The Pagan Heart Activities and Rituals

November-December 2005 Issue

Winter Solstice     Activities     Apples for Life branch gold paint green ribbon small apples with stalks Paint the branch gold and when dry, tie the apples to it so they hang freely. Secure the branch to a wall. These apples represent the various apple trees of mythology. Apples of life. Apples of immortality. Apples of knowledge. Apples of healing. During your solstice feast take turns bobbing for apples - hands behind your back try and capture and eat an apple with your teeth alone - and draw into yourself the power of the apple. ~ Callum M. Baked Ornaments 2 cups flour 1/2 cup salt 3/4 cup water Mix flour and salt and then gradually add water, stirring and mixing until a moist, firm dough is formed. Knead well and divide in two. Roll out the first piece to 1/8 inch and cut with cookie cutters. Use a straw to punch out holes 1/2 inch from the top. Repeat with the second piece. Bake on a foil lined tray at 250 degrees for 2 hours and cool overnight. Paint and seal with a coat of craft glue. You can use glitter and other sparkly decorations before sealing. Thread a string through and knot to hang. ~ Cherie. Beeswax Pomander Enough beeswax to create a golf ball-sized lump 1/8 cup of spice blend (nutmeg, cinnamon, clove powder, allspice, ginger, orris root) 1 tablespoon rose buds or petals and lavender florets Ribbon, large bead, and upholstery needle Warm the beeswax until it is liquid and then stir in the spice blend. Let it cool and harden, roll into a ball and then roll through the rose and lavender, pressing them into the surface. Thread the needle with the ribbon and push it through the ball, bringing about 1 inch of ribbon through as well. Use the bead to secure that end snug against the ball. Make the other end of the ribbon into a loop to hang it by. ~ Avril H. Bird Feeder Garland Popped popcorn, cranberries, string and a needle Thread the popcorn and cranberries on a string and then hang them outside for the birds. ~ Cherie. Bird Nests Think about decorating your tree and home with found objects. Leaves to represent the old year, seeds and berries to show the returning life. A lovely symbol of renewed life is the bird's nest. Take enough dried straw, grass, or raffia to mould a nest slightly larger than a ping pong ball. Decide if it will be a ball- or cup-shaped nest and hollow it accordingly. Drizzle wood glue over the nest to secure the grass and then leave it to dry. Mould small eggs from clay - pale blue and green always look lovely. You can use actual discarded nests - but bake them in the oven for about an hour on 250 degrees first. ~ Axiom. Calennig Firm apple 3 sticks - 4inches long each 3 sprigs of evergreen handful of slivered almonds bitter almond essence make slits all over the apple and poke the almonds in to create a hedgehog appearance. Insert the 3 sprigs of evergreen around the stalk, and the 3 sticks in the base to create 3 legs. Brush the essence over the apple. Traditionally this is carried around as a good luck charm while caroling. Place it on your windowsill and leave it there for as long as it lasts - it may shrivel a bit. For as long as it stays in the windowsill luck will grace the home. ~ Callum M. Chocolate Spoons A bit of kitchen witchery here - chocolate is almost magical in its ability to cheer women up. Consider choosing colors to suit your intent - warm red spoons for your honey and cheerful yellow for a close friend. To add extra power, stir a few drops of essence into the chocolate. Orange for winter health, peppermint for happy thoughts, or hazelnut for wisdom (sometimes a necessary component in dealing with all the relatives!) 1 packet semi-sweet chocolate chips Colored plastic spoons Cellophane and ribbon Melt the chocolate until smooth and runny. Let cool slightly and then dip one spoon into chocolate. Remove, let the chocolate set, and redip. Repeat until spoon is thickly coated in chocolate. Place 5 spoons on a piece of cellophane, gather the ends and tie with festive ribbon. Attach a tag with instructions: dip one spoon into coffee or hot chocolate or warmed milk and stir until chocolate is dissolved. Drink with pleasure. ~ Christine. Cinnamon Sugar Materials for each portion: 8 tsp. cinnamon 1 cup of sugar 1 clean jar big enough for the cup of sugar and cinnamon 1 inch piece of cinnamon bark 2 lengths of cream and 1 of brown thin ribbon label Pour 1/2 the sugar, then all the cinnamon, and then the remaining sugar into a jar jar and seal. Shake vigorously to mix and then let stand until the cinnamon settles. Decant into a clean jar and seal. Decorate the lid with the cinnamon bark hot glued in place. Tie the ribbon around