Like all celtic or pagan holidays, this one honors goddesses whose crafts and legends align with the work we’re doing at this time of year. Ceres and Tailtiu (mother of Lugh) are honored now as great forces of agricultural abundance, their blessings manifest in the bounty of food and growth we are about to enjoy in autumn. Our spiritual and emotional crops are ready for first harvest, too – the fruit of those sacred intentions we set in the darkness of winter and early spring.

Lammas is also a holiday of remembrance and releasing, a time of acknowledging the crops that didn’t survive the winter. This day asks us: What do you need to let go of right now so that you can be fully present to the abundance that is ahead of you? We are reminded that not everything survives in the grand cycle of life.

Here are some simple ritual ideas for ways to honor this day, the first turn of the Wheel of the Year toward fall:

1. Gather wheat, stones in colors of the harvest (think oranges, reds, deep umbers) and create a wheel on a round plate or table like you see in the photo. As you place each item, give thanks for what lies ahead. You might offer a few releasing stones as well, like apache or golden obsidian, for those things you are needing to leave behind.
2. The most traditional Lammas practice is the baking of bread (the name Lammas comes from the Old English hlafmaesse or loaf-mass). When we bake bread we use the grain around us to sustain our bodies, honoring and consuming nature’s sacred gifts.
3. Since Lammas is also a festival of light, celebrating the last long days of the year, your ritual can be as simple as lighting a candle. I made one in the shop in shades of yellow, wheat, and white. I recommend you burn a candle in those shades.

Since Lammas is the first of three harvest festivals you can save some of your decorations for the next two celebrations the first is Lammas, then Mabon and last but not least Samhain.

Beltane Is Upon Us! Magic, History, and Traditions!

Beltane: (Bealtaine, May Eve, Valpurgis) – April 30th/May 1st

Incense: Lilac, Frankincense

Decorations: Maypole, Flowers, Ribbons, Reves, Floral Decor,

Colours: Green, Pastels

Spells best done: Fertility is the best! But Protection, Divination and fae magic can be done.

The Fire Festival of Beltane:

Beltane derived from the Irish Gaelic “Bealtaine” or the Scottish Gaelic “Bealtuinn”, meaning “Bel-fire”, the fire of the Celtic god of light (Bel, Beli or Belinus).

This festival is also known as Beltane, the Celtic May Day. It officially begins at moonrise on May Day Eve, and marks the beginning of the third quarter or second half of the ancient Celtic year. It is celebrated as an early pastoral festival accompanying the first turning of the herds out to wild pasture. The rituals were held to promote fertility. The cattle were driven between the Belfires to protect them from ills. Contact with the fire was interpreted as symbolic contact with the sun. In early Celtic times, the druids kindled the Beltane fires with specific incantations. Later the Christian church took over the Beltane observances, a service was held in the church, followed by a procession to the fields or hills, where the priest kindled the fire. The rowan branch is hung over the house fire on May Day to preserve the fire itself from bewitchment (the house fire being symbolic of the luck of the house).

This is a holiday of Union–both between the Goddess and the God and between man and woman. Handfastings (Pagan marriages) are traditional at this time. It is a time of fertility and harvest, the time for reaping the wealth from the seeds that we have sown. Celebrations include braiding of one’s hair (to honour the union of man and woman and Goddess and God), circling the Maypole for fertility and jumping the Beltane fire for luck. Beltane is one of the Major Sabbats of the Wiccan religion. We celebrate sexuality (something we see as holy and intrinsic to us as holy beings), we celebrate life and the unity which fosters it. The myths of Beltane state that the young God has blossomed into manhood, and the Goddess takes him on as her lover. Together, they learn the secrets of the sexual and the sensual, and through their union, all life begins.

Beltane is the season of maturing life and deep found love. This is the time of vows, handfastings and commitment. The Lord and his Lady, having reached maturity, come together in Perfect Love and Perfect Trust to celebrate the joy of their union. This is a time to celebrate the coming together of the masculine and feminine creative energies. Beltane marks the emergence of the young God into manhood. Stirred by the energies at work in nature, he desired the Goddess. They fall in love, lie among the grasses and blossoms and unite.

The flowers and greenery symbolise the Goddess and the Maypole represents the God. Beltane marks the return of vitality and passion of summer. Another common focal point of the Beltane rituals is the cauldron, which represents the Goddess. The Welsh goddess Creiddylad is connected with Beltane, often called the May Queen, she was a Goddess of summer flowers and love.

May Day

May Day has long been marked with feasts and rituals. May poles, supremely phallic symbols, were the focal point of old English village rituals. Many people arose at dawn to gather flowers and green branches from the fields and gardens, using them to decorate the village Maypoles.

The May Queen (and often King) is chosen from among the young people, and they go singing from door to door throughout the town carrying flowers or the May tree, soliciting donations for merrymaking in return for the “blessing of May”. This is symbolic of bestowing and sharing of the new creative power that is stirring in the world. As the kids go from door to door, the May Bride often sings to the effect that those who give will get of nature’s bounty through the year.

In parts of France, some jilted youth will lie in a field on May Day and pretend to sleep. If any village girl is willing to marry him, she goes and wakes him with a kiss; the pair then goes to the village inn together and lead the dance which announces their engagement. The boy is called “the betrothed of May.”

Spirits and Faeries

 

On certain nights, faeries and spirits roam the world.  Beltane is one time famed for faery rades and the Wild Hunt.  Ghosts and other spirits are also believed to travel freely on this night.  Some practices were aimed at attracting these visitors, most at driving them away. To celebrate the ethereal aspects of Beltane, consider creating a faery garden with plenty of things that sparkle and jingle, and plants beloved by faeries.  The traditional faery color is green, but they adore most bright colors.  Snapdragon, meadowsweet, hawthorn, and foxglove are good altar flowers.

To protect against unwanted entities, see the previous section on purification and protection; but also add that salt, iron, and the making of much noise are traditional for Beltane defenses.  Plan for an indoor observance in this case.

 

Fertility Charms, Potions & Spells for Beltane:

1. Solitary Beltane Ritual:

Preparation

Prior to this rite you should have made ready a wooden wand. This should be a branch from an Oak or Hazel tree. Remember, do not take the wood from a living tree!

The wood can be cut into the rough shape of a phallus in which case it should be of the appropriate size and shape. On the other hand, a simple branch, peeled of its bark, and about 13 inches long and half an inch thick is also acceptable. Place the wand upon your alter within the Circle.

Prepare a dish of earth and place it upon the alter beside the wand.

The Rite

Cast the Circle and invoke the Lady and the Lord. After the invocation, dance and chant to raise power for magical activities and then earth the power into an unlit candle, placed inside the cauldron, at the center of the circle. Chant the following (or make up your own!):

Beltane! I dance with delight on Beltane’s night. All senses freeing, I dance for being. The flower and the flame of love’s own rite shall blossom. Sun embrace Earth, bright.

Light the candle to the Sun. This is the Beltane fire, our modern substitute for the hilltop bonfires of our ancestors. The Bel fire is an invocation to the Sun God to bring blessing and protection for the coming year. This is sacred fire with healing and purifying properties. As you light the candle, be aware of its power and significance. Say:

I light this candle to the Sun. Now take up a dish of earth. Bless it in the name of the Goddess.

Lay your hands upon it and say:

I bless, consecrate, and set apart this earth, in the name of the Triple Goddess. May this be sacred earth, set apart for magic. For earth is of the Goddess, being her sacred body. Remember that the Goddess is not only of the Moon, but of the Earth and of the farthest stars. She is the Triple Goddess of the Circle of Rebirth, the Mother of All Life. Decorate the dish of earth with flowers.

Now, take a wooden wand and oil it with vegetable oil. Bless it in the name of the Lord of the Day, the youthful, ardent one, the Lord of Life, the God of the greenwood. Pass it swiftly through the candle flame, the Bel fire, so that it becomes magically imbued, ‘charged’, with power. Place the wand upon the dish of earth, saying as you hold it there:

As the wand is to the earth, so the male is to the female and the Sun to our blossoming world. Joined, they bring happiness. May the God of Life give ___ {something you want, for example, peace on Earth} May the Goddess bring it forth! Sit quietly for a while, and picture the blossoming of what you have desired in life. The spells and invocations of all of us, all working on themes like these, must eventually bear fruit, because life is on the side of peace. Leave the earth and wand upon the alter.

Walk deosil three times around the circle, then spiral into the center. Go evenly, with grace, meditatively. Sit beside the candle flame, allowing yourself to feel peaceful. Gaze into the flame.

The next part is different depending on whether you are man or woman.

For a Woman: visualize a red rosebud in your womb. Always your womb is the source of your creative power, whether you are pregnant with a child, an idea, a work of art or an intention. Close your eyes and picture the light from the candle streaming into your womb so that the rosebud blooms, unfolds. Hold the image for a while, feeling the silkiness, smelling the scent, the freshness, seeing the color of the fully open rose within you. Feel the strength and power of your own fully blossomed capabilities. Say:

I am woman, strong to conceive and to create, to give birth and to tend. As I am daughter of the Goddess, and blessed by the God, may I ___

{here name what you wish to bring forth in life. For example bring healing to others or write my book whatever matters to you}

Feel the strength and creative force within your womb, the center of your being. See the power being channeled, flowing into the desire you have just voiced. Open your eyes. Always, the rose is within you.

For a Man: Visualize a bright flame. This burns within your sexual center, a point at the base of the stomach, just above the pubic hairline. It is your own male strength and energy which may rise through your body to be released as giving, fertilizing power, in any form, or may be the potency which impregnates, creating a physical child. It is the force which blesses and bestows, a healing and creative energy, like the shining Sun. Visualize also that you are sitting in a garden and that a rose tree is in front of you, the roses in bud. Say:

I am man, and in my passion is beauty, in my warmth is life. As I am son of the Goddess, and blessed by the God, I offer my strength and vitality to ___
{name the area of life, the place, activity, or commitment you choose}

Visualize the light streaming from you to a rose upon the tree causing it to unfold, to blossom. Your flame is lowered by this effort. Much has gone out of you, the flame sinks down. Wait and watch, until a pink light streams from the rose towards your body. At its touch, just above the pubic hairline the flame resurges. It burns higher and stronger than before. Open your eyes. The flame is always within you. (Credit from Mae Beth)

Beltane Charms 

Fertility Charms:

 

-Carry a bagful of hazel nuts to ensure your own fertility.

 

-Other herbs to ensure fertility are basil, hazel, poppy, cucumber, apple, pomegranate, acorns, myrtle, and all other nuts.

 

-Men should carry a piece of mandrake root to ensure their won fertility and sexual prowess, while the jasmine flower does the same for women. The first seven herbs listed above can be added to food and take internally to ensure proper fertility, or they can be introduced into sachets, as can acorns, myrtle and nuts.

 

-Bull Amulet: To increase fertility in women and men, wear a bull shaped amulet, or place on under the bed before making love.

 

-Fish Amulet: An amulet shaped like a pair of fish and made of gold or mother of pearl will increase fertility and virility, bring prosperity and offer you protection from people you hate or who have evil intentions.

 

-Goat Amulet: The symbol of the goat (sacred to Aphrodite and the Horned God) increases fertility when worn or carried as an amulet, and is especially favorable for those born under the sign of Capricorn.

 

-Ram Amulet: An amulet in the shape of a ram will increase fertility in women.

 

-Unicorn Amulet: The unicorn is a ancient symbol of chastity and protection, and it’s fabled born was said to be used in medieval times as an amulet to detect poisons in the food or drinks of kings, queens, pontiffs and popes. To promote fertility or increase sexual magnetism, wear any type of amuletic jewelry shaped like a unicorn.

 

-Goddess Amulet: of course a lot of females in the early pagan years would wear the goddess to ensure protection and to ask to become a mother, as mother earth herself gives and takes life.

 

-Magickal soil; What to do: Relax. Put the pot on the table and take up some dirt. Play with it loosely, so it doesn’t clump. Then visualize your plant growing healthy and full. Visualize this for a few moments. If you can, bring up nurturing emotions. Place the soil in the pot and then get another handful and do the same thing. Do this until it’s at a good height in the pot. Then stick the Seed in and make it all neat and nice. Don’t compact the soil too much if you can help it. Pour some water in and visualize the energy within the earth immediately going to work and feeding energy into the plant. Don’t forget to water your plants! Nuture your plant see it grow as if it was your child. This plant will be your child, so take good care of it.

 

Fertility Spells:

Fertility Gris Gris Bag Spell:

Fill a leather pouch with one each of these stones: amethyst, clear quartz crystal, chrysoprase and aventurine/ Moonstone. Place fresh rosemary or Roses under the bed when trying to conceive, and wear the pouch around your neck each time you try. This will increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Also have a warm bath and use rose oil, or rose petals to help the blood circulation around the body to relax.

 

Once pregnant, keep the pouch until after you deliver to ease your labor pains and help ensure a safe delivery. Before your baby is one month old, give the stones away, particularly to a friend who is pregnant or who is also trying to conceive.

 

Fertility Spell for Both:

Go and find an Apple Tree, try to collect the Sapp from the branches, and rub it into your hands or face. Also collect an apple to share with your partner.

 

You ask a family member or friend who has not long had a baby, if you could have one of their baby’s nappy. After making love with your partner, you attach the nappy to your belly before going to sleep, and you dream of the child you want within your life. You do this until you conceive then rid the nappy once your pregnancy is safe.

 

Take a romantic shower or bath (preferably with your partner) and massage the Apple or Orange scented body cream into your skin, taking care around your tummy and pelvic area where the baby’s life will begin.

 

Imagine that you and your partner’s hands are glowing with a warm golden light, which is filling all this area with life and warmth. Visualize that you are pregnant as you gently place the pearls (fake if need be) around your neck and repeat these beautiful magic words:

 

“PRECIOUS JEWELS OF LUNAR, I OFFER THIS ADORNMENT IN HONOR OF YOUR POWER.  LET FERTILE LIGHT SHINE THROUGH ME. O SO LET IT BE DONE  BLESSED BE”

 

Egg wish spell for fertility:

“On an egg whose shell is brown or pink,

Sign these signs in grass-green ink.

[a simple sun, a male symbol, an encircled equilateral cross, a female sign,

then an upside-down 5-pointed star]

Bury it deep in an earth-filled pot,

Let this stand where the sun is hot;

Sow on its surface seeds of grass,

Water them well while nine weeks pass

Gather the crop, bind it with thread

Let it hang always above your bed

 

Getting Pregnant Spell

You will need the following:

–ace of wands, 10 of cups, the SUN,

–something for a baby you bought specifically for this ritual (a bib, a small blanket…etc…..),

–9 red candles.

Light the candles and lay out the tarot cards one by one.

Visualize yourself finding out your pregnant, staring at a positive pregnancy test. Repeat the following:

With these cards and with this spell- I call upon the good and helpful powers. I desire to start a family – I desire energy and love to continue.

This small item (hold up the baby item) is the token of the commitment we are ready to make. We are ready to love our children – we are ready to teach our children and we are ready to have our children. so it is – so it shall be!

Seal this spell with kisses and hugs followed by the actions necessary to start a family.

Seashells represent fertility. She can create a small seashell altar in her bedroom.

If she wants to add a deity, I’d use the Goddess of Willendorf.

Any round and fertile/pregnant goddess will work, and there are many!

Holed stones are also symbols of fertility.

Have her carry one her person or have her wear one around her neck as a charm.

Placing one by the bed or between the matters is also good. Eat healthy!

Diet plays an extreme part in fertility. Use visualization.

She must be relaxed. Also, studies show that when the man and woman climax together, the woman has a higher chance of conception. Full moons… In tribal times and pre-electricity, women would ovulate around the Full Moon and menstruate around the Dark or New Moon. One way to get yourself onto this cycle is to start paying more attention to the phases of the moon and also going out under the moon for even a minute or two.

 

Magic Fertility Potion:

For Men or Women to overcome infertility, increase sperm count and strengthen the sex drive,

burn one stick of musk incense as an offering to the fertility deity of your choice, and take twenty milligrams of royal jelly every day. –not only does royal jelly possess sexual rejuvenating properties, it is also reputed to increase the size of the male genitals is used often enough. and eat this! Globe Artichoke Cynara scolymus. Globe artichokes are under the Dominion of Venus.

 

Fertility and love spell for love – Prior to a love encounter, the body should be rubbed from head to toe with

powdered cinnamon. A small stick of cinnamon should be placed in the mouth before addressing the person desired. Oshun should be invoked during the encounter.

 

Fertility and love spell for Motherhood – A honeydew melon is bought in Oshun’s name. A short letter asking

Oshun for a child is written on a piece of brown paper, which is then placed inside the melon through a narrow slit made on its side. The fruit is then wrapped in a yellow handkerchief and a white candle is burned in Oshun’s name. At the end of five days the melon is brought to the river with twenty-seven cents.

 

Simple Pregnancy Spell:

Repeat to each direction (east, west, etc.)

“To you my child, my body is open,

To you my child, my mind is open.

To you my child, my heart is open.

By Earth, Fire, Wind, and Sea,

Into my arms you will be.”

(Last two lines are said while looking at your cradled arms)

So Mote It Be!

Calling the Elements for imbolic!

 

 

During the second day of Imbolc Here is how you can call the elements you can even click on the page and print it out for your book of shadows! Merry part and Merry Meet again! My goddess is Nyx, but her daughter is the Goddess that is celebrated during this holiday Gaia.

 

Moon Goddess’ from most cultures

The Moon Goddesses are important in many cultures around the world where they form a central role in mythology. The moon is associated with the divine femine as in many tribal societies the feminine cycles were linked to the phases of the moon. The Moon was important in ancient calendars, helping people to measure time and to determine when the best time was for planting and harvesting crops. This fertility aspect of the lunar Goddess is reflected in large numbers of the entries below.

Many of the lunar Goddesses, like Hecate and Cerridwen are also associated with magic and the intuitive nature of women.

Night Deities are great to do a trio with a moon and star goddess for a triple goddess ritual!

Aega (Greek) – A beautiful moon deity. Her mother Gaia, the ancient earth Goddess, hid her in a cave during a Titan attack on the Olympic deities to prevent her from being taken away.

