12 days of Mithra-mas day 12

January 6th, Epiphany-Twelfth Night

Ceremony upon Candlemass Eve

down with the rosemay, & so 

down the baies & mistletoe

down with the holly, ivie, all

wherewith ye drest the Christmas hall

That so the superstitious find

no one least branch there left behind

for look how many leaves there lie

neglecther there(maids trust to me)

so many goblins you shall see.

It's the end of the Yule and Mithra mas season, it’s now even the end of the 12 days of Christmas, and Imbolc is fast approaching. In the Rastafarian tradition today is seen as the actual birth of Christ, to many Orthodox Christians, it's today and to some Christians this is the day he is baptized. 

Epiphany means "an appearance or manifestation especially of a deity; a sudden or intuitive insight into the reality or essential meaning of something" taken from dictionary-reference.com Or as Oprah loves to call them the "a-ha moments".

These moments can come fast, or can take decades to manifest, epiphanies share an insight for many of us into the deeper meaning of who we are and why we are here on this blue planet. Take the time to write them down, so that you can look them over and allow them to help shape the life you wish to lead.

For me today is the day to start or really complete the taking down of the decorations (unfortunately Holda is not cooperating all the snow which had started to melt, just got freshly snowed on so there is no way to take down the outside decorations), for as the poem suggests, leaving them up gives the little trouble makers a home in which to hide.

To help with the sugar rush needed to take these decorations down and burn them in the fire and all those lights (Gods why were they so easy to go up, but are now tangled??) You can make a 12th night cake.

12th night cake:
Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups currants, raisins, sultanans (optional)
• 3 tbsp brandy & honey
• 1/4 cup candied cherries
• pinch cinnamon
• 1 dried bean

Directions

• Grease pan set aside
• cream butter and sugar together 
• then stir in well beaten egg and brandy
• sift in flour with cinnamon then stir in fruit
• add the bean 
• pour into tin & bake for three hours @ 150c or 300f
• allow to cool for 30mins before taking out
• melt the honey and glaze the top of the cake and decorate with cherries

Farewell to Yule

When all twelve days are done, it's time to dismantle the decorations and the solstice shrines. As you put things away give thanks for the Solstice and the many gifts that it brought, the new traditions formed & the old ones remembered.

here is a French carol to bid Yule Adieu

Noel is leaving us

sad to say

but he will come again

adieu Noel

His wife and his children

weep as they go

on a grey horse

they ride through the snow

the kings ride away

in the snow and the rain

but after 12 months

we shall see them again

pg 211 in Winter Solstice

Happy 12th night everyone.

here is a little goodbye to the solstice gift for the ladies Enjoy

Time to get those decorations down and prep for the next esbat and sabbat. Ahhh the fun of being pagan, there is always another party around the corner.

information from Winter Solstice by John Matthews, image courtesy of bing.com/images/sexysanta

Be blessed

12 days of Mithra-mas day 11

Jan 5th Eve of Epiphany, Festival of the Three Kings

The numbers of Kings have recently become disputed as there is no number listed within the text of how many were truly were; there is the belief that there were as many as nine. 
As a Child of Wonder, as many of the Gods born at this time are considered, Christ was given gifts to show his sovereignty.  There are many who now believe that the men in the book are more than just kings but members of a secret sect who have knowledge of the world far greater than what many had at the time. 

Honor the Magi:
The Magi, no matter their number or faith, set out on a journey to seek the truth. Many of us seek the truth daily from our faith, and from our lives. In many ways we too are Magi, and we should honor them by remembering the trek they made across time, and countries to seek out the truth. Even though many of us forget these sage words and like the magi seek across many countries to find the truth,

"And you who seek to know Me, know that the seeking and yearning will avail you not, unless you know the Mystery: for if that which you seek, you find not within yourself, you will never find it without"

You can create a shrine with the figures of the three kings and place a candle beside each, to acknowledge the quest for knowledge and the thirst for the truth that allowed them to leave behind what they were familiar with to seek out what would become something new for them. 