the neck in a pretty bow. Write "Cinnamon Sugar" and any customized details such as cook's name and instructions and then hot glue to the jar. ~ Cherie. Clay Ornaments Air-dry white clay Tree shaped cookie cutters Paint Glitter Roll out the clay to a 1/4". Using the cookie cutters, cut out an even number of trees. Make a marble sized ball for each pair of trees. Fold each tree shape into a right angle. Brush some water along the fold and then push each pair together along the fold (it will look like an X from above). Wet the marble and press the tree onto it, squashing it down to create a stand for the tree. Let it dry - it it comes apart, use craft glue when it has dried to reassemble Paint and decorate with glitter while the paint is still wet ~ Axiom. Cookie Kit Favorite cookie recipe for rolled cookies (such as gingerbread or sugar cookies) A cookie cutter Sprinkles Index card Festive mug Ribbon Cellophane Write out your favorite recipe on the index card. Give it a special title (ie "Christine's Gingerbread Men) and decorate it with seasonal images such as holly leaves. Tuck it into the mug along with the cookie cutter and sprinkles. Sit the mug on top of the cellophane and draw up the edges. Use the ribbon to secure and make it pretty. ~ Christine. Crackers Empty toilet rolls Thin coloured holiday paper Coloured tissue paper Small trinkets - noise makers, bubble blowers, crayons, toys Confetti or shredded coloured tissue paper Party poppers Paper crown Small sheet of jokes and party tricks Gift-wrapping string Scissors, glue, tape Snapper (optional - this is a lentth of cardboard joined in the middle - when pulled it breaks with a loud snack similar to the party poppers that spew streamers when the string is pulled) Cut the holiday paper and tissue paper into sheets about 8x10 inches. Lay one piece of tissue on the plain side of one piece of holiday paper. Place a roll on the long edge, centred. Dot some glue along the edge of the paper (where the roll is) and then roll it tightly over the roll. Use more glue to seal. Insert the snapper so that a portion protrudes from either end of the roll. Gently twist one end of the excess paper closed around it, snug against the roll. Secure with some gift string. Use extra and curl it with the scissor's blade to make it look pretty. Drop party trinkets, party popper, joke, paper hat, and confetti inside the roll and then seal the open end the same way. You can fringe the excess papper if desired. NB: enough of the snapper should extend from the roll to either side that when two people grip it, they are able to secure the ends and tug the snapper when they pull at the cracker. Place a cracker across the plate of every party attendee! ~ Catherine M. Egg Futures Place a metal bowl of fresh water upon the table in a darkened room. Stand three large candles about it forming a triangle. Take a fresh egg (or room temperature one) and prick the pointed end with a large safety pin. Allow three drops of the white to fall into the bowl and then water the patterns they form. Within those patterns you will find symbols and stories of your future. ~ Katya. Gifts This time of year it can often seem like it's all about the getting. And that in itself adds the pressure of giving enough. Why not start a new ritual within your family? Pick something that is easily obtainable, has spiritual meaning although often little financial value and challenge the family to find one for every member. If your family is large, you may want to allocate one gift to each person from the whole family and allocate a name to each member. Ideas may include crystals, seashells, feathers, candles, poems, or bells. The challenge is to find the right one for the right person - rose quartz is not necessarily the right stone for everyone after all. ~ Iphegenia. Glittery Candles Candles Extra wax in same colour Glitter Paintbrush Push-on gems Ribbons Melt the extra wax. Working quickly, paint a small section of the candle with the wax and sprinkle with glitter. Repeat until the candle is covered with glitter. Then cover the glitter with a thin, see-through layer of wax to seal. You can further decorate by dabbing wax on the candle to hold gems in place - the gems with small stems that can be pushed into the candle work best. Wrap a ribbon about the base to finish. ~ Cherie. Herbal Bath Powder 4 sachets of powdered milk 1 large bottle unscented baby powder 4 tablespoosn herbs such as rosemary, lavender, rose buds, and dried citrus peel 2 containers (Ziploc bags and simple muslin drawstring pouches work well, or clean jars decorated with ribbon and silk flowers) Put the milk and powder in a ziploc bag and shake thoroughly. Divide up into 2 