Aine(Celtic) – Goddess of love, growth, cattle and light. The name of this Celtic Goddess means “bright” as she lights up the dark. Celebrations to this Goddess were held on Midsummer night

Anahita (Persian) – A river Goddess who was also Goddess of Venus and the moon. Her name means “pure” Or immaculate one” as she represented the cleansing and fertilizing flow of the cosmos.

Andromeda (Greek) – Although today she is linked with the stars many scholars believe that Andromeda was a pre-Hellenic moon deity.

Anunit (Babylonian) – Goddess of the moon and battle. She was also associated with the evening star and later became known as Ishtar.

Arianrhod (Celtic) – Goddess of the moon and stars, her name means “silver- wheel” the wheel of the year and the web of fate.

Artemis (Greek) – The Greek Goddess of the hunt, nature and birth. This maiden Goddess is symbolized by the crescent moon.

Arawa (African) – Lunar Goddess of the Suk and Pokot tribes of Kenya and Uganda. Her parents were the creator God Tororut and his consort Seta.

Athenesic (Native North American) – A moon Goddess of several north central Native American tribes,

Auchimalgen (South American) – This moon Goddess was a Deity of divination and a protectress from evil spirits.

Bendis (Greek) – Bendis was the consort of the sun God Sabazius. Her cult flourished in Athens during the fifth century BCE.

Britomartis (Crete) – In addition to her lunar attributes she was also the patron Goddess of Cretan sailors.

Candi (Indian) – The female counterpart to Chandra, ancient Hindu lord of the Moon. The two were said to take turns: one month the Candi would become the moon and the next Chandra fulfill the role.

Cerridwen (Celtic) – This crone, Goddess is most famous for her cauldron of wisdom. She was the mother of the great bard Taliesin, and is deeply linked to the image of the waning moon.

Chang- O (Chinese) – The Chinese Goddess who lived on the moon She is celebrated to this day on full moon night of the 8th lunar month.

Coyolxauhqui (Aztec) – Aztec moon Goddess, her name means “Golden Bells.” She was the daughter of the Earth goddess, Coatlicue and the sister of the Sun god, Huitzilopochtli

Dae-Soon (Korean) – Moon Goddess

Diana (Roman) – Diana was the Goddess of the hunt and wild animals. She later took over from Luna as the Roman Goddess of the moon, responsible for fertility and childbirth.

Gnatoo (Japanese) – One of twelve Buddhist deities called the Jiu No O, adopted from Hindu mythology.

Gwaten (Hindu) – She is derived from the Hindu God Soma, and is portrayed as a woman holding in her right hand, a disk symbolizing the Moon.

Epona (Roman/Celtic) – This horse Goddess was associated with the night and dreams. In western Ireland,legends still abound of hearing the hoof-beats of her horse as she rides west to escape the rays of the rising sun. She was also a Goddess of magic, fertility and feminine power.

Hanwi (Native North American) – Goddess of the Oglala Sioux, she once lived with the sun God Wi. Due to a transgression, she was forced by him to become a creature of the night.

Hecate (Greek) – A crone Moon Goddess, deeply associated with the waning and dark moons. She is depicted as haunting crossroads with her two large hounds, and carrying a torch, symbolic of her great wisdom.

Hina Hine (Polynesian) – This Hawaiian Goddesses name means ‘woman who works the moon’. In her myths it is said that she grew tired of working for her brother and fled to the moon to live in peace.

Hina-Ika (“lady of the fish”) Once again we see the link between the lunar Goddess to the tides.

Huitaco (South American) – This Colombian Goddess was a protectress of women as well as a deity of pleasure and happiness who was always battling with her male counterpart Bochica, a God of hard work and sorrow.

The crescent as a neo-pagan symbol of the Triple Goddess. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ishtar (Babylonian) – Some myths say she is the daughter of the moon, others the mother.

Isis (Egyptian) – This powerful and widely worshipped Goddess was not only a moon deity, but a Goddess of the sun as well.

Ix Chel (Mayan) – A Central American moon Goddess and the lover of the sun. Poisonous snakes were her totem animal. She was also Goddess of childbirth

Izanami (Japanese) – This Goddess controlled the tides, fishing, and all destructive sea phenomena

Jezanna (Central African) – Goddess of the moon and healing.

Juna (Roman)- A Goddess of the new moon . She was worshipped mainly by women as she was the Goddess of marriage, pregnancy and childbirth. Her Greek equivalent was Hera.

Jyotsna (Indian) – A Hindu Goddess of twilight and the autumn moons.

Komorkis (Native North American) – The Blackfoot tribe celebrated her as the Goddess of the moon.

Kuan Yin (Chinese) – A Buddhist Goddess. Modern feminist Pagans believe she far pre-dates Buddhist origins. She was a Goddess of the moon, compassion, and healing,

Lasya (Tibetan) – A Goddess of the moon and beauty who carried a mirror.

Lucina (Roman) – A Goddess of light with both solar and lunar attributes. She was Christianized as St. Lucia, a saint still honored at Yule in many parts of Europe.

Luna (Roman) – An ancient moon Goddess, the namesake for the Latin word luna meaning ‘moon’. Her name also forms the root of the English words ‘lunar’ and ‘lunatic’.

Mama Quilla (Inkan) – As the Goddess of the moon she was the protectress of married women. A large temple to her was erected at the Inkan capitol of Cuzco. She was associated with the metal silver. Eclipses were said to occur when she was eaten and the regurgitated by the Jaguar Woman.

Mawu (African) – She ruled the sky with her twin bother, the sun God Lisa. To her people she symbolized both wisdom and knowledge.

Metzli (Aztec) – In Aztec mythology mother moon leapt into a blazing fire and gave birth to the sun and the sky.

Rhiannon (Celtic) – A Goddess of fertility, the moon, night, and death. Her name means ‘night queen’. She is also known as Rigantona.

Sadarnuna(Sumerian) – Goddess of the new moon

Sarpandit (Sumerian) – Goddess of moonrise. This pregnant Goddess’s name means “silver shining” referring to the reflective quality of the moon.

Sefkhet (Egyptian) – According to some myths this lunar Goddess was the wife of Thoth. She was also the deity of time, the stars, and architecture.

Selene (Greek) – A mother Goddess linked to the full moon. She is widely worshipped by Pagans today,

Sina (Polynesian) – This moon Goddess was the sister of the sun God Maui. She was sometimes called Ina.

Teczistecatl (Aztec) – A Goddess of sex, symbolized by the four phases of the moon: dark, waxing, full, and waning.

Xochhiquetzal (Aztec) – This magical moon Goddess was the deity of flowers, spring, sex, love, and marriage. She was the wife of storm God Tlaloc. She is also the patroness of artisans, prostitutes, pregnant women and birth.

Yemanja (Native South American) – She was the Brazilian Goddess of the oceans symbolized by a waxing crescent moon. Yemanja was also considered to represent the essence of motherhood and a protector of children.

Yolkai Estsan (Native North American) – A Navajo moon deity fashioned from an abalone shell by her sister Yolkai, the Goddess of the sky. She was the Navaho Goddess of the earth and the seasons, and is also known as White Shell Woman.

Zirna (Etruscan)- A Goddess of the waxing moon. She is always depicted with a half-moon hanging from her neck, indicating that she was probably honored at the beginning of the second quarter phase of the moon.

Related articles

• Goddess’ and God’s of Night (highpriestessofnyx.wordpress.com)

The pagans made christmas and the christians took pagan traditions to form what we know as xmas!

Pagans are the reason you see lights and sing carols.. This is the history of Christmas!

What is the true origin of Christmas? Where did it come from? Did you know Yeshua the Messiah was born nowhere NEAR December 25, but that was the “birth day” of the sun- god, “Sol Invictus” or “Mithras”? Did you know December 25 was the concluding day of the pagan winter festival called the “Saturnalia”? Where did “Santa Claus” come from? The “Christmas tree”? How did this pagan feast become connected with “Christianity”?

Although the whole world celebrates Christmas as a “Christian” holiday, including millions of non-Christians, is Christmas really “Christian” at all? Consider this fact: Look high and low throughout the pages of the Bible, and you will find not ONE WORD of “Christmas” being celebrated by any of YEHOVAH’s people! It is not even mentioned once! Neither the Messiah nor any of his apostles ever observed this holiday, nor the New Testament Church!

Yet on the other hand the pagan, heathen world observed this day for thousands of years before the Messiah was even born!

Where did the mysterious rites and ceremonies that surround this day come from? What about the “Christmas tree” and the “Yule log” and the mistletoe and Holly wreaths? Are ANY of these customs truly “Christian” in origin? And what about fat and jolly old “Saint Nick” — or Santa Claus?

It’s high time we addressed these questions, and took a new look at “Christmas.” A church I was formerly a member of, which condemned Christmas observance as paganism, for almost sixty years, today has turned its back on its former beliefs, and encourages its members to observe this pagan mid-winter festival “in honor of Christ”! Many are doing so, heedless of the severe warnings in Scripture of what their eternal fate and destiny will be if they continue to embrace this ancient custom.

Is it wrong to celebrate “Christmas”? What is the truth about this popular and widespread holiday?

The Origin of Christmas

Before one gets carried away with Christmas worship, there are a few things you should know. Let’s take an honest and objective look at the origins of this holiday.

We read in Werner Keller’s book The Bible as History the following admission:

“December 25 is referred to in documents as Christmas Day in A.D. 324 for the first time. Under the Roman emperor Justinian [A.D. 527-565] it was recognized as an official holiday. An old Roman festival played a a major part in the choice of this particular day. December 25 in ancient Rome was the ‘Dies Natali Invictus,’ ‘the birthday of the unconquered,’ the day of the winter solstice and at the same time, in Rome, the last day of the Saturnalia, which had long since degenerated into a week of unbridled carnival…” (p. 331).

Doesn’t it seem rather strange that the so-called “Christian church” should choose a day to celebrate the Messiah’s birth which was identified as the day of the birth of the unconquered sun, the day of the winter solstice, the “shortest day of the year,” when the sunlit part of the days start becoming longer again? What does this have to do with the Messiah, anyway? Was Yeshua the Messiah born anywhere near December 25? Keller goes on:

“Meteorologists as well as historians and astronomers have something of importance to contribute to this question of fixing the date of the birth of Jesus. According to St. Luke: ‘And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night’ (Luke 2:8).

“Meteorologists have made exact recordings of the temperature at Hebron. This spot in the southern highlands of Judah exhibits the same climatic conditions as Bethlehem, which is not far distant. The temperature readings show over a period of three months that the incidence of frost is as follows: December — 2.8 degrees; January — 1.6 degrees; February —0.1 degrees. The first two months have also the greatest rainfall in the year: approximately 6 inches in December, and nearly 8 inches in January. According to all existing information the climate of Palestine has not changed appreciably in the last 2,000 years, consequently modern meteorological observations can be taken as a basis.

“At Christmas-time Bethlehem is in the grip of frost, and in the Promised Land no cattle would have been in the fields in that temperature. This fact is born out by a remark in the Talmud to the effect that in that neighborhood the flocks were put out to grass in March and brought in again at the beginning of November. They remained out in the open for almost eight months.

“Around Christmas-time nowadays both animals and shepherds are under cover in Palestine.

“What St. Luke tells us points therefore to the birth of Jesus having taken place BEFORE the onset of winter…” (p. 331-332).

How interesting! How fascinating! As we explore the time for the birth of the Messiah, we find he was born nowhere near December 25, the very date the world has chosen to “celebrate” supposedly, his “birthday”! But there is much more to the story than this. Let’s go on.

When Was Yeshua Really BORN?

Millions of ostensible “Christians,” or “nominal” Christians, who think they are followers of the religion of Yeshua the Messiah, have been deceived. Not only have they foolishly embraced erroneous “traditions” as if they were “Christian,” but they have been lied to, misled by preachers and ministers and priests, and have ASSUMED that they were worshipping the Messiah! Yet Yeshua the Messiah himself warned: “Howbeit IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, teaching for doctrines THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye HOLD THE TRADITION OF MEN…” (Mark 7:7-8).

The gospel of Matthew also records similar words spoken by the Messiah. Notice! “Ye HYPOCRITES, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, ‘This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouths, and honoreth me with their lips; but THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME. But IN VAIN do they WORSHIP me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of MEN” (Matt. 15:7-9).

Let’s look into this matter honestly. Let’s examine the evidence, seeking the truth. When was Yeshua the Messiah born, anyway? Was it anywhere NEAR December 25? And if not, then why believe a lie, and practice and perform a lie?

The birth of the Messiah is not known for certain, but we can know the approximate time of year when he was born! In the book of Luke we read that the father of John the Baptist was Zacharias, and he was a priest who served at the temple in Jerusalem. He was “of the course of Abia” (Luke 1:5). While serving at the temple, he was informed by an angel that his wife was to have a son, who was to be named “John.” After this, Zacharias finished “the days of his ministration,” and “departed to his own house” (v.23). “And after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived…” (v. 24).

The names of the different courses of priests that served at the Temple are given in I Chronicles 24:1-19. “Abia” or “Abijah” was the EIGHTH course. According to the Jewish historian Josephus, each one of these courses served at the Temple for one week, the first course serving the first week of Nisan, in the spring (compare I Chron. 27:1-2), and then each course in its own order. All the priests served during the annual festivals (Passover in spring, Pentecost, and then Tabernacles in the fall). After six months, the order would be repeated, thus each “course” would serve two weeks during a year.

The course of Abijah, then, would have served the eighth week in the rotation. The eighth week from Nisan 1, leaving out the week of Passover, when all the priests served, would have been IYAR 27 TO SIVAN 5, the day just before Pentecost , which generally fell on Sivan 6. After serving a week in the Temple, Zacharias would have remained another week in Jerusalem, because of the Feast of Shavuot or Pentecost that week. Therefore, he returned home shortly after this, and his wife then conceived. This would have been about the middle of June. If we add nine months to this date, the normal time for the gestation of a human baby in the womb, John the Baptist would have been born about the middle of March, in the spring, shortly before the Passover.

Yeshua was conceived about six months after John (Luke 1:24-31, esp. verse 26). This would suggest that Yeshua the Messiah was conceived about the middle of December. This would place his birth nine months, or 270 days, later — or the month of September!

Who WAS Born on December 25?

If Yeshua the Messiah was not born on December 25, who was? In other words, whose birthday is the whole “Christian world” really celebrating on December 25, though they call it the birth of “Christ”? Or, to put it another way, what “Christ” are they talking about? The word “Christ,” remember, is merely the translation of the Greek word Christos, which literally means “Anointed one” — it comes from the Hebrew word Moshiach, from whence we get the word “Messiah.” So what “anointed one” was born on December 25?

Let us take out our magnifying glass, and like Sherlock Holmes, do some careful detective work, and see if we can solve the mystery — the puzzle of why the whole world observes the birthday of Yeshua the Messiah on a day on which he was not even remotely born! In the book History of Rome, by Michael Grant, we read this startling revelation:

“Yet there was also another pagan belief during this same epoch, that much more nearly competed with Christ for the control of the Western world. This was the cult of the Sun, which was revered by millions of the inhabitants of the Roman Empire, and its religion for a time even became the state worship….

“In Rome, the divinity of the Sun came very early on; and then, centuries afterwards, in the superb dome of Hadrian’s Pantheon, the central opening, surrounded by star-like rosettes, represented the solar orb….Before long, the emperor Aurelian established a massive temple of the Unconquerable Sun as the central and focal point of the entire religious system of the state (274). The birthday of the god was to be on DECEMBER 25, AND THIS, TRANSFORMED INTO CHRISTMAS DAY, WAS ONE OF THE HERITAGES THAT CHRISTIANITY OWED TO HIS CULT” (p. 391- 392, emphasis mine).

Notice! Christianity took over the birthday of the sun god, the cult of the sun, and transformed it into CHRISTMAS DAY, the “birthday” of Yeshua the Messiah! It was in reality the birth day of the pagan sun god, worshipped by millions throughout the Roman Empire!

We read more about this novel and profound “plot” to turn paganism into “Christianity” in a book by historian Jack Finegan, Myth & Mystery: An Introduction to the Pagan Religions of the Biblical World. Finegan writes:

“…But the worship of the sun-god continued widely throughout the empire, and under Aurelian (A.D. 270-275) the cult was restored to its former high estate. In the year 274 Aurelian declared the god — now called Deus Sol Invictus — the official deity of the Roman Empire; he built a splendid temple of the sun in Rome…and set the sun’s birthday celebration (naturalis solis invicti) ON DECEMBER 25, the date then accepted for the winter solstice (also in his solar character the BIRTHDAY OF MITHRAS). In the time of Constantine the cult of Deus Sol Invictus was still at its height, and the portrait of the sun-god was on the coins of Constantine….Likewise it must have been in this time and with the intent to transform the significance of AN EXISTING SACRED DATE that the birthday of Jesus, which had been celebrated in the East on January 6…was placed in Rome ON DECEMBER 25, THE DATE OF THE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF SOL INVICTUS. This date appears in a list of dates probably compiled in A.D. 336 and published in the Roman city calendar, edited by Filocalus, for the year 354” (Finegan, p. 211-212, emphasis mine).

Are we beginning to get the picture? This was in the fourth century AFTER the Messiah! At this time, the Church moved to incorporate the birthday of the sun god into the so-called “Christian” calendar, and converted his “birth day” into the birth day of THE MESSIAH himself! That which was distinctly and definitely pagan now was “baptized,” and by some act of “magic” was transformed into something “Christian”! At least, to the observer, it appeared to be “Christian.” It was now called “Christian.” But in truth, it still had a pagan heart and core!

The Influence of Constantine

When Constantine became Emperor of Rome, he nominally at least became a “Christian.” But being the head of a far-flung political Empire, he was concerned about the unity and coherence and stability of his Empire. As a sagacious politician, he sought to reconcile and blend and mesh pagan practices with “Christian” beliefs, to merge paganism with the Roman church. Constantine promulgated the “Edict of Toleration” in A.D. 313. He became emperor in A.D. 323, and “then Christianity was enthroned” (Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, The Story of the Christian Church, p. 74). From this time, for the next two hundred years, all persecutions of Christians of the Roman church, and its adherents, ceased. The sword of persecution was “not merely sheathed; it was buried” (ibid., p. 75).

But Jesse Hurlbut laments the results of Constantine’s making Christianity the state religion, free from all persecution. From that time, he points out, the church became totally subverted by politics and self-seeking opportunists.