Giving the Gift:
The tradition of giving gifts is as old as time, there are many different traditions and rituals around gift giving and receiving. Modern day we say "it's the thought that counts" and this is true. 

There a very few times in which a person can show their care than when they took the time to get you a gift that you may have hinted at or they have seen you looking at. Susan at Pieces of Fate talked about how upset she was that she took the time to get a gift her husband had hinted at but he had not done  the same for her, and how it made her feel.   

Giving a great gift shows that you listen to the person, if you give a vegetarian an meat grinder O_o it's not only mean it shows lack of respect for the person and unwillingness to really acknowledge the person's place in your life. You don't have to spend a lot of money on the 'perfect' gift but a gift that acknowledges that you listen to someone and heard them on a soul level?? Goes along way into showing great care. 


So take the time to plan any gifts you plan to give next year, or for birthday's and anniversaries, show that you listen when you give your partner/friend(fill in the blank here) who loves incense some ingredients or a book about making incense, instead of idk something they aren't even remotely into. Make it ceremonial by taking the time to consider them and they happiness it will bring, or the joy it will share among you. And enjoy the glow that comes when you get it right!!

Listening to our Needs:
What are your real needs? things you absolutely need, those things that can't be purchased, but are necessary for healthy happy life?? Time with nature? time with your partner?
Lets make a list of our real wants & needs, things you may not talk about but that your really really want and need. 
Look at the list and think:

•  of how many of them that you can give yourself, things that may simply take a change in perception or what you may really already have in your life but you want a better version of it. 
• What would it take to get there? How much work? 
• What else is needed to get to that 'perfect' sense of fulfillment?? 
• Now ask yourself what is really stopping you?

The next time you give a gift, give from within, make it yourself, really try to honor the person receiving the gift and even say a little blessing:

Take and welcome joy within you

Showers, flowers, powers

Hatfulls, capfulls, lapfulls

treasures, measures, pleasures

all be yours to enjoy

Caitlin Matthews, a Celtic Devotional

History Channel: Links about Christmas and the History of it, as well as several documentaries about the story and the Three Kings.
The Winter Solstice by John Matthews


Give from the Heart my loves
Be Blessed

12 days of Mithra-mas day 10

distaff image found here:

January 4th: Distaff Day

“ Partly Work, partly play

Ye must on St. Distaff’s Day……

…..If the maids a spinning go,

burn the flax and fire the tow…..”

A quote from Robert Herrick

Among the pre-industrial era, this day is known as the ‘distaff, or rock day” as distaff pertains to weaving. This was the time women went back to doing all the regular work of maintaining the home during the winter.
Especially during the 14th century when all spinning was done with distaff and spindle, in English to say “distaff side” was to denote heritage as it counted from the woman’s side of the family.  In Scandinavia the stars in Orion’s belt was called “ Friggjar rockr, "Frigg’s distaff".

Weaver, Weaver weave her thread,
Whole and strong into your web
Healer, Healer, heal her pain,
In love may she return again"
"Weaver, Weaver"---Starhawk (found here)

The distaff is a very powerful woman’s symbol, along with any of the tools of weaving, including: the loom,the spindle, and the scissors . There are many Goddesses from all the pantheons with whom the power of life and death rests who were weavers. Even many who were Goddesses of War. 

There is within the Greek legends the story of Arachne and Athena who is both the Goddess of War & Weaving. And the Goddess' revenge of changing the woman who dared to attempt to best her into the 'creepy' spiders we know today. You can hear the reclaiming song here:

Of course within the Greek legends there are also the Fates who wove the web of a person's life and would choose to cut it at the appropriate time. 


Within the Egyptian legends the oldest of the mother Goddesses is Nt (Neith) who was a Goddess of weaving and war, and protectress of the Lower Kingdom, when the two kingdoms were united she became known as the Goddess the others went to seek wisdom from. to show how important she is the root word for 'being' and weaving' is the same 'nnt' according to E.A.Wallis "the Gods of the Egyptians"


The Valkyries are of course another example of the life and death aspect of the weavers, as they had heads for weights, arrows for shuttles and human entrails as their thread (gruesome stuff). The other Germanic goddess Frau Holle (the Goddess from Mother's Night) was also associated with weaving.