containers and add half the herbs to each container. Stir and seal. Decorate jars with flowers and ribbons (use hot glue to attach). Place ziploc bags inside muslin bags and decorate with silk flowers and ribbons. Attach a label to either style container - Herbal Bath Powder, use 1/3 of a cup in a warm bath. ~ Cherie. Leaf Collecting In the Southern Hemisphere the summer is in full swing and autumn is just around the corner. Trees are in full-leaf, making this an ideal time for leaf collecting and identification. Although this site is geared towards North America, it has some useful suggestions and hints: Leaf Collecting for Children. ~ Axiom. Native American Winter Solstice Prayer Sticks Winter Solstice rites observed by many Native American tribes include the making of prayer sticks. Prayer sticks are made by everyone in a family for four days before the solstice. On the day of the solstice, the head of the household digs small holes, one for each prayer stick. Each "prayer" is then planted least one by each person in the family. Every prayer stick is named for an ancestor or deity. Traditional prayer sticks are usually made out of cedar and are forked Equivalent to the measurement from the maker's elbow to the tips of their fingers Are taken from a tree that the maker feels connected to Tobacco is offered to the largest tree of the same species in the area and permission is asked to take a part of its relative The bark can be stripped The bark can be carved on the stick One feather should be added to the prayer stick - traditionally this is a wild turkey feather A bit of tobacco is placed in a red cloth and tied onto one of the forks Fur or bone from an animal that the maker wishes to honor is tied onto the stick Metal or stones should NOT be tied to the stick. It is also customary to say prayers silently as one makes the prayer stick. Gather all your carefully selected items for your prayer sticks. Have your children select their own trinkets if you are doing this as a family activity. Lay everything before you on the table (Don't forget leather or sinew or other type of cord to attach your objects to your prayer stick) and have some fun! ~ Heather P. Pomanders Citrus Fruit - thin skinned is easiest Spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, clove powder, allspice, ginger, orris root) - optional Cloves Length of ribbon Upholstery needle and thimble Permanent marker Small muslin or gauze bag, decorated with lace, beads, ribbons - optional Wrap the ribbon once around the fruit and mark both side of it. Remove the ribbon and then repeat to create four equal quarters. The goal is to fill in the four quarters and leave the ribbon paths empty. Use the needle to puncture the skin in close even rows of dots. Use the thimble to protect your finger as it will other wise get sore! Then carefully push clove heads into the holes. Complete small sections at a time. You can alternate between clove heads and the sticks that have lost their heads, using them to fill in the very small "holes" in the overall clove pattern. Spice Coating Method One: Once the fruit is covered in cloves, place a 2 cups spices (your choice as to which ones) in a ziploc bag, add the fruit and gently roll it about to fully cover. Remove and gently dust with a cosmetic brush to remove excess spice powder, and then rest in a warm dry place on a sheet of newspaper. Turn periodically. After a week or two it is ready to hang. Spice Coating Method Two (my preferred method): Half fill a deep bowl with the spice blend. Gently roll the fruit in this, covering it as much as possible. Leave it in the spices, turning once a day, for 4-6 weeks. Remove and gently dust with a cosmetic brush to remove excess spice powder. It is now ready to hang. Wrap the ribbon around the fruit following one path. Cross and know once and then wrap about following the second path. Knot securely and form a loop with the excess ribbon. You can either then place the fruit within the muslin bag and secure the opening about this knot, or continue without the bag. I like the bag when I intend to hang the pomander within a clothes cupboard as it protects the clothing. Use extra ribbon to create some loops and bows about the knot. You can hang charms, beads, bells, crystals, or any trinkets you like, or leave it plain. It is now ready to be given as a New Year's gift. Traditionally pomanders were worn and placed about the home to combat the odours of stale winter air. When made from small fruits they can be hung on trees. ~ Catherine M. Potpourri 3 cups juniper sprigs and berries 2 cups rosebuds and petals 1 cup bay leaves 1/4 cup cinnamon bark pieces 2 tablespoons whole cloves 1/4 cup dried citrus peel 1/2 