12 Days of Yule; Day 10

Winter Solstice is just 3 days away! To celebrate the season, why not find a way to bring a little "Yule" into your life every day for the next 3 days?

At http://paganwiccan.about.com there is a list of 12 Days of Yule Devotionals and I think they are wonderful! I will share them here, along with my own thoughts on how you can journal on the Daily Devotions. I will also share some other Winter Holidays, traditions, and Lore to consider, which you can also choose to journal or blog about if you wish!

December 19, 2012 - Day 10

Day 10; A Celtic Yule Blessing

The Celtic people knew the importance of the solstice. Although the Yule season marks the middle of winter, colder times were still to come. It was important to put aside staple foods for the coming months, because it would be many months before anything fresh grew again. Consider, as you think on this devotional, what your family has put aside -- both material goods and things on the spiritual plane.

 
The food is put away for the winter,
the crops are set aside to feed us,
the cattle are come down from their fields,
and the sheep are in from the pasture.
The land is cold, the sea is stormy, the sky is gray.
The nights are dark, but we have our family,
kin and clan around the hearth,
staying warm in the midst of darkness,
our spirit and love a flame
a beacon burning brightly
in the night.

By Patti Wigington; http://paganwiccan.about.com

 

As always, thanks for stopping by, and Happy Journaling! If you choose to post your journal on your blog, please include a link to this post, and leave a comment below with the link to your journal. If you choose to keep your journal private, that is fine too, but your comments are appreciated!

12 Days of Yule; Day 9

Winter Solstice is just 4 days away! To celebrate the season, why not find a way to bring a little "Yule" into your life every day for the next 4 days?

At http://paganwiccan.about.com there is a list of 12 Days of Yule Devotionals and I think they are wonderful! I will share them here, along with my own thoughts on how you can journal on the Daily Devotions. I will also share some other Winter Holidays, traditions, and Lore to consider, which you can also choose to journal or blog about if you wish!

December 18, 2012 - Day 9

Day 9; Prayer To The Old Gods

The Holly King is gone, and the Oak King reigns -
Yule is the time of the old winter gods!
Hail to Baldur! To Saturn! To Odin!
Hail to Ameratsu! To Demeter!
Hail to Ra! To Horus!
Hail to Frigga, Minerva Sulis and Cailleach Bheur!
It is their season, and high in the heavens,
may they grant us their blessings this winter day.

By Patti Wigington; http://paganwiccan.about.com

My Journaling / Blogging suggestion;

What "Old Gods" and archetypes do you relate to most for the season of Yule?  Which Winter Myth attracts you the most, speaks to you the most?  If you're not sure about the different stories, do som research and find a new story that speaks to you!  Share your thoughts! 

As always, thanks for stopping by, and Happy Journaling! If you choose to post your journal on your blog, please include a link to this post, and leave a comment below with the link to your journal. If you choose to keep your journal private, that is fine too, but your comments are appreciated!

12 Days of Yule; Day 8

Winter Solstice is just 5 days away! To celebrate the season, why not find a way to bring a little "Yule" into your life every day for the next 5 days?

At http://paganwiccan.about.com there is a list of 12 Days of Yule Devotionals and I think they are wonderful! I will share them here, along with my own thoughts on how you can journal on the Daily Devotions. I will also share some other Winter Holidays, traditions, and Lore to consider, which you can also choose to journal or blog about if you wish!

December 17, 2012 - Day 8

Day 8; A Snow Prayer For Yule
Depending on where you live, you may be seeing snowfall long before Yule arrives. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty, both as it falls and once it covers the ground.


From the reaches of the north,
a place of cold blue beauty,
comes to us the first winter storm.
Wind whipping, flakes flying,
the snow has fallen upon the earth,
keeping us close,
keeping us together,
wrapped up as everything sleeps
beneath a blanket of white.

By Patti Wigington; http://paganwiccan.about.com

My Journaling / Blogging suggestion;

Write about your own experiences with snow.  Depending on where you live, it may be something you experience frequently, or something you have seldom experienced.  Write about some of your memories of snow storms, building snow men, being snowed in, a blizzard, a snowball fight... whatever memory you feel compelled to write about.  Share this memory with family or friends for some family "together time".  Just talking about the snow and sharing your memories will create a warm feeling in your home!