There are more tales of Goddess who are associated with weaving here. You can even search within each pantheon to find them.


How to Honor the Weavers:

• You can sing the song with the lyrics found on the website.  
• You can if you know how to spin, why not spin a bit of thread while meditating on how you are connecting to the Goddesses( i wouldn't challenge any though we've seen how that turned out with Athena..Lol, come on I had to do one)
• If you can craft with yarn or thread, create a piece that you can dedicate to the goddess of your choice. There are patterns found here.
• Simply meditate on how your life's paths have created your own tapestry, what must it look like, are there many colors? many different types of threads? are there snags? is there a way to improve the tapestry? adding more threads that include others? How ever you meditate on it OWN it, this is your tapestry and it's completely unique.

During the 14th century on this day, to prevent the event of spinning all the thread that was necessary for the whole families (if not the villages) clothing, from becoming a boring job; it became somewhat of a game. With men & young boys attempting to set the freshly spun thread on fire and the women would retaliate by throwing buckets of water, not just on the fire torches but on the men as well.

“ Bring in pails of water, then

let the maids bewash the men

give St. Distaff all the night

ten bis christmas sport goodnight

and next morrow everyone

to his own vocation”
----Robert Herrick

How to Celebrate:
Today was also a day to divine the future: in the older days, and still in some parts of Finland, they do lead pouring. 

• Which was the meting down of lead 9the pieces used for smoldering things, can be used) it was then melted, 
• and then poured into a bucket of water, after the steam cleared, the shape of the lead would be read to determine the outcome for the following months.
•  if the shape couldn't be read, once it cooled it would be held up in front of a candle and the shapes created by the shadows would be read.

Don’t have random bits of smoldering lead laying about? Then candle wax will do the same, you can always remelt into a candle at the end.(great way to recycle those odd bits of candles you have left over).


However you enjoy today, have a Blessed Distaff day
Be Blessed

12 days of Mithra-mas day 9

January 3rd, Evergreen Day


There are many instances within human history where trees have been revered. From the ancient Oak groves of the Celts, to the standing trees which were sacred to Demeter, to the belief in the “Tree of Knowledge” from christian fable, to the “Tree of Life” of Kabalistic traditions, and even the "Tree of the World" where Thor hung to receive the runes, worship and reverence have always surrounded the trees.


Why it’s called an evergreen a Cherokee fable:
When the Great Mystery created the planet, he sought to give a gift to one lucky tree, but didn’t know which tree deserved the gift. So he held a contest, to see which tree would stay awake for seven days and seven nights. One by one each tree fell asleep until the seventh night, where only the pine, the cedar, the spruce, the fir, the holly, and the laurel were still awake. So to them the great mystery gave the gift for life during winter. and thus created the evergreens.


Honoring the Evergreens
when trimming the tree, decorate it with intent, remember that the tree is revered for many reasons, including being the home of the green man.
Invoke and thank the tree for being the home’s protector the purveyor of goodwill and good fortune for those that are in the home, and as the messenger of the New Year.

• gather around the tree to sing songs.
• Make your home a sanctuary of greenery, either purchased or found, thank the spirits within for their presence.
•  Honor the greenery
•  When the season is over, thanks the tree for it’s presence in your home, find a way to either recycle it or get it chipped into mulch for your spring garden.
•  For the holly and mistletoe, and laurels 9fi real) you can save these for the Imbolc fire and burn them, with reverence, letting go of the old year and bringing good will and prosperity into the new year.

Some information for Honoring the Tree derived from John Matthews Winter Solstice

Blessed Be

12 days of Mithra-mas day 8

Snow Day January: 2nd


Just as the name states, today we honor snow. modern day Christmas or Midwinter celebrations would not be complete without it (unless of course you live in the tropics or Africa).  Despite it being a pain to shovel, snow brings so many different adventures with it. As children we enjoy, skiing, tubing, and just plain old snow ball fights. There is the magic of creating a snow man and looking to see if that hat has magic in it like frosty’s hat.