• “…the establishment of Christianity as the state religion became a CURSE.

“Everybody sought membership in the church, and nearly everybody was received. Both good and bad, sincere seekers after God and hypocritical seekers after gain, rushed into the communion. Ambitious, worldly, unscrupulous men sought office in the church for social and political influence….

‘The services of worship increased in splendor, but were less spiritual and hearty than those of former times. The forms and ceremonies of PAGANISM GRADUALLY CREPT INTO THE WORSHIP. Some of the OLD HEATHEN FEASTS BECAME CHURCH FESTIVALS WITH CHANGE OF NAME AND OF WORSHIP” (Hurlbut, The Story of the Christian Church, p. 79, emphasis mine).

How did it happen? Obviously, something strange and weird was going on!

Will Durant, renowned historian, in his massive work The Story of Civilization, wrote in volume III, entitled Caesar and Christ, that in the new “church” that developed in the Roman Empire, the Jewishness of Yeshua was lost or rejected, and replaced with Greek philosophy and thought; the “Law” of the Jews was rejected, and, he writes,

“…the god Christ was assimilated to the religious and philosophical traditions of the Hellenistic mind. Now the PAGAN WORLD — even the anti-Semitic world — could accept him as its own.

“CHRISTIANITY DID NOT DESTROY PAGANISM; IT ADOPTED IT. The Greek mind, dying, came to a transmigrated life in the theology and liturgy of the Church…the Greek mysteries passed down into the impressive mystery of the Mass. Other PAGAN cultures contributed to the syncrestic result. From Egypt came the idea of a divine trinity…from Egypt the adoration of the Mother and Child…From Phrygia came the worship of the Great Mother….The Mithraic ritual so closely resembled the eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass that Christian fathers charged the Devil with inventing these similarities to mislead frail minds. Christianity was the last great creation of the ancient PAGAN world” (p. 595).

These historical observations ought to make us sit up and take notice! The ‘Christianity” that we see around us in the world today is but a “spin-off” of this ancient syncretism or ‘blending” and “merging” of PAGANISM into the professed Church of Yeshua the Messiah, which had lapsed into political apostasy, profligacy and impurity. The descendants of the once chaste and pure virgin of the Messiah, the New Testament Church, had seemingly become, for all intends and purposes, the religious WHORE of Babylon — a bejeweled and bedecked and bedeviled slut and trollop, a “shady lady,” a spiritual PROSTITUTE!

“Paganism” was not defeated by the Church. It invaded the church, infiltrated it, and seduced it from within! The professing Christian Church became the “new face of paganism”! Only the “names” were changed. And in some cases — as in “Easter” Sunday — even the old pagan names were left in place!

H. G. Wells, in his Outline of History, discusses the transformation of the teachings of the Messiah into the pagan worship of the heathen, calling itself “Christian.” He notes:

“The observance of the Jewish Sabbath, again, TRANSFERRED TO THE MITHRAIC SUN-DAY, is an important feature of many Christian cults…He [Jesus] did not say a word about the worship of his mother Mary in the guise of ISIS, THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN. Much that is most characteristically Christian [so-called] in worship and usage, he ignored. Skeptical writers have had the temerity to deny that Jesus can be called a Christian at all” (p. 445, emphasis mine, of course).

How did this happen? How did Mithraism, with its December 25 worship, and Sun-day worship, contribute these prominent “holidays” to the established “Christian” Church? How did paganism overtake, overcome, and subdue, the original teachings of the Church of Yeshua the Messiah, and his apostles, and replace Biblical holy days with pagan “holy days”? Should all true Christians be concerned about this historic truth — this reality? Doesn’t it really matter?

What should these facts mean to us, today, who seek to obey YEHOVAH God, and follow the Messiah of the Bible, who seek to be TRUE followers of the Word of YEHOVAH GOD?

The Seduction of the Church

Admits the Worldbook Encyclopedia, “The exact date of Christ’s birth is not known. The early Christians did NOT celebrate His birth, because they considered the celebration of anyone’s birth to be a pagan custom. The first mention of the observance of Christ’s birthday appears about A.D. 200. For many years, several dates were used. December 25 was first mentioned in 336” (article “Christmas”).

This common reference work acknowledges, “For many years, people observed Christmas as a religious festival only. But they GRADUALLY ADOPTED MORE AND MORE CUSTOMS UNRELATED TO THE CHURCH. Most of the customs originated in cultures that existed before Christianity….In 1643, the Puritans, who regarded such celebrations as pagan, outlawed the observance of Christmas in England.” Colonists in New England followed the English laws and also outlawed Christmas. But immigrants to the New World brought Christmas customs from many lands and the old festivities where soon restored.

All of the popular customs and traditions surrounding Christmas actually were celebrated at pagan mid-winter festivals thousands of years before the Messiah was born. Admits this same encyclopedia, “The custom of burning the Yule log began with the ancient Scandinavians, who once a year burned a huge log in honor of their god Thor. After the Scandinavians became Christians [sic], they made the Yule log an important part of their Christmas ceremonies.”

Where Did the Christmas Tree Come From?

One of the most pervasive customs of Christmas, today, is the bringing home and decorating of a “Christmas tree.” Where did this custom come from? Coffin in The Book of Christmas Folklore tells us:

“Most people have heard that the Christmas tree originates in the tannenbaum and is some sort of vestige of Teutonic vegetation worship. THIS IS PARTIALLY TRUE. However, the custom of using pine and other evergreens ceremonially was well established at the ROMAN SATURNALIA, even earlier in Egypt” (p. 209).

Writes Alexander Hislop in The Two Babylons,

“The Christmas tree, now so common among us, was equally common in Pagan Rome and Pagan Egypt. In Egypt that tree was the palm tree; in Rome it was the fir; the palm tree denoting the Pagan Messiah, as Baal-Tamar, the fir referring to him as Baal-Berith. The mother of Adonis, the Sun-God and great mediatorial divinity, was mystically said to have been changed into a tree, and when in that state to have brought forth her divine son. If the mother was a tree, the son must have been recognized as the ‘Man the branch.’ And this entirely accounts for the putting of the Yule Log into the fire on Christmas Eve, and the appearance of the Christmas tree the next morning” (page 97).

• Tree worship was very common among the ancients. Says Festivals, Holy Days, and Saints’ Days,

“The Christmas tree…recapitulates the idea of tree worship…gilded nuts and balls symbolizing the sun…all the festivities of the [heathen] winter solstice have been absorbed into Christmas Day…the use of holly and mistletoe to the Druidic ceremonies; the Christmas tree to the honours paid to Odin’s sacred fir….” (p. 236).

Writes Collins in Christmas Folklore:

“This idea of decorating homes on holidays is both worldwide and age-old….So the Saturnalian laurel, the Teutonic holly, the Celtic mistletoe, and the Mexican poinsettia have all attached themselves to this polyglot ceremony…

“Many of the plants used at Christmas are SYMBOLS OF FERTILITY. Certainly any evergreen (fir, yew, laurel) with its ability to return verdure in the barrens months is appropriate, but by far the most interesting are the holly, the ivy, and the mistletoe. Holly, with its pricking leaves, white flowers, and red berries symbolizes the male reproductive urge. In fact, in the English carols…the holly is the male and the ivy is the female. This use of the plants was most likely BORROWED by the Christians along with other customs of the ROMAN SATURNALIA” (p. 22-23).

Ivy, holly’s mate, in ancient Grecian rites took its name from the girl who danced with such abandon and joy before Dionysius that she fell dead at his feet. The pagan god, moved by her dance, turned her into the ivy that she might entwine whatever is near. Dionysius, of course, was the Greek version of the god of wine and revelry, another form of Bacchus, Tammuz, or Nimrod!

Mistletoe, since the earliest of times, has been regarded as mysterious and sacred, the symbol of the sun, bestower of life, an aphrodisiac, and protector against disease and poison. The plant was especially sacred to the Celtic Druids who offered it in prayer to the gods. The mistletoe was referred to by pagans as the “golden bough.” The two great holidays when the pagans gathered mistletoe were Midsummer Day, the summer solstice, and December 25, the winter solstice. It was supposed to posses the power of revealing treasures in the earth, and was formed into a “divining rod.” It was also looked upon as the “seat of life” of the sacred oak, and as an emanation of the sun’s fire. Kissing under the mistletoe is a survival of Saturnalian sexual licentiousness and bawdy immoral behavior, which was commonplace at the Saturnalia.

What about Dear Old “Santa Claus”?

Even Santa Claus has a not-so-benign origin! This fat and jolly elf can be traced back to another ancient pagan Norse legend! Admits the Worldbook Encyclopedia,

“Some of Santa Claus’s characteristics date back many centuries. For example, the belief that Santa enters the house through the chimney developed from an old Norse legend. The Norse believed that the goddess Hertha appeared in the fireplace and brought good luck to the home.”

Although most people assume that the original “Santa Claus” was a bishop by the name of St. Nicholas of Asia Minor of the fourth century, this is not really true. Although some of this bishop’s deeds later came to be associated with “St. Nick,” the original “Nicholas” was once again Nimrod, the “mighty one against the Lord.” The word “Nicholas” means “mighty one, powerful.” Traditions of a “god” who gave gifts under an evergreen tree antecede the Asian Minor bishop by thousands of years! Among the Scandinavians it was the god Odin or Woden who left special gifts during the Yuletide season under the evergreen tree, his sacred tree!

Tony van Renterghem writes in When Santa Was a Shaman: The Ancient Origins of Santa Claus & the Christmas Tree:

“In newly Christianized areas where the pagan Celtic and Germanic cults remained strong, legends of the god Wodan were blended with those of various Christian saints; Saint Nicholas was one of these. There were Christian areas where Saint Nicholas ruled alone; in other locations, he was assisted by the pagan Dark Helper (the slave he had inherited from the pagan god Wodan). In other remote areas…ancient pockets of the Olde Religion controlled traditions. Here the Dark Helper ruled alone, sometimes in a most confusing manner, using the cover name of Saint Nicholas or ‘Klaus,’ without in any way changing his threatening, Herne/Pan, fur-clad appearance. (This was the figure later used by the artist Nast as the model for the early American Santa Claus)” (page 96).

The Catholic Saint Nicholas also had a confusing past. Says van Renterghem, “He was a compilation of two separate saints (one from Myra in Asia Minor, the other from Pinora), both of whom were — as the Church nowadays admits — nothing more than Christianized water deities (possibly related to the Greco-Roman god Poseidon/Neptune)” (ibid.). In the 1970s, the Second Vatican Council formally stated that no Roman Catholic bishop by the name of Nicholas had ever existed! Vatican II further confessed that the legends attributed to this “saint” had no Christian origin, and probably came from pagan traditions!

Says van Renterghem, further:

“By absorbing such PAGAN FEASTS AND TRADITIONS, the Christian Church could subtly bring in its own theology: in this case, establishing the good Saint Nicholas, bringer of love and gifts, while grudgingly allowing the presence of the Olde Religion’s Herne/Pan, but only as a slave to Saint Nicholas. Thus, in parts of Europe, the Church turned Herne into Saint Nicholas’ captive, chained Dark Helper; none other than Satan, the Dark One, symbolic of all evil….

“In Holland and several other European countries, the Saint Nicholas figure is still highly esteemed. He appears as a tall, dignified, bearded, white-haired old man, dressed as a Catholic bishop, complete with cloak, mitre, and pastoral staff, a seemingly genuine Catholic saint, but with a bizarre, quite unsaintly habit of riding through the skies on a white horse, followed by his Dark Helper. It seems that our Catholic saint inherited some of these customs from the pagan god Wodan, who had also been a BEARDED, WHITE-HAIRED OLD MAN, also dressed in a hat and cloak, carried a staff (or spear), rode a white horse, and dragged along the same dark slave/helper on a chain” (p. 97).

So much for old “Santa Claus”! This mythological figure, also, is pagan to the core!

The Dutch “Sinterklaas” brings gifts to good children, while bad children are harrassed by the “Dark Helper,” called Zwarte Pier, or “Black Pete,” who brandishes a broom-like rod. Like Santa Claus, Sinterklaas also had the habit of entering homes through the chimney! His helper, “Black Pete,” is today, still horned, fur-clad, scary, and less than kind to children. Although portrayed as the slave helper of Saint Nicholas, the two are, in many villages, blended into one character, who often has the name Nikolaas or Klaus. Thus “Santa Claus” is blended with, and is none other than, that old enemy of mankind, Satan the devil!

“In Germany, Saint Nicholas’ Dark Helper is a swarthy, horned, frightening little man, always brandishing the besom [broom]. He is known by many names: Knecht Ruprecht (servant Ruprecht), or in Bavaria, Pelz Nickel, meaning ‘fur-clad Nick.’ In Tyrol, the picture is even clearer; there the Dark Helper is Kllaubau, a scarier version of the British Herne the Hunter, a chained, furry, black-faced horned creature” (p. 103-105).

Who was this Odin, or Woden, the original “Santa Claus”? He was the chief god of Norse mythology, a fierce fighter who carried a spear as his special weapon. He was renown as a mighty hunter, and for his magical powers. This same author declares, further, of the connection between Odin/Wodan and Saint Nicholas:

“Wodan/Odin: …man’s friend, the mysterious Schimmel rider. Dragging his dark and devilish slave Eckhart along on a chain, he rides through the stormy skies. He leads the Wild Hunt, eluding, and finally subjugating, the powers of evil. He also wears a broad-brimmed hat, a wide mantel, holds his spear, and rides through the skies (replace his hat with a bishop’s mytre and the spear with a crozier, and we have the Dutch Saint Nicholas)” (p. 111).

In other words, Odin was another name for Nimrod, who, the Bible says, was “the mighty hunter before [the Hebrew word for “before” also means “against”] the LORD” (Genesis 10:9). Nimrod’s reputation as a mighty hunter was widespread.

Says Alexander Hislop, “The Wodan or Odin of Scandinavia can be proved to be the Adon of Babylon” (The Two Babylons, p. 133-134). Nimrod, Adon, or Adonis, of Babylon was the great “war-god.” Odin was the same. Nimrod, in the character of Bacchus, was the god of wine. Odin was said to partake of no other food but wine. The name of one of Odin’s sons, Balder, indicates the meaning of Odin’s own name. Balder is a form of the Chaldee Baal-zer, “The seed of Baal.” The Hebrew “z” in the later Chaldee frequently became a “d.” Baal and Adon both signify “Lord.” Since Balder is the “son of Baal,” as well as the “son of Adon,” or “Odin,” then Baal, Adon, and Odin must be the same person — representative of Nimrod, the first human to be deified and proclaimed by the pagans as a “god” after the Deluge!

“Santa Claus,” then, is not so innocent and cherubic a figure after all! Why do parents take their young children, sit them on “Santa’s lap,” and insist on teaching them Santa Claus myths? The word “Santa,” rearranged, spells “S-A-T-A-N,” and “Claus” is reminiscent of “Claws” — in other words, “SATAN’S CLAWS”! Do you want Satan, the arch-enemy of mankind, to get his “claws” into your children? By teaching them Santa Claus myths, and taking them to “Christmas parties,” with “Santa Claus” handing out “gifts,” you are subtly teaching your children to worship Satan the devil, the great impostor!

The True Origin of “Christmas”

It is indeed strange that a day never mentioned or sanctioned in the Bible should become the chief so-called “Christian” holiday of the entire year — a day never celebrated by Yeshua the Messiah, or his apostles, or the early New Testament Ecclesia of YEHOVAH God!

What is the actual origin of the celebration of December 25? A careful look at the word “Christmas” itself ought to tell us something. Notice! It itself is a mixture. Though it includes the name of Christ, it also mentions the “mass.” Where did the “mass” — with its rituals, elaborate ceremony, pagan prayers for the dead, transubstantiation rites, etc. — come from?

Alexander Hislop in his remarkable book The Two Babylons, points out that the “mass” is something that definitely goes back to ancient PAGAN customs and rites! He declares in plain and clear language:

“Therefore we find the women of Judah represented as simply ‘burning incense, pouring out drink-offerings, and offering CAKES to the queen of heaven’ (Jer.  44:19). The cakes were the ‘unbloody sacrifice’ she required….In the FOURTH CENTURY, when the queen of heaven, under the name of Mary, was beginning to be worshipped in the Christian Church, this ‘unbloody sacrifice’ also was brought in. Epiphanius states that the practice of offering and eating it began among `women of Arabia; and at that time it was well known to have been ADOPTED FROM THE PAGANS. The very shape of the unbloody sacrifice of Rome may indicate when it came. It is a small thin, round wafer; and on its roundness the Church of Rome lays so much stress….The importance, however, which Rome attaches to the roundness of the wafer, must have a reason; and that reason will be found, if we look at the altars of EGYPT. ‘The thin, round cake,’ says Wilkinson, ‘occurs on all altars.’ Almost every jot or tittle in the Egyptian worship had a symbolical meaning. The round disk, so frequent in the sacred emblems of Egypt, symbolized the sun” (The Two Babylons, p. 159-160).

The “sun-god” in ancient Egypt was Osiris. The round disk of the Egyptian “mass” symbolized the sun, and was an offering symbolizing the sun-god. He was considered the life and nourishment of the souls of men!

The “Christ-mass” therefore is nothing more than the celebration of the birth of the “sun-god” himself, the False Messiah, the False “Saviour” of the world, and the “mass” itself also represents the offering or “cakes” made to the queen of heaven, the “Mother” of the pagan Saviour, the “unbloody sacrifice”! Again, “Christ-mass” is proved to be PAGAN to the core!

It is a fact that December 25 was celebrated for thousands of years before the birth of the Messiah as the birth day of an ancient pagan god — THE SUN GOD! Alexander Hislop points out the truth in these shocking words — at least, they ought to be shocking to anybody with a clear, undefiled, and conscientious mind:

“Indeed, it is admitted by the most learned and candid writers of all parties that the day of our Lord’s birth cannot be determined, and that within the Christian Church no such festival as Christmas was ever heard of till the third century, and that not till the fourth century was far advanced did it gain much observance. How, then, did the Romish Church fix on December the 25th as Christmas-day? Why, thus: Long before the fourth century, and long before the Christian era itself, a festival was celebrated among the heathen, at that precise time of the year, in honour of the birth of the son of the Babylonian queen of heaven; and it may fairly be presumed that, in order to conciliate the heathen, and to swell the number of the nominal adherents of Christianity, the SAME FESTIVAL WAS ADOPTED by the Roman Church, giving it only the name of Christ. This tendency on the part of Christians to MEET PAGANISM HALF-WAY was very early developed….Upright men strove to stem the tide, but in spite of all their efforts, the apostasy went on, till the Church, with the exception of a small remnant, was submerged under Pagan superstition” (p. 93).