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Also,  December 17th is the traditional start of the Roman festival, Saturnalia, which would generally last for several days.  Learn some more about Saturnalia here, and why not find ways to be festive and start your celebrating off early!  We know the Ancient Romans didn't need much of an excuse to celebrate and party, but Saturnalia topped the charts even by their standards! Wear brightly colored clothes, dance, sing, switch roles with others in your life and celebrate every little thing!

As always, thanks for stopping by, and Happy Journaling! If you choose to post your journal on your blog, please include a link to this post, and leave a comment below with the link to your journal. If you choose to keep your journal private, that is fine too, but your comments are appreciated!

12 Days of Yule; Day 7

Winter Solstice is just 6 days away! To celebrate the season, why not find a way to bring a little "Yule" into your life every day for the next 6 days?

At http://paganwiccan.about.com there is a list of 12 Days of Yule Devotionals and I think they are wonderful! I will share them here, along with my own thoughts on how you can journal on the Daily Devotions. I will also share some other Winter Holidays, traditions, and Lore to consider, which you can also choose to journal or blog about if you wish!

December 16, 2012 - Day 7

Day 7 ; A Nordic Yule Blessing
Yule is a time to set aside animosity between yourself and people who would normally antagonize you. The Norsemen had a tradition that enemies who met under a bough of mistletoe were obligated to lay down their arms. Set aside your differences, and think about that as you ponder this devotional.

"Beneath the tree of light and life,
a blessing at this season of Jul!
To all that sit at my hearth,
today we are brothers, we are family,
and I drink to your health!
Today is a day to offer hospitality
to all that cross my threshold
in the name of the season."

By Patti Wigington; http://paganwiccan.about.com

My Journaling / Blogging suggestion;

Have you been harboring any grudges or unforgiveness?  The vibrational frequency of unforgiveness, grudges, and anger can manifest into physical health problems and sickness.  If there is someone you need to forgive, even if you no longer speak to this person, work on forgiving them.  Write them a letter of forgiveness.  Try not to let the letter become a guilt trip or a way of blaming them for your problems, or for explaining way your own actions.  Just tell them you forgive them and that you release any feeling of malice towards them.  Imagine handing them the letter under a bough of mistletoe as you recite the above blessing. 

As always, thanks for stopping by, and Happy Journaling! If you choose to post your journal on your blog, please include a link to this post, and leave a comment below with the link to your journal. If you choose to keep your journal private, that is fine too, but your comments are appreciated!

12 Days of Yule; Day 6

Winter Solstice is just 7 days away! To celebrate the season, why not find a way to bring a little "Yule" into your life every day for the next 7 days?

At http://paganwiccan.about.com there is a list of 12 Days of Yule Devotionals and I think they are wonderful! I will share them here, along with my own thoughts on how you can journal on the Daily Devotions. I will also share some other Winter Holidays, traditions, and Lore to consider, which you can also choose to journal or blog about if you wish!

December 15, 2012 - Day 6

Day 6 ; A Sunset Prayer

The longest night has come once more,
the sun has set, and darkness fallen.
The trees are bare, the earth asleep,
and the skies are cold and black.
Yet tonight we rejoice, in this longest night,
embracing the darkness that enfolds us.
We welcome the night and all that it holds,
as the light of the stars shines down.

By Patti Wigington; http://paganwiccan.about.com

My Journaling / Blogging suggestion;

This would be an excellent prayer for the night of the Winter Solstice, but you can say it at sunset now, as the longest night approaches.  Think about what the day has brought you.  In what ways does the night heal you?  We take time at night to rest and recover from our day.  Our body sleeps, our mind dreams, our spirit travels to astral realms and is also healed and rejuvenated.  The darkness and sleep represent a time of mystery... the darkness around us harbors the unknown and the imagination fills in the void.  The time of our sleep is still a mystery to us, though we understand the scientific aspects of sleeping and dreaming, we still can't quite explain our dreams, and the feelings we experience in our sleep.  As you go to bed tonight, observe the darkness.  Embrace it.  For the darkness and night are just as much a part of our lives as the daytime is. 

As always, thanks for stopping by, and Happy Journaling! If you choose to post your journal on your blog, please include a link to this post, and leave a comment below with the link to your journal. If you choose to keep your journal private, that is fine too, but your comments are appreciated!

12 Days of Yule, Day 5

Winter Solstice is just 8 days away! To celebrate the season, why not find a way to bring a little "Yule" into your life every day for the next 8 days?