In college I remember a leaving work late one night with two co-workers, and making a dare to go tubing in on the town's hilliest parks. because we left work we had none of the things needed we created our own. We went to the local Walgreen's and split the cost of buying a box of large trash bags, we also bought huge sweatshirts and extra sweatpants. We parked across the park, grabbed our bags and went "sledding", we were having so much fun, some of the neighborhood kids came out with their sleds and tubes, and we all had a pretty good party. When the comes came rolling by, we all dropped into the snow and lay there until they left 9as the park was closed at sundown, and it was well after midnight. I remember the full moon shining down and illuminating the park and the hills, the feel of the wind as we rushed down the slopes and the laughter the impromptu party caused. 

One of my fondest memories of christmas was just before we moved to America, we had our last tropical christmas as a new family, our flight was delayed due to a snowstorm and we ended up spending christmas in Jamaica. But because most of the big things had been shipped already (including my mother’s antique Victorian christmas tree) we created our own tree including snow. We cut down big mango leaves and created our tree, my mother let us place some of her precious heirloom decorations on it, and we made some decorations as well, we had a blast creating the snow with cotton balls stretched and fluffed to look like puffy strands, with tossed on glitter to give the shimmer of icicles. Out of all the trees, the expensive trees with their Tiffany decorations, and antiques, the one I remember to this day is that tree we created with our own snow.


Celebrate:
If it has snowed already in your area, collect some in a bowl, place it on your altar, as it sits there, thing of any fond memories you have of snow, and when they happened. Your first snowman, or first snow angel. Bring up these memories and imagine them going into the snow, once there allow the snow to melt, you can either use the snow-water to cleanse your home and bring good memories like the ones you added to it, or you can save it to use during a ritual as holy water.


Go outside (if you live with snow) have some fun, take you animals for a walk, run thru the snow, fall back create a snow angel. Imagine the dancing swirling snow flurries are the winter fairies, and allow yourself to enjoy this feeling of the Goddess and her glory.


No snow in your area?? You can still create snow for yourself with some paper or if you can crochet with a nice crochet pattern.
You can also read the legends of the different Goddesses associated with snow, and use the created snow or fresh snow as a way to honor them and acknowledge them.


Let the joy of childhood fun in the snow run thru you and enjoy the feeling of winter, pretty soon the snow will melt and Spring will be here.


How ever you choose to celebrate
Enjoy today's mission of snowbound fun
Be blessed

12 days of Mithras-mas day 7: Wassail Drink Hail

Jan 1st, New Year's Day; The Kalends of January


I’m a big fan of the susatainable movement and homesteading. So over the winter one of the blogs I have been (obsessiveness) following mentioned the Victorian Farm, and I of course went looking for it on youtube and fell head over heels in love. 

I found this amazing Wassial idea and history from the recent show Edwardian Farm from BBC, I love watching Victorian Farm especially the Christmas special, but the shows are great at showing how we lived before and how our farming and domestic life evolved to a semblance of what we have today. I love reading the recipes that Ruth (the resident domestic historian) makes and shares.

Here is a Wassail Recipe

• Heat a large container of beer or ale about 3 or 4 pints
• 1/2 cup(4oz, 100g) sugar
• 1/4 cup(2oz/50g) of mixed spice (cinnamon sticks, & whole cloves are best)
• cut up 2 or 3 small sweet apples & add those
• add 1 1/2 cup (1/2 pint, 300ml) of pineapple juice & orange juice
• squeeze 2 lemons into the brew
• place over a slow flame, before it begins to boil,take off the heat & whip up with some cream, allow to float on top of brew.
• place into a large bowl. the more ornate the better

Wassail Ceremony

Go out to your trees, (especially apple trees, or fruit trees which is traditional) with a few friends.  Wet the roots liberally with the brew, pass the rest around and when everyone has a glass, sing the wassailing songs.And saw "Huzzah" as you drink.

recipe from Winter Solstice by John Matthews.

here's too thee, old apple tree

whence thou may'st bud &

whence thou may'st blow

and whence thou may'st

bear apples enow

Hats full, Caps full, bushel

bushel sacks full

and my pockets full too!

