Rejoice in Yule any way YOU want to! Crossing Wiccan traditions with religion...

Happy Yule my fellow friends and Wiccan's! This is a wonderful time of year, as we all know, not to sound cliché, but the winter solstice seems to bring people much-needed joy and excitement more than any other time of the year. No matter what memories or experiences in or from our past, how/ where and when we celebrate this time of year, is OUR choice! Every new season brings upon an opportunity to create a new memory or tradition, despite any painful memories from the past. Staying in the present and enjoying each change of season brings productivity, insight, and sows seeds of future joy and magical manifestations! Especially this time of year, when the loving and generous spirit of others permeates the air and the energetic vibration. Ride on the energy of the season to be merry! As a Wiccan, there is also nothing wrong with celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any other way you wish to celebrate the solstice. It is important to state here that just because you may identify as a pagan or a Wiccan, doesn't mean that you can't believe in Jesus and have a Christian heart, or partake in for instance Jewish traditions. Celebrate the season however you wish, whatever brings you joy, and if it means crossing over traditions between paganism and another religion you relate to, no one will ultimately judge you in the spiritual realm, perhaps those around you might, but that is your business how you would like to enjoy the season. All joyous paths lead to God and the goddess, however you create your path to get to your God or Goddess is just fine! The Wiccan way is of non-judgment, creativity, and appreciating all aspects of spiritual and religious traditions. So do not feel guilty in creating your Yule/Solstice/Christmas/Jewish/Pagan/Kwanzaa celebrations!

However, just in case you would like the insiders scoop about what a traditional pagan or Wiccan may do at Yule, well, SURPRISE! Many of the current Christmas traditions were taken straight from the old time pagans, including the very popular Christmas tree! Here are some Yule meanings and traditions from a pagan stand point.

Yule represents, the rebirth of the sun, the longest night of the year, the winter Solstice, introspect, planning for the future. Yule logs (or any log found in nature) are decorated and adorned before burning, wreath making is popular, evergreens and holly are gathered for cleansing and decor,  mistletoe is hung in doorways, gold pillar candles are burned, baskets of clove studded fruit are shared, and poinsettias are a great final touch! Caroling, decorating the Yule tree, exchanging of presents, kissing under the mistletoe, honoring Kriss Kringle the Germanic Pagan God of Yule, are just some of many traditions! (Sounds very much like current Christmas yes?)

Herbs of Yule: Bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense holly, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, and sage. Incense of Yule: Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon.

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.

However you celebrate, it is all about LOVE and JOY! Blessings always, ~Lady Shadowe

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