At http://paganwiccan.about.com there is a list of 12 Days of Yule Devotionals and I think they are wonderful! I will share them here, along with my own thoughts on how you can journal on the Daily Devotions. I will also share some other Winter Holidays, traditions, and Lore to consider, which you can also choose to journal or blog about if you wish!

December 14, 2012 - Day 5

Day 5 ; A Prayer For The Beginning of Winter

In early winter, we can see the skies becoming overcast, and smell fresh snow in the air. Take a few minutes to think about the fact that even if the skies are cold and dark, it's only temporary.


"See the gray skies overhead, preparing the way
for the darkness soon to come.
See the gray skies overhead, preparing the way,
for the world to go cold and lifeless.
See the gray skies overhead, preparing the way
for the longest night of the year.
See the gray skies overhead, preparing the way
for the sun to one day return,
bringing with it light."

By Patti Wigington; http://paganwiccan.about.com

My Journaling / Blogging suggestion;

 Take time to think about how everything comes in cycles.  The winter months eventually give way to spring... things won't always be dark and gloomy.  What were some times in your life you remember seeming the darkest?  They didn't last forever.  Even if pain from those dark times still lingers, you have had moments of joy and light again.  Thank the Earth for these cycles for they help us grow and make us stronger.  I recently asked a group of friends, "If you could erase the memory of the darkest time in your life, would you?"  The answer was a resounding NO, because those memories, though painful, have shaped us into who we are today.  So even if the weather isn't pleasant, be thankful for it.  It makes us more appreciative of the sun when it does return. 

As always, thanks for stopping by, and Happy Journaling! If you choose to post your journal on your blog, please include a link to this post, and leave a comment below with the link to your journal. If you choose to keep your journal private, that is fine too, but your comments are appreciated!

12 Days of Yule; Day 4

Winter Solstice is just 9 days away! To celebrate the season, why not find a way to bring a little "Yule" into your life every day for the next 9 days?

At http://paganwiccan.about.com there is a list of 12 Days of Yule Devotionals and I think they are wonderful! I will share them here, along with my own thoughts on how you can journal on the Daily Devotions. I will also share some other Winter Holidays, traditions, and Lore to consider, which you can also choose to journal or blog about if you wish!

December 13, 2012 - Day 4

Day 4 ; Counting Your Blessings;

Yule should be a time of joy and happiness, but for many people it can be stressful. This is a season to take a moment and be thankful for the blessings you have, and to take a moment to remember those less fortunate.

"I am grateful for that which I have.
I am not sorrowful for that which I do not.
I have more than others, less than some,
but regardless, I am blessed with
what is mine."

By Patti Wigington; http://paganwiccan.about.com

My Journaling / Blogging suggestion;

Make another gratitude list!  List people, things, and events that you are thankful for!  Writing a Gratitude list is always a feel-good thing to do, it will lift your spirits and help banish stresses and worries to just spend a few minutes thinking about all you have to be grateful for!  Try to spend a full 5 minutes adding things to your list!  Keep writing even if the things you write seem trivial... just keep the gratitude flowing for as long as you can!

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Today, Dec. 13, 2012 - is also the New Moon!  This goes quite well with our gratitude journaling for the day... it is always good to start the New Moon energy flowing with some gratitude!  Yesterday we wrote about some of the dark times we have gone through and the negativity we want to release.  Today, focus on those positive aspects of what you have learned.  I always like to think of the New Moon as a fresh start.  I can wipe the slate clean, and start the new cycle however I want! 

My Journaling/ Blogging suggestion;

Write about your strengths, and how you have improved your life over the past year, and make a "wish list" of wishes and goals for the coming year.  What do you want to experience more of in the future?  Write it down, but fully claim it!  Don't just say "I want to experience more love.".... fully claim it and write "I fully welcome more love into my life now!"

Also, for a wonderful "New Moon in Sagittarius" Meditation and visualization, check this page out;

http://www.crystalwind.ca/astrology/new-moon-energy-series/2401-meditation-for-the-new-moon-in-sagittarius.html

 As always, thanks for stopping by, and Happy Journaling! If you choose to post your journal on your blog, please include a link to this post, and leave a comment below with the link to your journal. If you choose to keep your journal private, that is fine too, but your comments are appreciated!
 

12 Days of Yule - Day 3

Winter Solstice is just 10 days away! To celebrate the season, why not find a way to bring a little "Yule" into your life every day for the next 10 days?