Hislop goes on,

“That Christmas was originally a Pagan festival, is beyond all doubt. The time of the year, and the ceremonies with which it is still celebrated, prove its origin. In Egypt, the son of Isis, the Egyptian title for the queen of heaven, was born at this very time, ‘about the time of the winter solstice.’ The very name by which Christmas is popularly known among ourselves — Yule-day — proves at once its Pagan and Babylonian origin. ‘Yule’ is the Chaldee name for an ‘infant’ or ‘little child;’ and as the 25th of December was called by our Pagan Anglo- Saxon ancestors, ‘Yule-day,’ or the “Child’s day,’ and the night that preceded it, ‘Mother-night,’ long BEFORE they came in contact with Christianity, that sufficiently proves its real character” (pp. 93-94).

December 25th was observed far and wide among the ancient world. This day was “The birth-day of the unconquered Sun.” The Yule log represented the dead stock of the slain Nimrod, arch-apostate rebel against the Lord after the flood (see Genesis 10:8-10), and the Christmas-tree was supposedly Nimrod reborn — the slain god come to life again!

In Europe, the Saxons offered a boar in sacrifice to the sun, to propitiate the queen of heaven on Christmas day. The boar, in pagan mythology, was supposed to have slain the false pagan Messiah. The boar was also a major article of the feast of Saturn at Rome. The boar’s head is still a standing dish in England at Christmas dinner. Says Hislop: “There can be no doubt, then, that the Pagan festival at the winter solstice — in other words, Christmas — was held in honor of the birth of the Babylonian Messiah” (p. 102).

The largest pagan religious cult which fostered sun worship in the Greek and Roman worlds on December 25 was the cult of Mithraism. They called it “the Nativity of the Sun.” Mithras, the sun-god, was supposed to have been born at this time, but so were Osiris, Horus, Tammuz, Hercules, Bacchus, Adonis, Jupiter — all the pagan Messiahs! This fact alone would seem to indicate that all these pagan sun-gods and deities trace their roots back to the original sun-god of ancient Babylon — Nimrod!

This popular winter festival became such an established custom that in pagan Rome and Greece, Egypt, and throughout Europe, the period of the winter solstice was a time of great revelry and festivity. In Rome it became known as the “Saturnalia,” in honor of the god Saturn, “the hidden one.” Saturn was another name for Nimrod, who late in his apostasy went into hiding from Shem, the son of Noah. The “feast of Saturn,” Hislop adds, “lasted five days; loose reins were given to drunkenness and revelry, slaves had a temporary emancipation, and used all manner of freedoms with their masters. This was precisely the way in which, according to Berosus, the drunken festival of the month Thebeth, answering to our December, in other words, the festival of Bacchus, was celebrated in Babylon” (p. 96-97).

Writes T. G. Crippen in Christmas and Christmas Lore,

“Now in December and the beginning of January there were several festivals which were intimately associated with the daily life of the Roman people. First, from the 17th to the 21st December, was the Saturnalia, the great Roman holiday….One might call it the Feast of Topsy-turveydom; when slaves were allowed for a few days to enjoy the semblance of freedom, were waited upon by their masters, and chose from amongst themselves a mock king to preside over their revels. Next, on the 22nd, came Sigillaria, the Feast of Dolls, when a fair was held, and dolls and other toys, mostly of earthenware, were given to children. Then, on 25th, came Brumalia, otherwise Dies Natalis Invicti Solis, The Birthday of the Unconquered Sun, when the days began to lengthen after the solstice….It is believed to have been instituted … by the emperor Aurelian, in honour of Mithras, the Persian sun-god…” (p. 8-9).

Clearly, the pagan customs of Christmas had nothing remotely to do with the Messiah, or the Word of YEHOVAH God, the Scriptures. Clearly, they had nothing to offer to the Church of YEHOVAH God, as they were the very antithesis of true Christianity! Yet, somehow, this ancient pagan festival wormed its way into the established “Christian” Church and became its most prominent holiday of the year! What a monstrous mystery!

The Catholic Church took the excitement which surrounded the Roman Saturnalia, with its excesses, delights, debauchery, and wantonness, and called them the celebration of the birth of the Son of YEHOVAH God, Yeshua. Most people today still think of December 25 as the birth day of Yeshua, even though this is definitely not the case.

This pagan “bash” was transformed by the Catholic Church into the festivities of Christmas, in honor of the Madonna and Child. Thus the pagan Semiramis (Egyptian Isis) and Tammuz (Horus) were “transformed,” by sleight of hand, by the “magicians” of the Roman Church, into Mary and Yeshua. In this manner, the pagan practices of the past centuries became outwardly “Christian” in name and character! For almost 300 years after the time of Yeshua, the Church showed no concern for the date of the Messiah’s birth. The apostles and leaders of the New Testament Church never bothered to find out when Yeshua was born, as the date was not important to them. It was not until the fourth century that Christmas began to be observed by the Roman Catholic Church. Says the Encyclopedia Americana:

“Christmas — it was according to many authorities not celebrated in the first centuries of the Christian Church as the Christian usage in general was to celebrate the death of remarkable persons rather than their birth. A feast was established in memory of the birth of the Saviour in the Fourth Century. In the Fifth Century the Western Church ordered it to be celebrated forever on the day of the old Roman Feast of the birth of Sol.”

That is how an ancient PAGAN CUSTOM became engrafted upon the unsuspected Christian world! But should true followers of Yeshua, the Messiah, participate in ANCIENT PAGAN CUSTOMS? Should true Christians celebrate “Christmas”?

The Puritans, who were Christians attempting to reform the Church during the 1600’s, did not believe Christmas should be observed. This “baptism” of pagan rites and festivals by the Roman Catholic and the vast majority of the Protestant Churches, was totally rejected by the Puritans. One of them, William Prynne, during the time of king Charles I, wrote:

“Our Christmas lords of Misrule, together with dancing, masques, mummeries, stage-players, and such other Christmas disorders, now in use with Christians, were derived from these Roman Saturnalia and Bacchanalian festivals; which should cause all pious Christians eternally to abominate them” (The Book of Christmas Folklore, p. 8).

Because of his attitude toward Christmas and pagan rituals still observed by the professing Christian Church, William Prynne was placed in a pillory and his ears were cut off.

Should Christians Observe “Christmas”?

Should Christians today celebrate this ancient festival? Many today may think it is all right, but the opinions of men are not our standard or authority. What does the Word of YEHOVAH God itself say about this matter? It is a very serious question. Is it all right in the sight of YEHOVAH for men to take pagan customs and traditions, and to observe them, calling them “Christian”? Is it all right to merge and combine PAGAN practices with the truth of YEHOVAH God?

According to the prophet Malachi, YEHOVAH does not change (Mal.3:8). His laws and commandments are eternal (Psa. 111:7-8). Does YEHOVAH say it is all right to observe the traditions and customs of the pagans?

YEHOVAH God commanded ancient Israel, “I am the Lord your God. You must NOT DO AS THEY DO IN EGYPT, where you used to live, and you must NOT DO AS THEY DO IN THE LAND OF CANAAN, where I am bringing you. DO NOT FOLLOW THEIR PRACTICES. You must obey my laws, and be careful to follow my decrees” (Lev. 18:2-4).

YEHOVAH God hates idolatry! He detests it with vehement passion. He tells us, “…Be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.’ YOU must NOT WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD IN THEIR WAY, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of DETESTABLE THINGS the LORD HATES” (Deut. 12:29-31).

Because of pagan idolatrous practices, YEHOVAH God cast the Canaanites out of the Promised Land. They were worshippers of Baal, or Nimrod, Tammuz, the sun god, the pagan Messiah, the god of wine and revelry. They worshipped the evergreen tree, and used it as a symbol of their god. They observed December 25, in worship of the waning sun, and their sun-god divinity. This whole religious system stemmed from ancient Babylon, the fount of all heresy and apostasy.

Their sensuality and gross lasciviousness was particularly displayed during the mid-winter festival, called the Saturnalia in Rome, with gift-giving, drunkenness, and sexual licentiousness. YEHOVAH says of such Bacchanalial rites,

“Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. Even the land was defiled, so I punished it for its sin, and the land VOMITED out its inhabitants….Anyone who does any of these DETESTABLE THINGS — such persons must be cut off from their people. Keep my requirements and do NOT follow ANY OF THE DETESTABLE CUSTOMS that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the Lord your God” (Lev. 18:24-30).

Even such idolatrous items as the “Christmas tree” are condemned in the Word of YEHOVAH God! Jeremiah the prophet wrote,

“Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, LEARN NOT THE WAY OF THE HEATHEN, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them [such as the waning sun at the winter solstice!]. For the CUSTOMS of the people are VAIN [empty, useless, worthless]: for one CUTTETH A TREE out of the FOREST, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They DECK IT WITH SILVER AND WITH GOLD; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good” (Jer. 10:1-5).

Truly, the whole world has been deceived by Satan the devil and his clever masquerades and machinations (Rev. 12:9). YEHOVAH God Almighty thunders: “Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye POLLUTED after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye WHOREDOM after the manner of THEIR ABOMINATIONS?…ye POLLUTE yourselves with all your IDOLS, even unto this day….But as for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD: Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but POLLUTE YE MY HOLY NAME NO MORE with your gifts, and with your idols” (Ezek. 20:30-39).

The very name “Christmas,” combining the holy name of Christ with the pagan mass, POLLUTES and PROFANES YEHOVAH’s holy name! The celebration of these ancient pagan festivals, calling them “Christian,” is an abomination in the sight of YEHOVAH God! YEHOVAH will not accept such pagan, superstitious worship!

Yeshua the Messiah said to his disciples, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will KNOW THE TRUTH, and the truth will set you FREE” — free from the shackles of error, superstition, mythology, and pagan deception! (John 8:32, NIV).

Christmas is pagan. There is no doubt about it. The question is: What are you going to do about it? May YEHOVAH God help you to make the right decision, so you can inherit eternal life, and reign with the saints forever (Rev. 2:26-27; 5:10; 20:4).

Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but these were not Christmas Carols. They were pagan songs, sung at the Winter Solstice celebrations as people danced round stone circles (The word carol originally meant to dance to something). The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, usually taking place around the 22nd December. The word Carol actually means dance or a song of praise and joy! Carols used to be written and sung during all four seasons, but only the tradition of singing them at Christmas has really survived.

Early Christians took over the pagan solstice celebrations for Christmas and gave people Christian songs to sing instead of pagan ones. In AD 129, a Roman Bishop said that a song called “Angel’s Hymn” should be sung at a Christmas service in Rome. Another famous early Christmas Hymn was written in 760AD, by Comas of Jerusalem, for the Greek Orthodox Church. Soon after this many composers all over Europe started to write ‘Christmas carols’. However, not many people liked them as they were all written and sung in Latin, a language that the normal people couldn’t understand. By the time of the Middles Ages (the 1200s), most people had lost interest in celebrating Christmas altogether.

This was changed by St. Francis of Assisi when, in 1223, he started his Nativity Plays in Italy. The people in the plays sang songs or ‘canticles’ that told the story during the plays. Sometimes, the choruses of these new carols were in Latin; but normally they were all in a language that the people watching the play could understand and join in! The new carols spread to France, Spain, Germany and other European countries.

The earliest carol, like this, was written in 1410. Sadly only a very small fragment of it still exists. The carol was about Mary and Jesus meeting different people in Bethlehem. Most Carols from this time and the Elizabethan period are untrue stories, very loosely based on the Christmas story, about the holy family and were seen as entertaining rather than religious songs. They were usually sung in homes rather than in churches! Traveling singers or Minstrels started singing these carols and the words were changed for the local people wherever they were traveling. One carols that changed like this is ‘I Saw Three Ships’.

When Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans came to power in England in 1647, the celebration of Christmas and singing carols was stopped. However, the carols survived as people still sang them in secret. Carols remained mainly unsung until Victorian times, when two men called William Sandys and Davis Gilbert collected lots of old Christmas music from villages in England.

Before carol singing in public became popular, there were sometimes official carol singers called ‘Waits’. These were bands of people led by important local leaders (such as council leaders) who had the only power in the towns and villages to take money from the public (if others did this, they were sometimes charged as beggars!). They were called ‘Waits’ because they only sang on Christmas Eve (This was sometimes known as ‘watchnight’ or ‘waitnight’ because of the shepherds were watching their sheep when the angels appeared to them.), when the Christmas celebrations began.

Also, at this time, many orchestras and choirs were being set up in the cities of England and people wanted Christmas songs to sing, so carols once again became popular. Many new carols, such as ‘Good King Wenceslas’, were also written in the Victorian period.

New carols services were created and became popular, as did the custom of singing carols in the streets. Both of these customs are still popular today! One of the most popular types of Carols services are Carols by Candlelight services. At this service, the church is only lit by candlelight and it feels very Christmassy! Carols by Candlelight services are held in countries all over the world.

Perhaps the most famous carol service, is the service of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College in Cambridge, UK. This service takes place on Christmas Eve and is broadcast live on BBC Radio (and all over the world). In my house, we listen to it and it means Christmas has really started! The Service was first performed in 1918 as a way of the college celebrating the end of the First World War. It is always started with a single choir boy singing a solo of the first verse of the Carol ‘Once in Royal David’s City’. Sing along to Once in Royal David’s City! (on a different site) A service of Nine Lessons and Carols has nine bible readings (or lessons), that tell the Christmas story, with one or two carols between each lesson. Sometimes you get carol services which are a combination of nine lessons and carols and carols by candlelight! So you have nine lessons and carols by candlelight!

Yule!

YULE is amazing!

It is a time to spend with friends family and live in harmony!

It is so easy to create an altar for Yule

Burn: Bayberry, Chamomile,frankincense, rosemary, sage.

Decorate: w/ Holly, Juniper, mistletoe, moss, oak, cedar, pine cones, evergreen blessed thistle.

Use things from outside to be the green cheep witch just because you didn’t buy something from a store does not mean it is not just as good! It comes from your heart as does all magic!

Also deck the halls is a pagan solstice song you and your coven can chant !

Here is a chant that is perfect for Yule!!

God Rest Ye Merry Pagan Folk

“Gods rest ye merry pagan folk
Let none of you dismay.
Remember that the Sun returns
Upon this Solstice Day
The growing dark is ended now
And spring is on its way

Oh tidings of comfort and Joy
Comfort and Joy
Oh tidings of comfort and Joy

The winter’s worst still lies ahead
Fierce Tempest Snow and Rain
Beneath the blanket on the ground
The Spark of life remains
The Sun’s warm rays caress the seeds
To raise Life’s song again

Oh tidings of comfort and Joy
Comfort and Joy
Oh tidings of comfort and Joy

Within the blessed apple lies
The promise of the Queen
For from this pentacle shall rise
The orchards fresh and green
The Earth shall blossom once again
The air be sweet and clean

Oh tidings of comfort and Joy
Comfort and Joy
Oh tidings of comfort and Joy”

The date varies from December 20 to December 23 depending on the year in the Gregorian calendar.  Yule is also known as the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere due to the seasonal differences.

Yule, (pronounced EWE-elle) is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, the sun’s “rebirth” was celebrated with much joy. On this night, our ancestors celebrated the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth. From this day forward, the days would become longer.

Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were “wassailed” with toasts of spiced cider.  Children were escorted from house to house with gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges which were laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun.  The boughs were symbolic of immortality (evergreens were sacred to the Celts because they did not “die” thereby representing the eternal aspect of the Divine). The wheat stalks portrayed the harvest, and the flour was accomplishment of triumph, light, and life. Holly and ivy not only decorated the outside, but also the inside of homes, in hopes Nature Sprites would come and join the celebration. A sprig of Holly was kept near the door all year long as a constant invitation for good fortune to visit tthe residents. Mistletoe was also hung as decoration.  It represented the seed of the Divine, and at Midwinter, the Druids would travel deep into the forest to harvest it.

The ceremonial Yule log was the highlight of the Solstice festival. In accordance to tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the householder’s land, or given as a gift… it must never have been bought. Once dragged into the house and placed in the fireplace it was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze by a piece of last years log, (held onto for just this purpose). The log would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days after before being ceremonially put out. Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. It is the sacred world tree of the Teutons, known as Yggdrasil. An herb of the Sun, Ash brings light into the hearth at the Solstice.

A different type of Yule log, and perhaps one more suitable for modern practitioners would be the type that is used as a base to hold three candles. Find a smaller branch of oak or pine, and flatten one side so it sets upright. Drill three holes in the top side to hold red, green, and white (season), green, gold, and black (the Sun God), or white, red, and black (the Great Goddess). Continue to decorate with greenery, red and gold bows, rosebuds, cloves, and dust with flour.

Many customs created around Yule are identified with Christmas today.  If you decorate your home with a Yule tree, holly or candles, you are following some of these old traditions.   The Yule log, (usually made from a piece of wood saved from the previous year) is burned in the fire to symbolize the Newborn Sun/Son.

Deities of Yule:  All Newborn Gods, Sun Gods, Mother Goddesses, and Triple Goddesses. The best known would be the Dagda, and Brighid, the daughter of the Dagda. Brighid taught the smiths the arts of fire tending and the secrets of metal work. Brighid’s flame, like the flame of the new light, pierces the darkness of the spirit and mind, while the Dagda’s cauldron assures that Nature will always provide for all the children.

Symbolism of Yule:
Rebirth of the Sun, The longest night of the year, The Winter Solstice, Introspect, Planning for the Future.

Symbols of Yule:
Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, christmas cactus.

Herbs of Yule:
Bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense holly, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, sage, yellow cedar.

Foods of Yule:
Cookies and caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruits, nuts, pork dishes, turkey, eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb’s wool (ale, sugar, nutmeg, roasted apples).

Incense of Yule:
Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon.

Colors of Yule:
Red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow, orange.

Stones of Yule:
Rubies, bloodstones, garnets, emeralds, diamonds.