tablespoon fresh grated nutmeg 1 tablespoon frankincense 10 drops rose oil 3 drops pine oil 6 drops cinnamon oil 1 tablespoon dried orris root Place the juniper, rose, bay, cinnamon pieces, cloves, peel, nutmeg, and frankincense in a ziploc bag and shake thoroughly. Blend the oils together and stir in the orris root. Tip the herbs into a sealable container and then stir in the oils and orris root. Seal and store in a dark, cool place, stirring every few days. After 3 weeks, tip into a bowl, or into sachets. ~ Callum M. Potpourri Sachet Potpourri Ribbon and decorative beads and silk flowers Squares or circles of lace (about dinner plate-sized) Place a handful of potpourri in the center of the lace. Draw up the edges around the potpourri and secure with a ribbon. Make bows, attach flowers and beads and make it pretty. Fluff out the excess material over the ribbon. You can attach a tag with the recipe for the potpourri if you desire. ~ Callum M. Rebirth a package of mung beans Wash the mung beans and soak for 12 hours. Then rinse and lay on a paper towel on a dinner plate. Wet the towel thoroughly and place the plate in a cupboard. Each day gently rinse the beans and replace the towel - they will sprout within a few days. If you do this before the solstice, it makes a wonderful addition to your meal. Mung bean sprouts can be eaten raw, in a sald, a soup, or a stir fry. ~ Callum Mostyn. Snapdragon - a game from the 1800s bowl of brandy raisins small ice tongs Place the raisins in a shallow bowl and cover with brandy. Set it alight and take turns to pluck out a flaming raisin and eat it - the flames die as soon as you close your mouth! Try not to get burnt. Those who succeed at this game are children of the dragon, blessed by the fire. While the game is being played, the group should be chanting the following: Here he comes with flaming bowl, Don't he mean to take his toll, Snip! Snap! Dragon! Take care you don't take too much, Be not greedy in your clutch, Snip! Snap! Dragon! With his blue and lapping tongue Many of you will be stung, Snip! Snap! Dragon! For he snaps at all that comes Snatching at his feast of plums, Snip! Snap! Dragon! ~ Callum M. Snowflakes Why not make some snowflakes to hang at home? Use the template, or design your own, and decorate them - you can even use coloured or foil paper! ~ Catherine M.    Snowflake Template Soap Suns 1 bar of Ivory soap 1/4 cup water 2 drops of yellow food coloring 4 drops of essential oil Sun-shaped or circular cookie cutters Grater Finely grate the soap into a bowl and add the water, coloring, and oil. Mix thoroughly and then spoon the mixture into the cookie cutters, packing the soap firmly. Lightly score the shapes with wavy lines to look like suns. Leave to dry for 48 hours ~ Axiom. Solstice Book Find your favorite myths of the solstice and rewrite them as simple children's tales. Get your kids to help you decorate the pages and then slip them into plastic sleeves and into a binder to create a selection of Winter Solstice stories. ~ Christine. Solstice Candle Gold/yellow and white candle wax Cardboard milk cartons Wick (wax coated) Ice (cubes) Gold glitter (1 tablespoon - 1/4 cup per candle) Gently melt the candle wax. While you wait, cut the carton to the height you want. Secure the wick to the base with a small piece of tape and fill with the ice cubes. Stir the glitter through the melted wax. Keep the wick upright as you pour the wax into the carton. Let the wax set, and then remove the candle from the carton (over the sink). ~ Catherine M. Solstice Sun and Flowers Coloured paper, including yellow Empty toilet rolls Glue, scissors, pencil Paper plate Trace hands onto the paper and cut out. Cover the plate with yellow hands, and ensure the edge is covered by fingers that protrude. Wrap the toilet rolls in green paper, stick two green hands to the middle so they stick out like leaves. Make a circle of coloured hands and stick this to the top of the roll. Fasten the sun to a wall and the flowers below it. ~ Catherine M. Spiced Coffee Most of my activities during the winter revolve around gift-giving and home-made pampering. I feel that the whole purpose of this time of the year is to focus upon what and who we are grateful for, to spend time on those things and people, and to celebrate with them. Making packages of spiced coffee or mocha is fun. It carries with it the scents of home and cozy chats over a cup with a friend. Take the time to think about those you are making this for and personalize the tags with small quotes. 