At http://paganwiccan.about.com there is a list of 12 Days of Yule Devotionals and I think they are wonderful! I will share them here, along with my own thoughts on how you can journal on the Daily Devotions. I will also share some other Winter Holidays, traditions, and Lore to consider, which you can also choose to journal or blog about if you wish!

December 12, Day 3

Day 3; Prayer to The Winter Goddess;
Despite the fact that some people hate cold weather, it does have its advantages. After all, a good cold day gives us an opportunity to cuddle up indoors with the people we love the most.

"O! Mighty Goddess, in silvery ice,
watching over us as we sleep,
a layer of shining white,
covering the earth each night,
frost on the world and in the soul,
we thank you for visiting us.
Because of you, we seek warmth
in the comfort of our homes and hearths."

By Patti Wigington, http://paganwiccan.about.com

My Journaling / Blogging suggestion;

What are your favorite winter traditions?  Many of them probably involve warmth and family time; Sitting around the fireplace, cuddling under blankets, drinking hot chocolate or hot apple cider, baking cookies and other treats.... etc.  Write about your favorite ways of getting warm or share a favorite winter recipe.  Spend some time with your family or close friends, sharing warmth of a fireplace (or a home nice and toasty from the heater or stove) and make some memories to write about!
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Tonite (Dec. 12, 2012) is also The Dark of the Moon.  The Dark of the Moon is the night before the New Moon, when there is no moon visible in the sky for most of the night.  As the nights are growing longer and the longest night of the year will be on Dec. 21 (Winter Solstice), this is really the darkest of the long nights ahead.  The Dark of The Moon is a good time to think about what you want to banish and release from your life.  Take stock of the hardest lessons you have learned over the past year, and on this darkest of winter nights, think about what these lessons have taught you.  Now is the time to embrace the growth and blessings of those hard times, yet release any pain, fear, bitterness or unforgiveness that may still linger.  Give the negativity over to the night... it doesn't serve you any more.

My Journaling / Blogging suggestion;

Write about something this past year that has been difficult.  Face the pain that may still linger.  Write some affirmations about your experience that help you embrace the positive growth that has come from the challenge (no matter how small it may seem, there IS something positive you have gained)  Now write down the negative feelings associated with this event, but write "I release" in front of each feeling.  Example; "I release bitterness, I release fear."

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As always, thanks for stopping by, and Happy Journaling! If you choose to post your journal on your blog, please include a link to this post, and leave a comment below with the link to your journal. If you choose to keep your journal private, that is fine too, but your comments are appreciated!

12 Days of Yule - Day 2

Winter Solstice is just 11 days away! To celebrate the season, why not find a way to bring a little "Yule" into your life every day for the next 11 days?

At http://paganwiccan.about.com there is a list of 12 Days of Yule Devotionals and I think they are wonderful! I will share them here, along with my own thoughts on how you can journal on the Daily Devotions. I will also share some other Winter Holidays, traditions, and Lore to consider, which you can also choose to journal or blog about if you wish!

Tuesday, Dec. 11, Day 2

Day 2; A Sunrise Prayer;

"The sun returns! The light returns!
The earth begins to warm once more!
The time of darkness has passed,
and a path of light begins the new day.
Welcome, welcome, the heat of the sun,
blessing us all with its rays."

By Patti Wigington, http://paganwiccan.about.com

My Journaling / Blogging Suggestion;

Get up early and say this prayer with the rising sun.  Or, at least say it when you get up, even if the sun has already been up for awhile.  Even though the "return of the sun" and the lengthening of days doesn't really begin until after the Winter Solstice, take time today to consider what the sun means to you.  Are you a morning person?  Does the sunlight affect your mood?  Do you find yourself more depressed or stressed out during the winter holiday season?  If so, consider whether part of this is because of the lack of sunlight due to longer nights and winter weather.  It's easy to blame it on the commercialized aspects of the Holiday season, the stress of gift-giving, sending cards, dealing with family, remembering those no longer with us.  Keep in mind that science has proven that a lack of sunlight DOES affect our health and mood.  Are there ways you can get more sunlight, even in the winter months?  Can you attempt to go outside a little more often?  Take a winter walk? Clean up the yard?  Or even just open the blinds or curtains a little longer during the day?  Write down ways you can try to get more sunlight, and your thoughts on sunlight as a source of health and well-being.