Activities of Yule:
Caroling, wassailing the trees, burning the Yule log, decorating the Yule tree, exchanging of presents, kissing under the mistletoe, honoring Kriss Kringle the Germanic Pagan God of Yule

Spellworkings of Yule:
Peace, harmony, love, and increased happiness.

Deities of Yule:
Goddesses-Brighid, Isis, Demeter, Gaea, Diana, The Great Mother. Gods-Apollo, Ra, Odin, Lugh, The Oak King, The Horned One, The Green Man, The Divine Child, Mabon.

Related articles

• Winter and Summer Solstices (history.answers.com)
• Yule-Winter Solstice is coming!!! (amaraamarta.wordpress.com)
• Yule is coming just the basic’s (amaraamarta.wordpress.com)
• Winter Solstice Altars (heddyjohannesen.wordpress.com)

Find your witch name threw numorology

Numerological Formula for Picking a Witch or Warlock Name

Matching your birth number with your name is important if you want your witch or warlock name to be lucky. Below is an easy method to help you pick a lucky name for yourself.

1. How to find your Birth Number.

Add all the numbers of your birthdate.

Example: May 20, 1955 = 5+2+0+1+9+5+5 = 27

Bring down the final two digits (27) and add together.

Example: 2+7 = 9

9 is the Birth Number.

2. Now to find out if the name you have choosen is appropriate for you.

Alphabet and number equation.

1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I
J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R
S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z

Now by using the chart above calculate the name you have choosen by adding the letters and final sum.

Example: name = Sarah, S= 1, A = 1, R= 9, A = 1, H = 8

1+ 1 + 9 + 1 + 8 = 20

Bring down the sum and add:

2 + 0 = 2

2 is the Name number

Now your birth number is 9 so you will need to add a letter or letters to make an equivalent to 7 (G, P, or Y) or you could add 2 letters that add up to 7..

Example: Adding a “g” to Sarah would be

“Saragh” = 1 + 1 + 9 + 1 + 7 + 8 = 27, broken down than 2 + 7 = 9

Try different combinations until you find a name that feels right.

Blessed be and good luck!

Everything about Gemstones their elements, planetary body & More!

Gem.pebbles.800pix (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

AGATE
Folk Names: Red Agate, Blood Agate
Energy: Various (see below)
Planet:: Mercury
Element: Various (see below)
Deity: Aesculapius
Powers: Strength, courage, longevity, gardening, love, healing, protection
Magickal Uses: Generally, this stone is used in spells and rituals involving strength, bravery, longevity, etc. Carry an agate while gardening to ensure a bountiful harvest or healthy flowers. Moss Agate is best suited for this task. Wear this stone to avoid envious thoughts and to remove spite in regards to searching for or strengthening love. Wear as a truth amulet, or to prevent falling. Use in protective spells and rites. Offers protection from sorcery, demons, and fiendish possession. From a medical standpoint, agates can be used to reduce fevers by applying them to the forehead, to refresh the body, and to heal minor health problems. Any agate may be used for the above purposes. The following varieties have other uses as well:

Banded: Energy is Projective and its Element is Fire. Restores bodily energy and eases stressful situations.

Black: Energy is Projective and Element is Fire. A protective stone that can be worn for courage and success in competition.

Black and White: Energy is Receptive and Element is Earth. Guards against physical dangers when worn as an amulet.

Blue Lace: Energy is Receptive and Element is Water. This type of agate can be worn or carried for peace and happiness. When surrounded by burning light blue candles, it reduces household quarrels and calms the psychic atmosphere.

Brown or Tawny : Energy is Projective and Element is Fire. Often used for success in all areas. Also a wealth talisman.

Green: Energy is Receptive and Element is Earth. Often worn to improve the health of the eyes. A woman who drinks the water of a green agate ring is magickally guarded against sterility.

Moss: Energy is Receptive and Element is Earth. An important gardener’s talisman. Also used is rituals involving riches, happiness, and long life. The stone can be worn to help make new friends and to discover treasure.

Red or “Blood” : Energy is Projective and Element is Fire. Used to guard against insect bites and to promote peace.

ALEXANDRITE
Powers: Luck, Love
Magickal Uses: This rare and expensive stone draws luck and good fortune, and is used in love spells.

ALUM
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Saturn
Element: Earth
Powers: Protection
Magickal Uses: Worn as a protective amulet. Placed in the home to guard it, or sewn into children’s hats for the same purpose.

AMAZONITE
Folk Name: Amazon Stone
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Uranus
Element: Earth
Powers: Gambling, Success
Magickal Uses: Worn by gamblers to attract money and luck. Also used by anyone taking a chance to ensure success.

AMBER
Energy: Projective
Planet: Sun
Elements: Fire, Akasha (Fifth)
Deity: The Great Mother
Powers: Luck, Healing, Strength, Protection, Beauty, Love
Magickal Lore: Since the stone is actually not a stone, but fossilized tree sap, it is considered to be under the influence of the Fifth element. It was often carved into shapes of animals and worn to evade impotency and sterility. The ancient Chinese believed that the souls of tigers turned into amber when they died. Amber can cure almost every type of internal ailments, including sore throat, deafness, headache, toothache, asthma, digestive ailments, etc. A ball of amber held in the hand reduces fevers. It is connected with The Great Mother because it is considered to contain the animating principle of life. In some Wiccan covens of today, High Priestesses wear neckalces of alternating amber and jet beads. This stones represent the Goddess and God, respectively, and all the influences connected to Them. This is truly an important stone which has been prized for thousands of years.
Magickal Uses: Has been utilized for almost every magickal purpose. Worn around the neck, it acts as a general protector of health. True amber is expensive, but worth it. Amber necklaces are amulets against negative magick and help in protecting children. Amber is used to strengthen spells and to increase effectiveness. Also use to enhance beauty and general attractiveness. Often worn to attract love, and also to increase strength, business success, money flow, etc. Plays a part in attraction spells, much like a magnet; it helps to attract love, money, power, and success. Adding a bit of powdered amber to incenses will increase their effectiveness.

 

AMETHYST
Energy: Receptive
Planets: Jupiter, Neptune
Element: Water
Deities: Bacchus, Dionysus, Diana
Powers: Dreams, Overcoming Alcoholism, Healing, Psychism, Peace, Love, Protection Against Thieves, Courage, Happiness
Magickal Uses: This stone is one of the most popular magickal stones. It has been used for virtually every magickal purpose, and it harbors absolutely no negative side effects, nor any associations with violence, anger, or passion. This stone has abilities to calm fears, raise hopes, lift the spirits and promote thoughts of spiritual reality behind our lives. Wear it to ward off guilt and self-deception, to help overcome addictions (such as alcoholism), to curb over indulgence, to bestow good judgement, and to gain courage. Amethysts are powerful amulets for travelers, and they protect against thieves, harm, sickness, and danger. The Amethyst is a highly spiritual stone which helps with meditative practices. Pre-meditation baths help to attune the practitioner; light a purple candle as you bathe and ring the candle with amethysts. This stone helps to increase psychic awareness and the “sixth sense”. An amethyst is often worn during divination, and sometimes kept with divination tools to heighten their inner energies. Placed beneath a pillow, an amethyst helps to produce restful sleep and pleasant (sometimes prophetic) dreams. It drives away nightmares and insomnia. It also makes sure that the sleeper doesn’t oversleep. The stone also sharpens the consious mind. It improves the memory, enhances mental powers, and quickens the wit.

Amethysts are often utilized in love magick because it is a stone of true emotional love. It is a stone specifically prescribed for men to attract women. This stone was once thought to be a stone of chastity, although this idea is quickly becoming archaic.

This stone is also used by people involved in lawsuits to ensure that right is done. It is also used in prosperity magick and has long been thought to bring success to businesses because of its Jupiterian influences.

When emotionally upset, go to a place outside where you can be alone. Hold an amethyst in your receptive (non-dominant) hand and pour out all your negative and hurtful feelings from your body through your arm into the stone. Send the hurt and pain into the stone with all your might. When the stone is full of negative energy, throw it away from your as hard as you can. Cry out as you do this. As you release the stone, release the pain. Know that it is in the stone and outside of you. Calm yourself, then thank the Earth for its help. Never again bring the stone into your life.

APACHE TEAR
Energy: Projective
Planet: Saturn
Element: Fire
Powers: Protection, Luck
Magickal Uses: Apache Tear is carried as a good-luck charm and a protective amulet. The Apache Tear is actually a piece of translucent Obsidian, therefore they have the same properties. See the Obsidian listing for more uses.

AQUAMARINE
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Powers: Psychism, Peace, Courage, Purification
Magickal Lore: This stone, a variety of beryl, is associated with sea-goddesses of long ago. Aquamarine beads were found in the mummy pits of ancient Egyptian pyramids.
Magickal Uses: The Aquamarine, as its name suggests, is a stone associated with the sea and the element of Water. This stone is cleansed by Sea Witches in ocean water on the night of the Full Moon; land-locked folks can fill a blue container with water and sea salt, drop the stone in, and let it sit overnight.

The stone is worn or carried to enhance the use of psychic powers. It reduces the hold of the conscious mind on the psychic one. Due to its water influences, it can be used in purification rites and spells. A tincture can be made from this stone; place an aquamarine in a glass of water. Put it outside, if possible. Let it sit in moonlight for three hours, then retrieve the stone and drink the water for purification and heightened psychic awareness.

Aquamarines exchanged between the bride and groom smooth the path of their interactions, since it is a stone which helps to calm and soothe emotional problems. The Aquamarine is also an excellent protective amulet during sea travel. Even if you’re flying over water, this stone will protect you. The Aquamarine also is worn to ensure good health, to halt fear (by strengthening courage), and for alertness of the mind. Medically, this stone relieves toothache and cures illnesses of the stomach, throat, and jaw.

ASBESTOS
Energy: Projective
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Power Protection
Magickal Lore: Asbestos was seen as a magickal stone because it could be burned without being consumed. It was used to make wicks for ancient Greek temple candles which burned continuously. It was used for protection against black magick and the evil eye.
Magickal Use: Because of its bad publicity and utter misuse, this stone is no longer considered to be safe. Surprisingly, however, asbestos that is associated with quartz and polished is known as tiger’s eye.

Agates 1 (Photo credit: Tjflex2)

AVENTURINE
Energy: Projective
Planet: Mercury
Element: Air
Powers: Mental Powers, Eyesight, Gambling, Money, Peace, Healing, Luck
Magickal Uses: Green Aventurine is worn to strengthen the eyesight. It is also utilized to increase perception, to stimulate creativity, to enhance intelligence, to bring luck in gambling, and to attract money. It is an all-around lucky stone, and is useful in calming troubled emotions and speeding healing.

AZURITE
Folk Names: Lapis Linguis, Lapis Lingua
Energy: Receptive
Planet:  Venus
Element: Water
Powers: Psychism, Dreams, Divination, Healing
Magickal Uses: This stone has long been used to increase psychic powers. Place a piece of azurite beneath your pillow for prophetic dreams, or hold/wear one while divining the future. A simple divination technique using azurite: Place the stone between two lit white candles in a darkened room, and hold it in your hands until it is warm while clearing your mind. Close your eyes and feel the stone’s energies. Then open your eyes and gaze at the stone until messages or answers come through. Also use azurite in healing magick.

BERYL
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Moon
Deities: Poseidon, Neptune, Tiamat, Mara
Associated Herbs: Seaweed
Powers: Psychism, Healing, Love, Energy, Anti-Gossip
Magickal Lore: Beryl spheres were used long ago for scrying, just as crystal balls are used today. In fifth-century Ireland, scryers who used these spheres were called specularii. Dr. Dee’s famous crystal housed in the British Museum is made of beryl. Ancient peoples also used beryl in rituals designed to bring rain. 16th century magicians prescribed wearing beryl to win all arguments, and yet to be amiable, well-mannered, and understanding. In the 13th century, an image of a frog was carved into beryl and carried to reconcile enemies and to attract friends.
Magickal Uses: Like aquamarine, beryl is worn or carried for protection during sea travel. Also like aquamarine, it is exchanged between lovers to strengthen the relationship. This stone is also used to prevent fascination (deliberate psychic manipulation) by evangelists or salespersons. Beryl is used to make its bearer unconquerable, fearless, optimistic, and happy.

Beryl can be worn or placed on the altar during Full Moon rituals because of its lunar influences. It is also utilized to find lost things; hold a beryl in your hand and visualize the object. Still the conscious mind and let your psychic mind reveal its location. Beryl can be used to halt gossip and when worn during study, it helps the conscious mind to retain information.

Medically, beryl is considered to be an excellent remedy for liver ailments, swollen glands, and diseases of the eyes.

BLOODSTONE
Folk Names: Heliotrope, Hematite (a different stone)
Energy: Projective
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Associated Herb: Heliotrope ( Heliotropum europaeum)
Powers: Halting Bleeding, Healing, Victory, Courage, Wealth, Strength, Power, Legal Matters, Business, Invisibility, Agriculture
Magickal Lore: This stone has been used in magick for three thousand years. It was used in ancient Babylon to overcome enemies and ancient Egyptians used it to open doors, break bonds, and cause stone walls to fall. Bloodstone was popular with soldiers because of its power to stop bleeding. Bloodstone was utilized to prevent injury, or as magickal first aid. It was also worn to cure fevers, to promote blood health and cure blood-related illnesses, and as a general health-giving talisman. Farmers in the Middle Ages wore bloodstone during planting to increase the yield of crops. It was believed that if a bloodstone was smeared with fresh heliotrope flowers and worn or carried, it would dazzle the eyes of other people and therefore render the bearer invisible. Bloodstones were also engraved with the figure of bats in the 13th century and worn by magicians to increase the effectiveness of spells and rites. Women hung a bloodstone on the arm to prevent miscarriage and later on, it was hung on the thigh to ease childbirth.

A folk name for bloodstone was hematite, although these are two different stones. Read more about this in the Hematite listing.
Magickal Uses: Wear bloodstone to increase physical strength, to win competitions, to promote longevity and courage, to calm fear, and to eliminate anger. It has been used in spells designed to secure victory in court. It is also utilized in spells involving wealth, money, and business because of its color. Carry in the purse or pocket, or place in a cash register to attract wealth.

CALCITE
Folk Name: Iceland Spar
Energy: Various (see below)
Planet: Various
Element: Various
Powers: Spirituality, Centering, Peace, Love, Healing, Purification, Money, Protection, Energy
Magickal Uses: This stone has the unique quality of double refraction; draw a line on a piece of paper, then place the calcite over it. The line will appear to be doubled. This property causes calcite to be used in spells in order to “double” the power of the rite.

Clear Calcite : Energy is Receptive, Planet is the Moon, and Element is Water. Use this stone in spirituality rituals, and as a focus of contemplation in meditation.

Pink Calcite : Energy is Receptive, Planet is Venus, and Element is Water. This stone is calming, centering, and grounding when held in the hand. Use it in love rituals.

Blue Calcite : Energy is Receptive, Planet is Venus, and Element is Water. Blue Calcite is a healing stone when worn on the body, or placed between burning purple or blue candles. This stone can be worn or used in purification rites.

Green Calcite : Energy is Receptive, Planet is Venus, and Element is Earth. This stone brings money and prosperity into the household; this can be expediated by placing it between burning green candles every morning for a few minutes.

Orange Calcite : Energy is Projective, Planet is Sun, and Element is Fire. This is a protective stone which lends energy to the body when held.

CARNELIAN
Energy: Projective
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Powers: Protection, Peace, Eloquence, Healing, Courage, Sexual Energy
Magickal Lore: Carnelian was worn on the hand in ancient Egypt to still anger, jealousy, envy, and hatred. In Renaissance times, the carnelian was engraved with the image of a sword or a warrior and placed in the home to guard against lightning and storms; It was also carried as a talisman against enchantments.
Magickal Uses: This stone is worn by shy and timid people to lend them courage. This stone is excellent to use in public speaking; it strengthens the voice, provides self-confidence, and gives eloquence to the speaker. This stone can also be used to counteract negative thoughts and to confer patience. Carnelian guards against others who try to read your thoughts. It also stimulates sexual impulses, strengthens astral vision, and halts nightmares when worn to bed.

Healthwise, carnelian prevent skin diseases, insanity, nose-bleeds and all other blood diseases, and as a general health inducer.

CAT’S EYE
Energy: Projective
Planet: Venus
Element: Earth
Powers: Wealth, Beauth, Gambling, Protection, Healing
Magickal Lore: The ancient Assyrians believed the cat’s eye caused invisiblity, most probably due to its dazzling appearance.
Magickal Uses: Possession of this stone guards the owner’s wealth, prevents financial ruin, and restores wealth lost prior to possession of the stone. This stone is excellent for gamblers. A cat’s eye money spell; take a bill of the highest denomination you have, and rub it all over with the cat’s eye. Then, wrap the bill tightly around the stone and tie up the bill with green thread. Carry it in your pocket. Don’t spend the bill until the spell has worked.

A cat’s eye set in a silver ring is worn for mental health, protection, insight and luck. It also dispels depression, gives pleasure, and should be worn during financial speculation. Because of its eyelike appearance, this stone is worn to relieve diseases of the eyes.

CELESTITE
Energy: Receptive
Planets: Venus, Neptune
Element: Water
Powers: Compassion, Eloquence, Healing
Magickal Uses: This stone is worn or carried to create eloquence and to promote compassion for the Earth and its beings. Celestite can also be used to relieve headaches and tension in the body because it removes stress from the physical body.

CHALCEDONY
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Powers: Peace, Anti-Nightmare, Travel, Protection, Lactation, Luck
Magickal Lore: In the 16th century, chalcedony was prescribed by magicians to dissolve illusions and fantasies; it was pierced and worn around the neck. In Renaissance times, this stone was engraved with the figure of a man with his right hand upraised and worn for success in lawsuits, health, and safety. In Italy, mothers wear beads of white chalcedony to increase lactation.
Magickal Uses: Chalcedony banishes fear, hysteria, depression, mental illness, and sadness. It also promotes calm and peaceful feelings. This stone drives away nightmares, night visions, and fear of the dark when placed beneath the pillow. Chalcedony is also used for beauty, strength, energy, success in all undertakings, and lactation. This stone protects its bearer during times of political revolution, while traveling, from physical attack, and negative magick. It also prevents accidents. An arrowhead carved from chalcedony is worn or carried for luck.