2/3 cup instant coffee 1 1/3 cup sugar 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp allspice ziploc bag coffee cup tag and ribbon Put all ingredients in the bag and shake to mix. Place in the cup (with 5 chocolate spoons maybe). Write instructions on the tag and attach to the handle with the ribbon. Instructions: Add 1 heaped teaspoon to boiling water. Add milk and sugar to taste. Stir with chocolate spoon to create a rich mocha taste. ~ Christine. Spiced Mocha 2 cups nonfat dry milk powder 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup cocoa powder, unsweetened 1/3 cup instant coffee 1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg ziploc bag coffee cup tag and ribbon Sift the coffee (or press through a sieve) to break up the granules. Put all ingredients in the bag and shake to mix. Place in the cup (with 5 chocolate spoons maybe). Write instructions on the tag and attach to the handle with the ribbon. Instructions: Add 1/4 cup Spiced Mocha to 3/4 cup boiling water. Add warmed milk or whipped cream to taste. Stir with chocolate spoon to create a rich mocha taste. ~ Christine. Sun Stands Still Aluminum pie plate or roasting pan String Template of the sun Thumbtack Large nail Scissors Trace around the sun onto the aluminum and then cut it out. Place the metal sun on a protected work surface and punch out a hole at the top for hanging it by. Use the nail to "dot"-emboss the metal with patterns. Hang the sun from the center of the room to overlook your ritual. ~ Christine. Sunflower Pens 1 plain ball point pen 1 silk sunflower green floral tape Narrow gold ribbon hot glue gun wire snippers Snip the flower stem to about 1 inch in length. Hot glue the base of the flower and the stalk to the end of the pen so the flower appears to be sprouting from the pen. When dry, use the floral tape to firmly wrap the pen and stalk together, and then down to the nib and back up about an inch. Use the glue to attach the gold ribbon to the pen. You can simply wind it or crisscross it if you prefer. ~ Iphegenia. Tin Luminaries Tin cans - smooth sides work best Nails - a few different sizes Small Hammer A pattern and tape A towel If you intend to hang the luminary, make two holes at the top, on opposite sides of the can, and thread some wire through - make it long enough so that if you hang the lantern from a tree the heat from the candle won't harm the branch. NB: Unlike the paper bag luminaries, you don't need kitty litter or sand to prevent fire and keep the bag weighted against the wind. However, securing the candle in the luminary is always a good practice, especially if hanging it. If using tea-light, take some folded alfoil and mould a small cup. Use heat-resistant glue to secure to the base of the luminary. If using larger, free standing candles, work a screw through the base of the tin. Push/screw the candle in place before lighting. Caution: The hole punching creates sharp edges inside the luminary - be careful inserting your hand to place the candles. ~ Bill W. Toddler Ornaments Colored felt Decorative bits - eyes, pom poms, beads glue, cookie cutters, thread, scissors, pen Trace the cookie cutters to get shapes and cut them out. Let the child glue on the decorative bits and then use the thread to attach to the tree. ~ Cherie. Walnut Charms Walnuts in the shell Small charms or tokens Gold paint Thin ribbons Glue Carefully open the walnut shells and clean out the meat (which is a tasty treat while you're working) and any other detritus. Keep each pair of shell halves together. Discard any walnut shells that didn't halve. Place one charm inside the shell and glue it back together. When dry, paint the shells gold. When the paint is dry, wrap the ribbon around the join mark (use a dot of glue to secure it if necessary) and create a loop to hang it by. Traditionally the children of the house get to open one shell each of the Twelve Days between Yule or Solstice and Twelfth Night. ~ Avril H. Window Frost In memory of Jack Frost - the Anglicised version of Jokul Frosti (son of the Nordic wind god, Kari) use frosted window paint to create "frost ferns" on the windows. Leave a small offering to him on the window sill so he will pass by rather than lingering to chill the home. ~ Avril H. Winter Shoots The day that winter begins (traditionally when the bears begin hibernation) find a tree that you can strike a cutting from and leave a small offering of cooked grain. You must mourn the "death" of the branch once it is cut. Wrap a black ribbon around it and carry it home. Once there place it in a jar of fresh water and stand this in a warm place by a window. It will grow shoots over the winter period, making a lovely living feature to any altar or festival table. At the solstice feast celebrate the "birth" of the new tree and its connection to the gods. In spring you can plant it, participating