Huzzah!!

As Yule went by they showed a new show and someone very nicely put it on Youtube and I have linked it here on doing Wassailing, and it's history. Peter and Alex noticed that their apple trees weren't producing as they should so they requested help in Wassailing the tree.  I also discovered a new blog with an awesome wassial recipe as well (i also got the image from her, which i also found on bing)

Enjoy the clip, let me know what you think about it. if you want to watch the series and aren't in Europe check on Youtube under Edwardian Farm there are clips as well as full episodes loaded.


Wassail Drink Hail
Be Blessed 

12 days of Mithra-mas day 6

New Year’s Eve, Hogmanay

The term hogmanay is from Scotland, and has to do with the the new year. It is believed to derive from the word "hoguinane' " from Northern France which meant "lead to the mistletoe".  


The most known custom of hogmanay is called “first-footing” where a dark haired neighbor or friend entered your home after midnight to welcome in the new year. They generally brought a few gifts as well including: salt, coal, shortbread, whisky, and black bun(very heavy fruit cake) all intended to bring different kinds of luck to the householder. The food and drinks were given to the guests, this may go on thought the early hours of the morning and well into the next day, with plenty of people stopping by.  The first footing helped to set the luck for the rest of the year.

The custom is pretty specific on who had to set foot through the door first. A tall dark haired man brought luck, a red haired person brought bad luck. The belief for the reason for tall dark men; was during the times when hogmanay came to be Scotland was under siege and the dislike for the red haired warriors coming to their homes, especially meant bad luck, and this belief has been carried on, although most probably don't know where the tradition comes from. 

For many parts of Scotland the celebration is a fire festival; much like the local customs of fireball swinging in north-east Scotland. There is also of course the song Auld Lang Syne which was re-interpreted by Rober Burns & later set to music.

This was the night that everything that needed to be cleaned was cleaned, tidied & washed up.In the book "The Silver Bough" by F. Marian McNiell, describes the customs of clearing as many of the person's debts, & clearing up as many of their issues as possible. 

"the house received a mini-spring cleaning,

 slops & ashes, which are usually removed

 in the morning are carried out.

Debts must be paid, borrowed articles returned, 

stockings darned, tears mended..."

After sunset on hogmanay, people went out looking for juniper branches, and buckets of fresh water from a stream or a well.  the branches were placed near the fire to dry out, the head of the household would wake up at first light, drink some of the water, and then went around and sprinkled everyone with a few drops. 
After that was done, the windows & doors were closed, and the juniper branch was set on fire & carried throughout the house until everything was well fumigated. this was done as a way to make sure the hogmanay gifts were well celebrated.  

How to Celebrate

• light juniper incense and carry through the house
• with a few minutes to midnight, turn off all the lights in the home, except for one candle, give this to a dark haired friend who then goes out the back door and makes his way to the front (keeping the candle lit the whole time).
• At midnight have him knock, allow him to enter by greeting him with

Welcome to the light of the New Year

& Welcome he/she who brings it here"

• Go around the house with the candle & relight all the lights you put out. If can be candles so much the better.  In parts of Scandinavia the god Yule is welcomed in much the same way, with a chair & table set up just inside the door of the house with gifts & food for Yule, the godlike representation of the Solstice. 