CHRYSOCOLLA
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Powers: Peace, Wisdon, Love
Magickal Lore: Chrysocolla was once held in the hand to drive off unreasonable fear and illusions.
Magickal Uses: This stone is worn to grant the power of discretion and increased wisdom. It is also a stone of peace that soothes the emotions.

A simple chrysocolla love spell: hold the stone in your hand and visualize it attracting love to you. Then, place the stone in a small red or pink cup half filled with water. Place three red roses into the cup. Add fresh roses as the others fade.

CHRYSOPRASE
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Venus
Element: Earth
Deity: Vesta
Powers: Happiness, Luck, Success, Friendship, Protection, Healing, Money
Magickal Lore: In the 13th century, chrysoprase was engraved with the image of a bull and worn as an amulet of protection.
Magickal Uses: Chrysoprase is worn to lift the spirits, to banish greed, envy, selfishness, tension, and stress, and to prevent nightmares. It is also worn to attract new friends and for luck, eloquence and success in new undertakings. A small piece carried with you at all times attracts money.

Chrysoprase’s healing powers include strengthening the eyes, staunching blood, and relieving the pain of rheumatism.

CITRINE
Energy: Projective
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Powers: Anti-Nightmare, Protection, Psychism
Magickal Uses: Citrine is a form of quartz that is worn at night to remove fear, to prevent nightmares, and to ensure a good night’s sleep. This stone is also used to aid in bringing about psychic awareness.

COAL
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Saturn
Element: Earth
Power: Money
Magickal Uses: Coal is considered to be a good attractant of money, therefore it is carried in the pocket or kept with money. Speculators in the stock exchange in London often carry a piece of coal with them for luck.

CORAL
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Venus
Elements: Water, Akasha
Deities: Isis, Venus, The Great Mother
Associated Metals: Silver, Copper
Powers: Healing, Regulated Menstruation, Agriculture, Protection, Peace, Wisdom
Magickal Lore: Coral comes from two Greek words meaning “daughter of the sea.” In the Meditteranean, coral was thought to be like amber; to contain the life essence of the Mother Goddess. Temples were often built of lava rocks and coral, and coral was placed on graves to guard the deceased. Women in Italy wore red coral near the groin to help regulate and predict menstruation; it was thought that the coral would turn lighter during the flow, and would get darker afterwards. However, if a man saw this coral, it would lose all its power. A popular use for coral in ancient Egypt was to powder it, mix it with seed and sow it over newly planted fields. This protected the crops from bad weather and insects. It was also hung on fruit trees to increase their yield. Coral earrings were worn in Rome by women to attract men. Coral was also used in 16th century Venusian love incenses.
Magickal Uses: Coral, when worn so it is visible, is a protective amulet. It guards against “the evil eye, demons, furies, succubi, incubi and phantasma,” as well as accidents, acts of violence, poison, theft, possession, and sterility. Coral also effect inner changes; it dispels foolishness, nervousness, fear, depression, murderous thoughts, panic, and nightmares. It gives its bearer reason, prudence, courage, and wisdom. Placed beneath the pillow, it ensures peaceful sleep by preventing disturbing dreams. Coral is also a house luck-attractant; take a piece of coral and touch it to every door, window, and wall in the house while moving in a clockwise direction. Coral protects sea travelers because of its ocean influences. It guards against shipwreck and shark attacks.

Coral has been used to protect children. Given to a child as a gift, it ensures their health in the future. Infants wear coral pendants or beads to ease teething pain. It has been put in rattles or placed in a child’s room to protect him or her.

Coral’s healing powers include curing indigestion, digestive tract pains, eye complaints, and to staunch blood. Red coral is worn to alert its wearer of ill health by paling in color.

CROSS STONE
Folk Names: Cross-Stones, Fairy Crosses
Energies: Projective, Receptive
Powers: Elemental Magick, Elemental Power, Luck
Magickal Lore: Cross Stones are apparently a form of andalusite and are found in coarse crystals. Broken or sliced open, they show a symmetrical cross pattern of alternating light and dark colors. Shamans included a piece of this stone in their medicine or power bags. It is a favorite item to exchange with others.
Magickal Uses: Because of this stone’s shape, it is worn or carried when practicing elemental magick or by those who wish to balance the four elements within themselves. It is worn, carried , or placed on the altar for power during all magickal rituals and for luck.

CRYSTAL QUARTZ
Folk Names: Crystal, Witch’s Mirror, Star Stone, Iris (because of its prismatic effect), Zaztun(Mayan)
Energies: Projective, Receptive
Planets: Sun, Moon
Elements: Fire, Water
Deity: The Great Mother
Associated Metals: Silver, Gold, Copper
Associated Herbs: Copal, Mugwort, Chicory, Sage, Sweetgrass
Powers: Protection, Healing, Psychism, Power, Lactation
Magickal Lore: This stone was once thought to be solidified water, so it was often used in rainmaking in Australia and New Guinea. Cherokee shamans kept the stone wrapped in buckskin when not in use, and they “fed” it deer’s blood at regular intervals. Most Wiccans wear quartz, often with silver, during Full Moon rites. Crystal spheres are often placed on the altar during lunar rituals. Its cold temperature represents the sea. Some Wiccans also place two quartz crystals on the altar to represent the God and Goddess. Quartz was symbolic of the spirit and intellect of human beings. In Renaissance times, most scrying spheres were made of beryl, but quartz was also used. It was sometimes half-covered with pure gold and set on a base of ivory or ebony. in 19th century Europe, crystal spheres were placed beneath the pillow to create a link with its used and therefore enhancing its effectiveness.
Magickal Uses: The use of quartz crystals in healing, altering consciousness, and magick have made them enormously popular. This stone can substitute for any other stone through visualization. Crystal spheres for divination are very expensive, but are worth their price. They do not need to be perfect, or free of marks and inclusions. Simply gazing into a natural crystal point can produce psychism. A crystal sphere can be exposed to the light of the Full Moon to strengthen its powers. Crystals can also be made into pendulums when hung from a silver chain. There are two ways to interpret its answers;

1. Circling in either direction: yes, or favorable
Side to side: no, or unfavorable

2. Circling clockwise: yes, or favorable
Circling counterclockwise: no, or unfavorable
Side to side: no answer

Wearing or carrying a quartz crystal increases psychism, and placed beneath the pillow, it offers psychic impulses in the form of dreams and peaceful sleep. Tumbled quartz stones are often painted with runes and used as divinatory tools. Quartz crystals are excellent power amplifiers for magick. 13 crystals (for the 13 Full Moons) or 21 crystals (13 Full Moons plus 8 sabbats) can be used to construct the magick circle. Situate the crystals with the points facing inward for religious ritual, meditation, or general magick. Face the point outward for defensive or protective magick. Tumbled quartz can be used as well. A crystal garden can be made by filling an earthenware bowl with white sand (you could probably use salt, too) and placing the crystals in it, points upward.

There are many forms of quartz:
Blue Quartz : Energy is Receptive. A peace and tranquility stone.
Green Quartz : Energy is Receptive. Use in prosperity workings to increase money or provide an “easy life”. Stimulates creativity.
Herkimer Diamonds : Energy is Projective. These are small, double-terminated quartz crystals which substitute for diamonds in magick.
Rose Quartz : Energy is Receptive. Use to stimulate love, to open the heart chakra and to promote peace, happiness, and fidelity. Wear a heart shaped rose quartz to attract love.
Rutilated Quartz : Energy is Projective. An energy stone which can be worn or placed on the altar to increase the effectiveness of magick.
Smoky Quartz : Energy is Receptive. Elevates the mood and is used for grounding. Overcomes depression and other negative emotions.
Tourmalated Quartz : Energy is Projective. This quartz, penetrated by black tourmaline crystals, is used to stimulate astral projection.

DIAMOND
Energy: Projective
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Associated Metals: Platinum, Silver, Steel
Powers: Spirituality, Sexual Dysfunction, Protection, Courage, Peace, Reconciliation, Healing, Strength
Magickal Lore: In India, women wear unblemished white diamonds with a slightly black hue to ensure male children and to conquer infertility. In ancient Rome, the diamond was set into steel rings and worn with the stone touching the skin to produce bravery, daring, victory, and courage. Magicians of ancient India set diamonds into platinum or silver rings for victory in battles and conflicts.
Magickal Uses: This stone, when worn, promotes spirituality, self-confidence, fidelity, physical strength, protection, peace, reconciliation between quarreling lovers, and restful sleep and it aids in mediation. It helps in relieving sexual dysfunction, as well as being a cleansing, purifying, and releasing stone in this matter. This stone also helps to dispel nightmares and is used in scrying.

EMERALD
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Venus
Element: Earth
Deities: Isis, Venus, Ceres, Vishnu
Associated Metals: Copper, Silver
Powers: Love, Money, Mental Powers, Psychism, Protection, Exorcism, Eyesight
Magickal Lore: This stone is representative of the Earth. A curious use for emeralds comes from India, where ancient writings prescribe wearing the stone during sleep to halt nocturnal emissions. Emerald was used in protection magick all over the world. It was given to “possessed” people to exorcise the evil entity, or the stone was bound to a person’s left arm with string to guard them while traveling. People often used it to strengthen the memory.
Magickal Uses: Emeralds are often used in business spells to promote sales and increase public awareness of its establishment. This stone can be used to increase understanding, produce eloquence, and to enhance awareness of psychic faculties. Its soothing color makes it a popular gazing stone to relieve tired, bleary, or weak eyes, to relax the optic nerve, and to restore normal sight. For best results, the stone should be set in silver or copper.

FLINT
Folk Names: Thunderstone, Elf-Shot, Fairy-Shot, Elf-Arrow, Adderstone.
Energy: Projective
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Associated Metal: Silver
Power: Protection, Healing, Divination
Magickal Lore: The Irish set flint knives in silver to guard against fairies. Scandinavians sometimes honored flint knives as family “gods”. Beer and melted butter were poured over them (hmm…). It is used in divining gold, water, gems, and other underground treasures.
Magickal Uses: Items made of flint are protective amulets and are particularly potent when placed above a door. A flint knife can be placed on the altar or held in protective rituals. A modern flint spell to cure headaches; strike a flint several times and visualize the pain traveling out of your head, into the sparks and disappearing with them.

FLUORITE
Energy: Projective
Powers: Mental Powers
Magickal Uses: This stone is relatively new to the New Age community, but it is becoming more popular. However, it does not have a long history of magickal use and its influences are still being discovered. Fluorite seems to be good for the conscious mind; it helps in straightening your thoughts and reducing emotional involvement in a situation in order to gain a more accurate perspective. It also strengthens the bearer’s analytical abilities, quells strong emotions, and soothes desperation, depression, and anger. Fluorite is helpful in theorizing and assimilating information. Some use fluorite to strengthen the effects of other stones.

FOSSILS
Folk Names: Sponge, Witch Stone, Ammonite, Snake Stone, Draconites
Energy: Receptive
Element: Akasha
Powers: Elemental Power, Past-Life Regression, Protection, Longevity
Magickal Lore: Because fossils are the remains or impressions of ancient life, it is linked with Akasha. Fossils represent time, eternity, and evolution.
Magickal Uses: Fossils are generally used as protective objects, and also as amulets to increase the life span. They can be placed on the altar as symbols of the Earth and the ambiguty of time, as well as to increase the power of magick. Sand Dollars are linked to the pentagram because of their natural five pointed design. Fossils are often used to help recall past lives. A simple ritual for past-life regression:

Perform at night, and wear a quartz crystal to prevent being disturbed or magickally harmed. Meditate upon the fossil. Next, in a room light only by candlelight, hold the fossil in your receptive hand; still your mind, breathe deeply, and awaken your psychic mind. Feel your present life slip away. If you relive a life or experience that is disturbing, drop the fossil and you will return to the present.

GARNET
Energy: Projective
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Powers: Healing, Protection, Strength
Magickal Lore: Garnets were worn to repel insects in the 13th century. Garnets were carved with the figure of a lion and carried to guard the health, especially while traveling. Garnets were also thought to drive off demons and night phantoms. This stone was often exchanged between parting friends to symbolize their affection and to ensure that they met again.
Magickal Uses: Garnet is worn to enhance bodily strength, to tap into extra magickal energy, for protection and to repel negative energies. It is often prescribed as a protection against thieves. Medically, garnets are used to relieve skin conditions (especially inflammations) and to regulate the heart and blood.

GEODES
Folk Names: Aetites, Echites, Aquileus, Eagle Stone, Thunderegg
Energy: Receptive
Element: Water
Deity: The Great Mother
Powers: Meditation, Fertility, Childbirth
Magickal Lore: Geodes were thought to be favored by eagles in the Middle Ages because they placed them in their nests. Because they are round and contain crystals, they are egg symbols.
Magickal Uses: Geodes can be used in meditation as a contemplative object. This stone can be placed on the altar to concentrate the powers of the stones within it. They are also charged and placed in the bedroom to increase fertility and promote conception. Geodes are recommended to be carried or worn to attract love and avoid miscarriage. 

HEMATITE
Folk Name: Volcano Spit
Energy: Projective
Planet: Saturn
Element: Fire
Powers: Healing, Grounding, Divination
Magickal Lore: Ancient peoples called hematite what we now know is bloodstone, so all ancient texts making references to hematite actually refer to bloodstone. Today’s hematite apparently “bleeds” when worked on a lapidary wheel. Hematite also possesses an odd ability to “heal” itself. If you make a small scratch on its surface and rub your finger over it, the scratch may disappear.
Magickal Uses: Hematite is often used in drawing illness from the body, grounding, stabilizing, focusing on the physical plane, and divination. A scrying spell: Light a red candle in a darkened room and sit before it. Hold a large piece of hematite so the candle flame is reflected on it. Gaze at it and visualize a question; the answer will come to you.

HOLEY STONES
Folk Names: Holed Stones, Holy Stones, Odin Stones
Energy: Receptive
Element: Water
Deities: Odin, The Great Mother
Powers: Protection, Anti-Nightmare, Health, Psychism, Eyesight
Magickal Lore: Holey Stones were often hung on the bedpost to prevent nightmares. As a protective amulet, they were worn around the neck, placed in the house, or hung from the front door. According to the Eddas, Odin transmuted into a worm and slipped through a hole in a rock to steal “the mead of poetry.” This is probably how it got its folk name. Wise Women in England rubbed a child’s body with the stone to remove the disease.
Magickal Uses: Holey stones are stones with naturally occurring holes, not ones you have drilled yourself. This stone is often used for protection. Hanging it where a pet sleeps guards it. To enhance psychism, go to a wild, lonely place at night and look through the hole with one eye; you might see visions or ghosts. Looking through the hold is also said to improve eyesight.

JADE
Folk Name: Piedra de Hijada (Spanish, “Stone of the Flank”)
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Deities: Kwan Yin, Maat, Buddha
Powers: Love, Healing, Longevity, Wisdom, Protection, Gardening, Proseperity, Money
Magickal Lore: Jade has been used to fashion musical instruments because when it is struck, it produces a resonant tone. It is a sacred stone in China, where Altars of the Moon and Earth were made from jade. Jade carved in the shape of two men was exchanged between male friends as a token of friendship. It was also carved into a butterfly and worn to draw love and was a frequent engagement present. Jade bowls were also popular because it was believed that the stone’s energy entered the food before it was eaten.
Magickal Uses: Use jade to attract love, for healing, to prevent disease, for longevity, to improve the health of plants while gardening, to draw money, for protection, and to gain wisdom. It also strengthens the mind and helps reasoning.

An old spell for protection: Take a perfectly square piece of jade and carve the numbers 1, 8, 1, and 1 into it, one number in each corner. Mount the stone in pure gold. As the Sun rises, turn to face it. Breathe on the amulet 3 times, then say “Thoth” 500 times (a little excessive maybe?). Wait until sunset, then breathe on the amulet three times again and repeat “Thoth” 500 times. Then, the amulet is finished. Tie a red thread around it and carry it with you to guard against others imposing their will on you.

JASPER
Folk Names: Gug (ancient Assyrian), Rainbringer
Energy: Various (see below)
Planet: Various
Element: Various
Powers: Healing, Protection, Health, Beauty
Magickal Lore: American Indians have used jasper in rain-attracting rites, giving it the name “Rainbringer”. It was also used for divination. A green jasper carved with the image of a dragon surrounded by rays was worn by the ancient Egyptian king Nechepsus to strengthen his digestive tract. Red jasper engraved with images of lions or archers was carried to guard against poison and to cure fevers.
Magickal Uses: Generally, Jasper is worn or carried to promote mental processes, to restrain dangerous desires or whims, to protect against physical and nonphysical dangers, to relieve pain and guard mother and child during childbirth, and jasper arrowheads are worn for luck.
Red Jasper : Energy is Projective, Planet is Mars, and Element is Fire. This is a good protective stone which is used in defensive magick to return negativity to the original sender. It is also worn in healing and health spells, and young women wear it to promote beauty and grace.
Green Jasper : Energy is Receptive, Planet is Venus, and Element is Earth. A healing amulet and health talisman. Wear to halt hallucinations, to promote restful sleep,, and to be more sympathetic towards others. Ring a green candle with this stone to ward off ill health.
Brown Jasper : Energy is Receptive, Planet is Saturn, and Element is Earth. Wear this stone for centering, grounding, and to focus on the physical plane. It is good for use after heavy magick ritual and psychic or spiritual work.
Mottled Jasper: Energy is Projective, Planet is Mercury, and Element is Air. Wear this stone for protection against drowning. It is said to be even more potent in this use when carved with an equal armed cross, which represents the powers of the 4 elements, foundation, and control.

JET
Folk Names: Witches’ Amber, Black Amber
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Saturn
Elements: Earth, Akasha
Deity: Cybele
Associated Herbs: Lavender, Sage
Powers: Protection, Anti-Nightmare, Luck, Divination, Health
Magickal Lore: Jet is magickally paired with amber and shares many of its qualities. Ancient Greek worshippers of Cybele, goddess of growth and plants, wore jet to obtain her favors. Sea witches and fisherman’s wives burned jet in the household as an incense to guard their husbands. During the Middle Ages, it was carved into images of beetles and worn for protection.
Magickal Uses: Jet is fossilized wood. Jet absorbs energies, especially negative ones. It is a powerful household protectant. Jet is a good traveler’s amulet. Use this stone to guard against nightmares, to ensure restful sleep, to strengthen psychic awareness, to protect children, to maintain proper energy flow within the body, and to promote health.