in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. ~ Katya. Winter Solstice Ritual Potpourri 20 drops musk oil 25 drops pine oil 1 cup oak moss 2 cups dried mistletoe 1 cup dried poinsettia flowers 1 cup dried bayberries 1/2 cup dried rosemary 1/2 cup dried holly leaves and berries 3 crushed pinecones Mix the musk and pine oils into the oak moss, and then add the remaining ingredients. Stir well and store in an airtight container for 2 weeks before using Excerpted from the cookbook "The Wicca Spellbook: A Witch's Collection of Wiccan Spells, Potions and Recipes", by Gerina Dunwich, page 164, A Citadel Press Book, Carol Publishing Group, 1994/1995. All rights reserved ~ Anne S. Wrapping Paper and Matching Tags waxed cooking paper dried herbs and flowers confetti glitter paper cutouts in winter themes iron craft scissors glue Card stock Cut out two sheets of paper to the same length. Lay one down on a towel on the floor and get your child to sprinkle it with the decorative bits. Lay the second sheet over the top and use a hot iron to lightly iron it. The paper will melt and seal together. Use the craft scissors to cut out wrapping sized sheets and smaller tag-sized pieces. Cut out tags from the card stock (slightly smaller than the waxed paper tags). Glue the card stock tag onto the waxed tag. ~ Iphegenia. Wreaths There are many plants you can include in a wreath - it is about what you wish to bring to your home. A wreath of ivy and birch hung within the living space will encourage protection, harmony, communication, and family bonding. It does not have to be big, but it should be made with the help of all members of the household. Twigs of birch and strands of ivy Green ribbon As a family, collect the branches. Then strip the small leaf twigs from all but one branch of the birch. Bend this one into a circle and use the ribbon to secure the ends. Work your way around the circle wrapping the ribbon around the branch. Insert the smaller twigs under the ribbon as you go. Have one person bind and the others prepare and hand over the twigs. Talk about your hopes for the coming year as a family. When all the birch is tied work backwards, cross-winding the ribbon, and secure the ivy strands in and around the birch. Hang the wreath with a prayer to your household gods to keep the home and family safe. ~ Katya. Yule Incense 2 parts Frankincense 2 parts Pine needles or resin 1 part Cedar 1 part Juniper berries Mix all ingredients together and burn for any Yuletide festival or ritual. Also beneficial to burn in the home during winter. Excerpted from the cookbook "The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews", by Scott Cunningham, page 100, Llewellyn Publications, 1992. All rights reserved ~ Josh P. Yule Tree for the Birds Cardboard formed into a cone 1 foot tall Cardboard circle the same diameter as the base of the cone with a small hole in the center Newspaper Sticky Tape Thread & needle 2-foot-long cord Popped corn Cranberries Optional: Grass seedheads Birdseed Bacon Fat (rendered) Thread the cord through the top of the cone and make a loop secured with a knot. Let the rest hang down through the cone. Stuff the cone with crumpled newspaper, ensuring the cord hangs through to the base. Poke it through the hole in the circle and tape the circle across the base of the cone. Knot the loose end of the cord securely against the base of the cone. Secure it in place with tape. Thread the popcorn and cranberries onto the thread and attach to the top of the cone with a few stitches. Start winding around the cone, trying not to leave any gaps. Every few revolutions, stitch to the cardboard to hold in place. If the thread runs out, stitch it to the cardboard, start a new thread and continue where the old one ended. Once the cone is completely covered you can hang it in a tree or from a nail against a wall - make sure it's in a place that's safe from cats. Optional - decorate the "tree" with the seed heads by loosely threading them behind some of the corn and cranberries. Dab bacon fat in any gaps and use it as glue to stick bird seed on. ~ Josh P. Yule Wreath Wreaths are a traditional part of Yule - the circle symbolises the cycle of life and death, the evergreens bring health and prosperity while banishing evil, and the family activity of making the wreath is a healing and bonding ritual. Write wishes and messages and prayers on small slips of paper and roll them up tightly - tie this into the wreath with red or green thread. Secure a couple of bells to scare away evil. After Twelfth Night when the decorations are taken down, put the wreath away safely until the summer solstice - burn it in the bonfire then. ~ Avril H.         