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As always, thanks for stopping by, and Happy Journaling! If you choose to post your journal on your blog, please include a link to this post, and leave a comment below with the link to your journal. If you choose to keep your journal private, that is fine too, but your comments are appreciated!

12 Days of Yule; Day 1

Winter Solstice is just 12 days away!  To celebrate the season, why not find a way to bring a little "Yule" into your life every day for the next 12 days? 

At http://paganwiccan.about.com there is a list of 12 Days of Yule Devotionals and I think they are wonderful!  I will share them here, along with my own thoughts on how you can journal on the Daily Devotions.  I will also share some other Winter Holidays, traditions, and Lore to consider, which you can also choose to journal or blog about if you wish!

Day 1 - Dec. 10 - Monday

Prayer to The Earth at Yule:
Just because the earth is cold doesn't mean there's nothing going on down there in the soil. Think about what lies dormant in your own life right now, and consider what may bloom a few months from now.

"Cold and dark, this time of year,
the earth lies dormant, awaiting the return
of the sun, and with it, life.
Far beneath the frozen surface,
a heartbeat waits,
until the moment is right,
to spring."

By Patti Wigington, http://paganwiccan.about.com/

My Journaling/Blogging suggestion;

Say the above prayer a few times through the day.  Let yourself feel the chill of the earth.  Instead of hiding in the warmth of indoors and sweaters, take a moment outside to feel the chill in the air.  Consider how the trees go dormant.... they aren't dead... they are simply conserving their energy for spring when they can burst forth with new life.  Ask yourself if there is anything in your life that you need to let "go dormant" for awhile.  Is there anything that just isn't working out right now?  It's okay to put some things on the backburner for awhile.  Maybe the timing just isn't right and that's why it's not working out.  You may be more succesful if you try again later.  You may have other things you need to focus on at this time.  Winter is a good time to simplify and minimalize your life.  Journal about what things you can "let rest" for now, and how you can simplify your life and put your energy only into the things that carry the highest priority for you.... just as the Earth lets her plants and animals sleep and hibernate through the harsh winter months!

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December 10th is also a day of an Ancient Roman Festival - The Festival of Lux Mundi, or "Light of the World", a time to honor the Roman Goddess Libertas.  Today is a good day to consider your freedoms. Express gratitude for the freedoms you have, and call upon Libertas to help free you from any restraints. Ask her to help you shine a light into all dark areas of your life. Light some extra candles and holiday lights around your home and ask for Libertas to bring freedom and justice into the world and your life. If you have a cat or cats, be sure to offer them some special treats and pampering tonight, as they are associated as friends of the Roman Goddess Libertas! Here is some info on the Roman Goddess Libertas;

One of the most popular of the Roman deities, Her name is the Latin word for freedom. She is an ancient goddess who probably goes back to the beginning of...

the Republic. The daughter of Jupiter and Juno, She was depicted as a Roman matron arrayed in white, holding in one hand a broken sceptre, and in the other a pike surmounted by a pileus, or cap. Both were symbols of emancipation; i.e., Roman slaves were released from bondage by a ritual which they were touched with a wand and given a stocking cap as a symbol of their freedom. At her feet lay a cat, an animal that is an enemy of all restraint.

In Roman mythology, Libertas is the goddess of freedom. She is the embodiment of liberty. Originally a goddess of personal freedom, she later became the goddess of the Roman commonwealth. She was particularly revered by slaves who had achieved their freedom. In works of art, Libertas is represented as a matron with the pilous -- a felt cap regarded as the emblem of liberty.

Libertas is immortalized in a statue that stands at the entrance of New York harbor as a beacon to welcome all newcomers. For decades, She had been an official symbol of the French Republic, and was presented to the USA as a gift from the people of France in the 1880s. Every night, She shines Her light of hope across New York Harbor.
From “An Inner Journey; The Moon, Mythology, and You” blog found at http://reclaimingthedarkgoddess.blogspot.com/

My Journaling / Blogging suggestion;

Make a list of the freedoms you have that you are thankful for.  Also list the things that bring "light" into your life - things that make you happy and joyful!  Express your gratitude and then light some extra candles or put up some extra holiday lights to represent all the little freedoms and joys that bring light into your life!  The nights are long and dark, but we can find light if we just look for it!

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As always, thanks for stopping by, and Happy Journaling! If you choose to post your journal on your blog, please include a link to this post, and leave a comment below with the link to your journal. If you choose to keep your journal private, that is fine too, but your comments are appreciated!