KUNZITE
Energy: Receptive
Planets: Venus, Pluto
Element: Earth
Powers: Relaxation, Peace, Grounding
Magickal Uses: Kunzite is a fairly “modern” stone of which no mention is made in ancient texts. It also happens to be quite expensive. A quarter sized piece bought in 1988 cost $9.00. It is usually pink or lilac, but the best quality seems to be the lilac. This stone is used to induce relaxation, release tension, to gain peace, attract love, calm fear, and for grounding and centering. It can be added to car protection amulets and a piece can be put on your desk or near your work station to de-stress. Many of this stone’s secrets are still undiscovered.

LAPIS LAZULI
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Deities: Isis, Venus, Nuit
Associated Metal: Gold
Powers: Healing, Joy, Love, Fidelity, Psychism, Protection, Courage
Magickal Lore: Lapis Lazuli has long been associated with royalty. Some believe that, because of the pyrite within it, the stone is ruled by both Venus and Mars. However, this proably has little basis considering the pyrite concentration is minimal and sometimes nonexistant.
Magickal Uses: This stone can be used for healing, de-stressing, improving conditions of all human planes (i.e., mental, physical, spiritual), focusing energy toward a magickal outcome, promoting spirituality, encouraging fidelity, strengthening psychic awareness, for protection of children and adults, and for courage. Medically, this stone allievates fevers, blood diseases, and strengthens eyesight. It is a good meditative stone which relieves depression and stimulates gentleness.

LAVA
Energy: Projective
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Deity: Pele
Powers: Protection
Magickal Lore: In Hawaii, lava rocks were used to create heaiu, which were center of religious and magickal activity. They had different functions; some were healing centers, some were devoted to fishing deities, and others were the domain of the war god Kukailmoku. Tourists who have taken lava rocks without first asking permission from Pele and leaving an offering have endured great metaphysical hardships.
Magickal Uses: There are two types of lava; A’a, which is rough and chunky, and Pahoe’hoe, which is smooth. A small piece of lava carried or placed on the altar is protective. If you suspect that you are under psychic attack, bathe in salt water. Then, take 9 or 13 lava rocks and sit on the ground facing East. Beginning there, place each stone a few feet away from you to form a circle that encloses you. Visualize the rocks sending up sprays of lava that repel and return the negative energy to the sender.

LEPIDOLITE
Folk Names: The Peace Stone, Stone of Peace
Energy: Receptive
Planets: Jupiter and Neptune
Element: Water
Powers: Peace, Spirituality, Luck, Protection, Anti-Nightmare, Psychism, Love
Magickal Uses: A calming stone which is good for relieving the stress of everyday life. This stone soothes anger, hatred, and negativity, promotes spirituality, increases psychic awareness, drawing love, and aiding in reconciliation.

MALACHITE
Folk Name: Malaku, (Greek, “Mallow”)
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Venus
Element: Earth
Associated Herb: Mallow
Powers: Power, Protection, Love, Peace, Business Success
Magickal Lore: A piece of malachite is carried to warn the bearer of danger. Legend says it will break into pieces to warn of peril.
Magickal Uses: Malachite can be used to lend extra energy to magick, and it protects against negativity and physical dangers, prevents falls, expands the ability to love, calms emotions, promotes tranquility, ensures sleep, dispels depression, draws customers, and increases your ability to obtain good deals and sales. It is the salesperson’s stone.

MARBLE
Folk Name: Nicomar
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Powers: Protection, Success
Magickal Uses: This stone is used in protective spells. Some magicians use a slab of marble for the top of their altars, and altars made entirely of marble are good places to perform protection spells. Marble tables and fixtures in the home are protective. It can be carried for this purpose. It is also used in spells involving personal success.

MICA
Energy: Projective
Planet: Mercury
Element: Air
Powers: Divination, Protection
Magickal Uses: This stone is carried for general protection. To expand psychic awareness and determine future events; Take a piece of mica about an inch or so square. Hold the stone in full moonlight while visualizing yourself having total control over your psychic powers. Catch the glow of the moonlight on the stone and gently move the stone in your hands. Let its shimmer drowse your conscious mind.

MOONSTONE
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Deities: Diana, Selene, Isis, all lunar goddesses
Associated Stone: Quartz Crystal
Associated Metal: Silver
Powers: Love, Divination, Psychism, Sleep, Gardening, Protection, Youth, Dieting
Magickal Lore: Some say the the moonstone’s power changes with the moon phases (i.e. most powerful at the Full Moon).
Magickal Uses: Moonstones are receptive and love-drawing. It also has the ability to work out problems between lovers. Moonstones are often placed beneath the pillow to ensure restful sleep. This stone is also associated with gardening and protection. It protects during travel, especially on or over water. Moonstone rings can be worn while swimming for protection. These stones are worn during divination and to produce psychism, as well as to renew or maintain youth, to lose weight. A weight loss spell: three nights before the Full Moon, stand nude before a full-length mirror in bright light. Study your body carefully. See the areas you wish to reduce and visualize a new, slimmer, in-control you. Then, hold a moonstone in your projective hand while continuing to visualize. Rub the moonstone over the problem areas of your body and visualize the fat melting away. Draw it across your head to help control unhealthy eating habits. Carry this moonstone with you at all times and when you feel the urge to eat something unhealthy, place the stone in your receptive hand, breathe deeply for ten seconds, and push the image of that food out of your mind. Then, eat something healthy. Remember, magick doesn’t solve everything; you must back up this spell with sensible eating and regular exercize.

MOTHER OF PEARL
Energy: Receptive
Planets: Moon, Neptune
Elements: Water, Akasha
Associated Metal: Silver
Powers: Protection, Wealth
Magickal Lore: Mother of pearl is the iridescent interior of some mollusk shells. It is best to collect it yourself since commercial mother of pearl is obtained by killing the animal. It relates to the ocean, depth, and movement.
Magickal Uses: Mother of Pearl is placed on newborn babies to protect them. It is also useful in spells involving wealth, money and riches. A spell: empower some mother of pearl with your need for money, then anoint it with seawater, patchouly, or cedar. Place a silver coin or another piece of silver next to it. Wrap green paper or a dollar bill tightly around it and the silver with green string. Place this talisman on your altar between two green candles. Burn the candles for 10-15 minutes while visualizing, then carry the charm with you.

OBSIDIAN
Energy: Projective
Planet: Saturn
Element: Fire
Deity: Tezcatlipoca (Aztec, “Smoking Mirror” or “Shining Mirror”)
Powers: Protection, Grounding, Divination, Peace
Magickal Lore: Flat, square mirrors made of obsidian were used as scrying mirrors. They may still be in use today. It was also used to make knives, spear points, and arrowheads. It is often known as flint when used in these ways, and obsidian arrowheads have magickal properties.
Magickal Uses: This stone is excellent for grounding, centering, protective rituals, and for scrying. A protection ritual involving obsidian is to surround a white candle with four arrowheads, with each pointing to one of the directions. This guards the place where it is set up. Obsidian spheres are still made in Mexico, and can be used instead of quartz crystal.

OLIVINE
Folk Names: Chrysolite, Chrysolithus, Lumahai
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Venus
Element: Earth
Associated Metals: Gold, Lodestone
Powers: Money, Protection, Love, Luck
Magickal Lore: Olivine has recently been found in meteorites and has a volcanic origin. Some say that olivine and peridot are the same stone.
Magickal Uses: Olivine can be used to draw money, for business success, for protection (more potent when set in a gold ring), to guard against thieves, to encourage optimism, to attract love, and to bring luck.

ONYX
Energy: Projective
Planets: Mars, Saturn
Element: Fire
Deity: Mars
Associated Stone: Diamond
Powers: Protection, Defensive Magick, Reducing Sexual Desires
Magickal Lore: In the past, onyx was thought to be the manifestation of a demon imprisoned in the stone. It woke up at night and terrorized anyone near it. The image of the head of Mars or a figure of Hercules was engraved on an onyx for courage.
Magickal Uses: This stone is used for protection and defense against negativity consciously directed towards you. It can be worn in battles, conflicts of any kind, or while going down a dark street at midnight. Onyx has also been used to reduce sexual impulses, but care should be taken when it is used in this manner. Sexual repression can lead to mental and physical illness, antisocial behavior, religious delusions, and even murderous tendencies. Be careful! When used correctly, it can be helpful, but never use it carelessly.

OPAL
Energies: Projective, Receptive
Planets: All
Elements: All
Deity: Cupid
Associated Herb: Bay
Powers: Astral Projection, Psychism, Beauty, Money, Luck, Power
Magickal Lore: These stones were once used to create invisibility when wrapped in bay leaves and carried.
Magickal Uses: The opal contains the colors and qualities of every other stone, so it can substitute for any stone with visualization. Opals can be used during astral projection (for protection and to facilitate the process), to recall past lives, to develop psychic powers (opal earrings are ideal for this purpose), for luck, and to bring out inner beauty. A spell: Place a round mirror on the altar so you can see your face while kneeling. Place two green candles on either side of it. Light them and empower the opal with your need for beauty. While holding the stone, gaze at your reflection and visualize the face and body you desire. Then, carry or wear the opal and resolve to improve your appearence.
Fire Opals are often used in drawing money or customers to a place of business.
Black Opals are thought of as power stones by magicians. They are worn in ritual jewelry to increase the amount of power raised and released from the body during magick.

PEARL
Folk Names: Margan (ancient Persian), Neamhnuid (Gaelic)
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Moon
Elements: Water, Akasha
Deities: Isis, Aphrodite, Freya, Venus, Lakshmi, Diana, Neptune, Poseidon; all ocean deities, although pearl is more female-oriented; also associated with sky goddesses
Associated Metal: Silver
Associated Stone: Ruby
Powers: Love, Money, Protection, Luck
Magickal Lore: Pearl is the product of a living creature; because the oyster is killed to get the pearl, some believe that those who sell and wear pearls will pay a heavy debt. Pearls symbolize the Moon, Water, the center of creation, and the universe. Cultured pearls, however, are thought to be less magickall potent. In early Saxon religion, pearls were thought to be the congealed tears of Freya. The Chinese thought that pearls were raindrops swallowed by oysters; in Chinese belief, pearls fell from the sky when dragons fought in the clouds (storms). Dragons and pearls are closely linked.
Magickal Uses: Pearls have been used in love magick; they are worn or carried to spread love, and Indian women wear them to ensure a happy marriage. A simple money spell involves a pearl (an inexpensive one). Hold it in your hand; attune with the pearl and give thanks to the oyster, then visualize money coming into your life and spending it wisely. Still visualizing, throw the pearl into any moving body of water (I don’t think the toilet counts). Pearls are also used to protect against shark attacks and house fires, and to attract luck, lengthen life, promote fertility, drive off demons, preserve health, and to instill courage and physical strength. Black and bluish-tinted pearls are used to bring luck to the owner (but not the oyster). Pink pearls are worn to bring about a comfortable life. Hindus use yellow pearls to bring wealth, and red pearls promote intelligence.

PERIDOT
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Venus
Element: Earth
Associated Metal: Gold
Powers: Protection, Health, Wealth, Sleep
Magickal Uses: Peridots set in gold are good amulets for protection against enchantments, night terrors, illusions, and the evil eye. This stone is worn for general healing purposes (especially healing of insect bites and liver problems), to attract love, to calm anger, to soothe the nerves, to dispel all negative emotions, to promote sleep, to relieve depression, and to attract wealth. Magickal uses associated with olivine also apply to peridot.

PETRIFIED WOOD
Energy: Receptive
Element: Akasha
Powers: Longevity, Past-Life Regression, Healing, Protection
Magickal Uses: Petrified wood is a fossil and therefore ruled by Akasha. Like all fossils, it aids in extending life and recalling past lives. It is also carried as a protective amulet. It guards against drowning and sets up barriers against negativity.

PIPESTONE
Folk Name: Inyan-sha (Sioux: Inyan, “rock”; sha, “red”)
Energy: Projective
Planets: Mars, Sun
Element: Fire
Associated Herb: Kinnickkinnick (red willow bark)
Magickal Lore: A Sioux legend: A great flood inundated the praries. A few people managed to escape by climbing a hill, but the flood drowned them. The hill collapsed on the people and formed a pool of blood. The pipestone is the solidified remains of that pool, and it is therefore sacred because blood is a substance of life. Its red color also makes it sacred because red is the color of blood. To the Sioux, red is the color of the North and symbolic of the Earth and the blood of its people. The pipestone not only symbolizes them, it is them. Pipestone was and is still used to make sacred pipes (hence the name pipestone) in which red willow bark is smoked during rituals.
Magickal Uses: Pipestone is only found in Minnesota. If you are fortunate enough to obtain some, it can be placed in medicine or power bags or on the altar. Pipestone is a sacred object and should be treated as such to respect the ways of the Sioux and Omaha people.

PUMICE
Energy: Projective
Planet: Mercury
Element: Air
Powers: Easing Childbirth, Banishment, Protection
Magickal Uses: A banishing spell: Hold a piece of pumice and visualize a problem you wish to be rid of (not a person, witches don’t work that way). Send the energy which is behind the problem into the stone. Visualize it pouring into the pores of the stone like thick black smoke. Then throw the pumice into a body of water. Because the pumice floats, it strengthens your ability to “rise above” the problem. If you don’t have access to water, fill a large basin or bucket with water and perform the ritual. When finished, pour the water (stone and all) onto bare earth. Pumice can also be empowered to be a “sponge” which absorbs negativity. It can be placed on the altar during protective magick.

RHODOCROSITE
Energy: Projective
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Powers: Energy, Peace, Love
Magickal Uses: Use rhodocrosite to lend extra energy during physical activity, to soothe the body and emotions, to de-stress and to draw love. It can be placed or worn in a bath to aid relaxation.

RHODONITE
Energy: Projective
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Powers: Peace, Anti-Confusion
Magickal Uses: Wear rhodonite to be come, to remove confusion, doubt, and incoherency, and to shut down the psychic centers, and promote balance within the bearer.

RUBY
Folk Name: Carbuncle
Energy: Projective
Element: Fire
Deities: Buddha, Krishna (nothing to do with those Hare Krishna guys, though)
Powers: Wealth, Protection, Power, Joy, Anti-Nightmare
Magickal Lore: This stone was used as an offering to Buddha and Krishna. It is thought that dreaming of rubies indictates coming success in business or money matters, or a good harvest if the dreamer is a farmer or gardener. This stone grows dark when danger or negativity approaches the owner, or when illness threatens. Rubies were often used as tools of scrying. In the 13th century, rubies were used as wealth-increasing stones, especially effective when engraved with a dragon or snake. In ancient India, possession of rubies helped the owner to accumulate other precious gems. The ruby was thought to protect against all foes, wicked spirits, negativity, plague, fascination, and famine.
Magickal Uses: The ruby strengthens psychic defenses, guards the home against storms and negativity, protects trees from lightning and violent storms, increases magickal energies available during ritual, ensures restful sleep, dispels nightmares, produces joy, strengthens will power and confidence, repels fear, and increases the body’s warmth. Star rubies are potent scrying tools. Gaze at the crossed lines of light.

SALT
Energy: Receptive
Element: Earth
Deity: Aphrodite
Associated Herb: Ti (Cordyline terminalis)
Powers: Purification, Protection, Grounding, Money
Magickal Lore: Salt is connected with life and death, creation and destruction, and the feminine aspect. Salt was frequently offered to deities because of its scarcity and purity. It was used as currency is parts of the world. Salt was often a substitute for blood where it was called for in ancient rituals (and if a spell you come across calls for blood, don’t you dare cut yourself or someone else! Apple cider is another substitute. Besides, harming others screws up your karma).
Magickal Uses: Salt is a wonderful purification substance, as well as for grounding and cleansing. Adding salt (Earth) to Water mixes the two elements and combines their influences. Sprinkling empowered salt in the corners of each room in the house, visualizing it burning and sterilizing negativity, is good for protecting a home. Tasting salt brings you firmly to Earth and closes off your psychic centers (avoid salt in your diet if you’re working to increase psychic awareness). Rock salt is used in money attracting talismans and spells. Carry some salt in a green bag for awhile to focus your energies and attention, especially if you tend to focus too much on the spiritual and neglect the physical.

SAPPHIRE
Folk Names: Holy Stone, Star Sapphire, Astrae
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Deity: Apollo
Powers: Psychism, Love, Meditation, Peace, Defensive Magick, Healing, Power, Money
Magickal Lore: The Greeks associated the sapphire with Apollo, and it was worn while consulting oracles. According to manuscripts of the late 1300’s, this stone cools anger. It was once thought to scare away devils and evil. Another ancient text states that it can be worn in rituals to strengthen the magician’s ability to tap into and send forth power. Sapphires were once engraved with an astrolabe to increase wealth.
Magickal Uses: Sapphire has many uses. It stimulates the third eye, promotes fidelity, attunes feelings between lovers, banishes envy, draws love, aids in meditation, returns negative energies to their sender, guards the owner from captivity, banishes fraud, protects the health in general, and attracts money. Medically, sapphires strengthens the eyes, reduces fevers, and halts nosebleeds when pressed to the forehead. Star sapphires are considered to be more magickally potent than ordinary ones.

SARD
Energy: Projective
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Powers: Love, Protection, Courage, Facilitating Childbirth
Magickal Lore: In the 1300’s, sard was engraved with the image of a grapevine (male energy) and ivy (female energy) and worn by women for good fortune and to draw love. This stone was given to women in labor to aid in childbirth. Sard is considered to be more magickally effective for women than men.
Magickal Uses: Because it is red and ruled by Mars, sard is used in protective rituals and in banishing negative spells. It also promotes courage and strengthens self-confidence and the body’s personal power.

SARDONYX
Energy: Projective
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Deity: Mars
Associated Metals: Silver, Platinum, Gold
Powers: Protection, Courage, Martial Happiness, Eloquence, Peace, Luck
Magickal Lore: In ancient Rome, sardonyx was engraved with a figure of Hercules or Mars to promote fearlessness. It was also once engraved with an eagle’s head, set in silver, platinum, or gold, and worn for luck.
Magickal Uses: This stone is used in protective rituals and promotes courage and good relations between lovers and married couples. It ends domestic strife and aids in communication. It is worn or carried, especially by lawyers and public speakers, for eloquence. It can also be worn in court to ensure that the bearer’s testimony is clear and consise. Worn or placed near the heart, it relieves depression and despondency and produces peace and joy.