Rituals     Bells Ringing On High I have always loved the sound of bells in winter - the crisp peals over the snow always remind me of my childhood when I heard them announcing Kaledos. (Link Kaledos to: current article) Bells banish evil and welcome the gods. Find sweet sounding bells you can tie to your tree. Wind a strand about a stick and use it to shake away the winter blues. Have a mellow sounding hand bell you can ring before and during the rituals. Give participants in your celebration bells so they too can share in the fun and bless the home. ~ Katya. Birch Log My people burn birch to banish evil and bring good luck. Often, in homes that cannot have a log fire, this is in the form of a birch wreath which has been woven and hung in the home over the weeks leading up to Saulegriza. Why not make include birch in your ritual this year? Dedicate it to Saule, and burn it in her sacred fire with the following invocation: "Hail to thee, Holy Saule, all the world's delight. I offer this sacrifice. May your fire cleanse this home and bring peace and joy to all within." ~ Katya. Hertha's Hearth Hertha is the goddess of domesticity and the home and one of the gods that helps us through the winter. Either dedicate your fireplace to her, or set up a small stone altar with a candle in her name. Burning fir branches and pinecones are sacred to her and will invoke her presence. She will inspire the keepers of the Saga Lore and they can divine the ashes for the family. ~ Avril H. Mirrored Fortune Find a hand mirror and stand it up in a darkened room. Place a lit candle to in front of it and then a second mirror at an angle that reflects the light into the first. Sit and gaze at the reflected light. Look beyond it for the next reflection and then the next - find the seventh one and beyond that lies the future. This divination requires patience but can bring great revelation. ~ Katya. Mistletoe Mistletoe has ties to both the Celtic Druids and the Nordic Gothis. A sacred plant that symbolizes both life and death, it is commonly though of today as the "kissing bush". Hung from doorways it tempts us to walk beneath and receive a kiss. But it is more than a way to get bussed. The kiss itself symbolizes the transition from life to death and death to life. Think of Snow White awoken from death by a kiss. How many of us farewell loved ones with a last kiss? Marriage is begun with a kiss. Hanging mistletoe (or holly if none is available) in the doorway (itself a symbol of transition) reminds us of the transitions between life and death, which is after all what the solstice is all about. ~ Bill W. Pomegranates Throw a pomegranate on the threshold or front steps to spread the seeds of good luck for an abundant year. This can be rather messy, so you might want to wrap it in alfoil and after it is broken take out some of the seeds and scatter them by hand. ~ Iphegenia. Solstice Activity The solstice is a time for reflection and togetherness, but this should not be done only in the home. We are a part of this world and should be in it. Take your family, some warm drinks, and go for a walk through a local park or forest. Take the time to observe nature. ~ Iphegenia. Solstice Silence The word "solstice" comes from old Latin. It means to "stop" or "stand still". This, to me, is a crucial element of the winter and summer solstices. It is a time to pause in our busy lives. To not only take stock and think, but to actually stop. Stop hurrying, stop doing, stop talking, stop thinking. Simply "be still". Each solstice eve I set aside at least an hour to sit in a peaceful place and let the night fill me. I reconnect with the earth and I replenish myself by letting everything drain away. ~ Bill W. Traditional Luck Tokens As a child one of my strongest memories of Christmas was the tangerine Santa would leave in my stocking. This comes from her homeland - Italy - where orange citrus fruits represent good luck, health, and prosperity in the coming year. But oranges are more than just an Italian tradition - for centuries they have been a part of the December festivities in all the countries touched by ancient Rome. Considering the vitamin C I can understand the health aspect! Oranges came to represent wealth especially during the Middle Ages and Renaissance - they were often an imported item within Europe making them costly. In England Elizabeth I's courtiers would vie to obtain oranges for their Queen. Considering her eye for the expensive gift, her delight on receiving an orange shows its value. And oranges then were not as they are today - much smaller and tarter. Why not include one in your stocking? ~ Bill W. Wassailing the Apple Tree ~ Avril H.

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