SELENITE
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Powers: Reconciliation, Energy
Magickal Uses: This stone was named for the ancient Moon goddess Selene. It is exchanged between lovers for reconciliation and worn to lend energy to the body.

SERPENTINE
Folk Name: Za-tu-mush-gir (Assyrian)
Energy: Projective
Planet: Saturn
Element: Fire
Powers: Protection, Lactation
Magickal Lore: Seals made of this stone were carried in ancient Assyria so the gods and goddesses would send double blessings. It was also worn around the neck by nursing women to regulate their milk supply.
Magickal Uses: Serpentine’s main use is guarding against poisonous creatures (i.e., snakes, spiders, bees, scorpions) and troublesome reptiles and insects.

SODALITE
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Powers: Healing, Peace, Meditation, Wisdom
Magickal Uses: This stone is often mistaken for lapis lazuli, but it lacks the iron pyrite. This stone heals emotionally related diseases caused by stress nervousness, anger, and fear. Wear or rub over the body to dispel fear and guilt, to still the mind, relax the body, and calm inner turmoil. This stone helps to promote wisdom and is good for use in meditation.

SPHENE
Folk Name: Titanite
Energy: Projective
Planet: Mercury
Element: Air
Powers: Mental Powers, Spirituality
Magickal Uses: When found, this stone is used to improve the mind and processing information, and for studying, theorizing, and debating. Sphene is also worn to promote spiritual enlightenment during meditation.

SPINEL
Energy: Projective
Planet: Pluto
Element: Fire
Powers: Energy, Money
Magickal Uses: Spinel can be worn or used in rituals to lend energy to the body and to attract riches and wealth. It can also be worn to boost physical strength during periods of exertion.

STALAGMITES, STALACTITES
Energy: Stalagmites: Projective, Stalactites: Receptive
Element: Earth
Magickal Lore: Stalactites hang from cave roofs and stalagmites project up from cavern floors. They were thought to be petrified earth, and it was common practice by tourists 100 years ago to break them off as souvenirs. Small stalagmites and stalactites were carried in small bags to guard against negativity and evil. Its phallic shape probably contributed to its projective properties, but any other projective stone can be substituted for these stones. Don’t destroy the beauty of a cave just for magick.

STAUROLITE
Folk Names: Fairy Cross, Fairy Tears, Staurotide, Cross Stone
Elements: All
Powers: Protection, Health, Money, Elemental Powers
Magickal Lore: Staurolite comes from the Greek word stauros, meaning “cross”. People in Brittany thought they fell from the sky and worn them as charms. The crosses within these stones symbolize the intersection of physical and spiritual planes, the combination of projective and receptive energies within ourselves, sexual intercourse, and the four elements.
Magickal Uses: Staurolite is worn or carried for protection against negativity, disease, and accidents. It can be empowered and placed in the car for the last purpose. It can also be worn to draw wealth, increase the sex drive, and to control the elemental forces when set in electrum as a ring or pendant.

SUGILITE
Energy: Receptive
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Water
Powers: Psychism, Spirituality, Healing, Wisdom
Magickal Uses: This stone is worn or carried to facilitate psychic awareness, for healing, during meditation to increase awareness of the spiritual world, and to obtain wisdom.

SULFUR
Folk Names: Sulphur, Sulfer
Energy: Projective
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Powers: Protection, Healing
Magickal Lore: Sulfur was often burned in ceremonial magick to drive off demons and devils. It was believed that positive forces were attracted by sweet scents, and negative forces were repelled by foul ones. It was also burned to protect animals and dwellings from fascination.
Magickal Uses: Sulfur is often prescribed for colds, rhuematism, and bodily pain; it is usually put in a small red bag and worn around the neck. Pieces of sulfur are also put on the altar during protective rituals or in the home as a general magickal ward.

SUNSTONE
Energy: Projective
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Associated Stone: Moonstone
Associated Metal: Gold
Powers: Protection, Energy, Health, Sexual Energy
Magickal Lore: In Renaissance times, this stone was associated with the Sun due to its colors. It was set in gold and worn to bring solar influences into the magician. There are at least two stones named sunstone; a form of translucent quartz with an orange hue, and a form of feldspar which resembles an orange opal. The former stone is Oregon sunstone, and the latter comes from India and was the only sunstone used in ancient magick. This stone is magickally linked with moonstone.
Magickal Uses: Sunstone is protective, and gives extra physical energy to the body in times of stress or illness. It stimulates sexual arousal and increases sexual energy when worn near sexual regions. To spread protective energies throughout the house, place it in the home before a white candle. This stone, when placed in a bag of healing herbs, is strengthened.

TIGER’S EYE
Energy: Projective
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Associated Metal: Gold
Powers: Money, Protection, Courage, Energy, Luck, Divination
Magickal Lore: Roman soldiers wore tiger’s eye engraved with symbols for protection during battle.
Magickal Uses: Tiger’s eye promotes wealth and money, protects against all dangers, strengthens convictions, and creates courage and confidence. This stone is beneficial for the weak or sick and promotes energy flow through the body. Tiger’s eye can be used for divination when held in the hands outside on a sunny day. Gaze at the stone and still your conscious mind. It is also a past-life regression tool.
HAWK’S EYE: Also called “blue Tiger’s Eye”, this stone promotes psychic energy and can help one hold his/her temper. It is a rare stone, and quite beneficent to those who possess it.

TOPAZ
Energy: Projective
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Deity: Ra
Associated Metal: Gold
Associated Stone: Tiger’s Eye
Powers: Protection, Healing, Weight Loss, Money, Love
Magickal Lore: The stones now known as olivine and peridot were once called topaz. Topaz was used in the past to create invisibility.
Magickal Uses: Topaz specifically guards against envy, intrigue, disease, injury, sudden death, sorcery, negative magick, and lunacy. It is more effective when set in gold and bound to the left arm. It also can be worn to relieve depression, anger, fear, greed, frenzies, and other disturbing emotions. This stone also brings wealth, money, and love. It guards against fire and accidents in the home, and it fends off nightmares and stops sleepwalking when placed beneath the pillow. Topaz helps to relieve the pain of rheumatism and arthritis, as well as to regulate the digestive system. It is also good for weight loss.

TOURMALINE
Energy: Various (see below)
Planet: Various
Element: Various
Powers: Love, Friendship, Money, Business, Health, Peace, Energy, Courage, Astral Projection
Magickal Uses: When tourmaline is rubbed to create friction, one end becomes positive and the other negative.
Pink Tourmaline : Energy is Receptive, Planet is Venus, Element is Water. Wear this stone to draw love and friendship, and to promote sympathy towards others.
Red Tourmaline : Energy is Projective, Planet is Mars and Element is Fire. Also called Rubellite, this stone is worn to lend energy to the body, to promote courage, and to strengthen the will. It is used in protective rituals.
Green Tourmaline : Energy is Receptive, Planet is Venus, Element is Earth. Use this stone to draw money and business success, and to stimulate creativity.
Blue Tourmaline : Energy is Receptive, Planet is Venus, and Element is Water. Wear this stone (also known as Indicolite) to de-stress and for peace and restful sleep.
Black Tourmaline : Energy is Receptive, Planet is Saturn, Element is Earth. Use this stone for grounding purposes, to represent the Earth in spells, and protection from negativity. You may also find this stone under the name Schorl.
Watermelon Tourmaline : Energies are Projective and Receptive, Planets are Mars and Venus, and Elements are Fire and Water. This stone is worn to balance the male and female energies within the body. It also attracts love and works best when used by balanced people.
Tourmalated Quartz : Energy is Receptive and Planet is Pluto. Wear or place beneath the pillow to promote astral projection. Also, you can obtain a sphere of this stone and gaze at it. Still your mind and project your astral body into it.

TURQUOISE
Folk Names: Fayruz (Arabic, “Lucky Stone”), Turkey Stone, Turkish Stone, Thyites (ancient Greek), Venus Stone, Horseman’s Talisman
Energy: Receptive
Planets: Venus, Neptune
Element: Earth
Deities: Hathor, Buddha, The Great Spirit
Associated Metal: Gold
Powers: Protection, Courage, Money, Love, Friendship, Healing, Luck
Magickal Lore: Turquoise is a sacred stone to many Native American tribes. It has been used with coral to create sand paintings and placed in tombs to guard the dead. The Pueblos laid turquoise under a floor as an offering to the deities when a house was built. It was also attached to bows to ensure accurate shots.
Magickal Uses: Turquoise is a protective stone. Turquoise carvings of horses and sheep are kept by Navajos to guard against negative magick. A turquoise ring guards against the evil eye, disease, serpents, poison, violence, accidents, and all other dangers, and it promotes courage. Horse riders mount turquoise in gold and wear it to prevent falls, and they attach a second piece to the bridle or saddle to protect the horse. It is a good amulet for travelers, and it aids in gaining wealth. Given as a gift, it bestows wealth and happiness upon its receiver. Turquoise is also used in love magick; it is used to promote martial happiness. It also attracts friends, increases beauty, and creates joy and even-temperedness. Turquoise is a lucky stone which brings good fortune.

This is a healing stone which strengthens the eyes, alleviates fevers, and reduces headaches. Turquoise rings and pendants are worn to promote and protect health. It is said to prevent migraines.

ZIRCON
Energy: Projective
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Associated Metal: Gold
Powers: Projection, Beauty, Love, Peace, Sexual Energy, Healing, Anti-Theft
Magickal Uses:
Clear (or White) Zircon : A magickal substitute for diamond that is worn for protection, clear thinking, and to promote mental processes. Here’s an odd ritual: kiss this stone. The stone will remain clear if you’re chaste, but it will turn black if you are not.
Yellow Zircon (Jargon, Jargoon, Ligure) : Wear to increase sexual energy and to attract love. Carry to drive away depression, to increase alertness, and for business success.
Orange Zircon (Jacinth, Hyacinth) : Wear to increase beauty, to still fears and jealousy, and to guard against injury while traveling. Place in the home to guard against theft or keep with valuables for this purpose. Set it gold to double its power.
Red Zircon (Hyacinth) : Red Zircon increases riches if worn, and it guards against injury. It is a protective stone which vitalizes the body, heals, draws pain from the body, and lends extra energy in times of physical stress.
Brown Zircon (Malacon) : Use for grounding, centering, and in wealth and money spells.
Green Zircon : Use in money spells.

Related articles

• Gemstones from A to Z meanings and everything you can think of! (amaraamarta.wordpress.com)
• The Wiccan Pyramid (amaraamarta.wordpress.com)
• All the different ways of making Magic or reaching Divination! (amaraamarta.wordpress.com)
• Consecrate a mundane object to make it magickal! (highpriestessofnyx.wordpress.com)

Yule-Winter Solstice is coming!!!

Winter Solstice is coming!!

The date varies from December 20 to December 23 depending on the year in the Gregorian calendar.  Yule is also known as the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere due to the seasonal differences.

 

Yule, (pronounced EWE-elle) is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, the sun’s “rebirth” was celebrated with much joy. On this night, our ancestors celebrated the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth. From this day forward, the days would become longer.

Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were “wassailed” with toasts of spiced cider.  Children were escorted from house to house with gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges which were laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun.  The boughs were symbolic of immortality (evergreens were sacred to the Celts because they did not “die” thereby representing the eternal aspect of the Divine). The wheat stalks portrayed the harvest, and the flour was accomplishment of triumph, light, and life. Holly and ivy not only decorated the outside, but also the inside of homes, in hopes Nature Sprites would come and join the celebration. A sprig of Holly was kept near the door all year long as a constant invitation for good fortune to visit tthe residents. Mistletoe was also hung as decoration.  It represented the seed of the Divine, and at Midwinter, the Druids would travel deep into the forest to harvest it.

The ceremonial Yule log was the highlight of the Solstice festival. In accordance to tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the householder’s land, or given as a gift… it must never have been bought. Once dragged into the house and placed in the fireplace it was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze by a piece of last years log, (held onto for just this purpose). The log would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days after before being ceremonially put out. Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. It is the sacred world tree of the Teutons, known as Yggdrasil. An herb of the Sun, Ash brings light into the hearth at the Solstice.

A different type of Yule log, and perhaps one more suitable for modern practitioners would be the type that is used as a base to hold three candles. Find a smaller branch of oak or pine, and flatten one side so it sets upright. Drill three holes in the top side to hold red, green, and white (season), green, gold, and black (the Sun God), or white, red, and black (the Great Goddess). Continue to decorate with greenery, red and gold bows, rosebuds, cloves, and dust with flour.

Many customs created around Yule are identified with Christmas today.  If you decorate your home with a Yule tree, holly or candles, you are following some of these old traditions.   The Yule log, (usually made from a piece of wood saved from the previous year) is burned in the fire to symbolize the Newborn Sun/Son.

Deities of Yule:  All Newborn Gods, Sun Gods, Mother Goddesses, and Triple Goddesses. The best known would be the Dagda, and Brighid, the daughter of the Dagda. Brighid taught the smiths the arts of fire tending and the secrets of metal work. Brighid’s flame, like the flame of the new light, pierces the darkness of the spirit and mind, while the Dagda’s cauldron assures that Nature will always provide for all the children.

Symbolism of Yule:
Rebirth of the Sun, The longest night of the year, The Winter Solstice, Introspect, Planning for the Future.

Symbols of Yule:
Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, christmas cactus.

Herbs of Yule:
Bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense holly, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, sage, yellow cedar.

Foods of Yule:
Cookies and caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruits, nuts, pork dishes, turkey, eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb’s wool (ale, sugar, nutmeg, roasted apples).

Incense of Yule:
Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon.

Colors of Yule:
Red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow, orange.

Stones of Yule:
Rubies, bloodstones, garnets, emeralds, diamonds.

Activities of Yule:
Caroling, wassailing the trees, burning the Yule log, decorating the Yule tree, exchanging of presents, kissing under the mistletoe, honoring Kriss Kringle the Germanic Pagan God of Yule

Spellworkings of Yule:
Peace, harmony, love, and increased happiness.

Deities of Yule:
Goddesses-Brighid, Isis, Demeter, Gaea, Diana, The Great Mother. Gods-Apollo, Ra, Odin, Lugh, The Oak King, The Horned One, The Green Man, The Divine Child, Mabon.

Yule is coming just the basic’s

The date varies from December 20 to December 23 depending on the year in the Gregorian calendar.  Yule is also known as the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere due to the seasonal differences.

Yule, (pronounced EWE-elle) is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, the sun’s “rebirth” was celebrated with much joy. On this night, our ancestors celebrated the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth. From this day forward, the days would become longer.

Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were “wassailed” with toasts of spiced cider.  Children were escorted from house to house with gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges which were laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun.  The boughs were symbolic of immortality (evergreens were sacred to the Celts because they did not “die” thereby representing the eternal aspect of the Divine). The wheat stalks portrayed the harvest, and the flour was accomplishment of triumph, light, and life. Holly and ivy not only decorated the outside, but also the inside of homes, in hopes Nature Sprites would come and join the celebration. A sprig of Holly was kept near the door all year long as a constant invitation for good fortune to visit tthe residents. Mistletoe was also hung as decoration.  It represented the seed of the Divine, and at Midwinter, the Druids would travel deep into the forest to harvest it.

The ceremonial Yule log was the highlight of the Solstice festival. In accordance to tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the householder’s land, or given as a gift… it must never have been bought. Once dragged into the house and placed in the fireplace it was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze by a piece of last years log, (held onto for just this purpose). The log would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days after before being ceremonially put out. Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. It is the sacred world tree of the Teutons, known as Yggdrasil. An herb of the Sun, Ash brings light into the hearth at the Solstice.

A different type of Yule log, and perhaps one more suitable for modern practitioners would be the type that is used as a base to hold three candles. Find a smaller branch of oak or pine, and flatten one side so it sets upright. Drill three holes in the top side to hold red, green, and white (season), green, gold, and black (the Sun God), or white, red, and black (the Great Goddess). Continue to decorate with greenery, red and gold bows, rosebuds, cloves, and dust with flour.

Many customs created around Yule are identified with Christmas today.  If you decorate your home with a Yule tree, holly or candles, you are following some of these old traditions.   The Yule log, (usually made from a piece of wood saved from the previous year) is burned in the fire to symbolize the Newborn Sun/Son.

Deities of Yule:  All Newborn Gods, Sun Gods, Mother Goddesses, and Triple Goddesses. The best known would be the Dagda, and Brighid, the daughter of the Dagda. Brighid taught the smiths the arts of fire tending and the secrets of metal work. Brighid’s flame, like the flame of the new light, pierces the darkness of the spirit and mind, while the Dagda’s cauldron assures that Nature will always provide for all the children.

Symbolism of Yule:
Rebirth of the Sun, The longest night of the year, The Winter Solstice, Introspect, Planning for the Future.

Symbols of Yule:
Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, christmas cactus.

Herbs of Yule:
Bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense holly, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, sage, yellow cedar.

Foods of Yule:
Cookies and caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruits, nuts, pork dishes, turkey, eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb’s wool (ale, sugar, nutmeg, roasted apples).

Incense of Yule:
Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon.

Colors of Yule:
Red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow, orange.

Stones of Yule:
Rubies, bloodstones, garnets, emeralds, diamonds.

Activities of Yule:
Caroling, wassailing the trees, burning the Yule log, decorating the Yule tree, exchanging of presents, kissing under the mistletoe, honoring Kriss Kringle the Germanic Pagan God of Yule

Spellworkings of Yule:
Peace, harmony, love, and increased happiness.

Deities of Yule:
Goddesses-Brighid, Isis, Demeter, Gaea, Diana, The Great Mother. Gods-Apollo, Ra, Odin, Lugh, The Oak King, The Horned One, The Green Man, The Divine Child, Mabon.

Related articles

• The true reason for the season (sanchezjennifer926.wordpress.com)
• Yule Log 2.0: Animator Daniel Savage enlists 65 artists, illustrators and designs to reimagine the classic televised log fire (coolhunting.com)