You can serve eggnog to your guests, here is a recipe from food network that i love to use:

• 3 cups milk
• 1 large strip orange zest
• 2 large strips lemon zest
• 1 vanilla bean, split and vanilla seeds scraped loose
• 4 large egg yolks
• 1/2 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons
• 2 egg whites
• 2/3 cup white rum
• 2 to 3 tablespoons bourbon, optional
• Freshly grated nutmeg
• Finely grated orange and/or lemon zest

Directions

• Put 2 cups of the milk, both citrus zests, and the vanilla bean and tar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks and the 1/2 cup sugar in a medium bowl until lightened in color.
• Gradually pour the hot milk into the eggs while whisking constantly. Return the egg mixture to the pan and set over medium heat. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon in a figure 8 motion until the custard thickens slightly and coats the back of the spoon, about 2 to 3 minutes. 
• Remove from heat and immediately stir in the remaining cup milk to stop the cooking. Transfer custard to a large bowl; cool to room temperature. (To speed this up, set bowl in another bowl of ice.)
• Put about 1 inch of water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Put the egg whites and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a heatproof bowl large enough to rest in the saucepan without touching the water. 
• Set the bowl over the simmering water and beat until the sugar dissolves and the egg whites feel warm to the touch, about 1 minute. 
•  Remove from the heat and beat the whites with an electric mixer until they hold a soft peak, about 3 minutes. 
• Fold the egg whites into custard mixture. Add the rum and bourbon, cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Transfer eggnog to a punch bowl or pitcher. Pour into small cups and garnish with freshly grated nutmeg and citrus zest. 

Drink. & enjoy. 

Bright blessings & Happy Hogmanay

12 days of Mithra-mas day 5:

December 30th Bringing in the Boar

Then the grim boar's head

frowned on high

crested with bay & rosemary

Sir Walter Scott Marion

This has to be one of my favorite days of the Yule countdown. When I was younger my mother was big into making an amazing Boar head from pineapples, with cheese, cherries, & some of course ham. More on that later.
During Middle ages, where some of our traditions of Yule stem from, the hunting of the wild boar, was an event not to be missed. The boar plays a prominent part in many of the Yule traditions due to the wild boars territory; the boar (which is the ancestor of domesticated pigs) roamed most of Europe, some parts of the middle East & into parts of Africa. 

The Celts highly valued the boar in myths, as it was sacred to the Goddess Arduinna.  One of the more popular stories include the tale of Finn McCool (Finn mac Cumhaill) who lures his rival to his death of being gored by a boar. Within the Arthurian legend the great magician Merlin is said to have given one of his greatest compositions & addressed it to a pig.

In the Scandinavian tradition there are two great boars; one which Freyja rides called Hildesvini which means battle swine when she wasn't riding her chariot.  She even used the guise of a boar to hide one of her protege.  The second boar belongs to Freyr named Gullinbursti which meant Golden mane. This was due tot he fact that the boar was created for Freyr by a dwarf, the boar's mane or bristles would glow in the dark allowing his owner to see.

There is of course the two boars listed with the Greek mythology as well. One which Hercules had to kill as one of his 12 Labors and the other boar, called the Calydonian Boar which was hunted by many of the greats from Greek myths including the huntress Atalanta.  here also we find the shape of the boar being used to kill someone, as Ares the god of war takes this shape to kill his son, in a jealous rage.

The boar is much revered as a Christmas meal because it was one of the few animals that didn't hibernate over the winter which meant there was still meat to be had during the harsh months.  There are many tales of the roasting of boar meat for instance in the Welsh story of  Gofannon's Feast, there is the boar that is consumed but never finished and would replenish as long as the bones weren't eaten. There are even still traditions in Queen's College Oxford where the boar's head is ceremonially paraded around to the accompanied by the singing of a carol.  
There is of course that awesome first line from this carol:(which I remember attempting to sing but never getting the right words)

there was a pig, went out to dig

Christmas day, christmas day

There was a pig went out to dig

on Christmas day on christmas day

Honoring the Boar

One of the ways to honor the boar would be to have either an image or a symbol of the boar on your altar.

You can also leave out an apple or an orange at your back door for the great pig to feast on.

Making a Boar's Head

This is great for those that don't eat meat as well as those that do, simply modify the recipe, by changing the snacks you place on the sticks.

• Cut in half a pineapple, remove the inner core then place back together.
• My mother cuts criss-cross pattern (creates a grid pattern) then placed toothpicks filled with cheese, ham, olives, or cherries all over.
• Cut off the top of the pineapple & create a snout with orange and cherries for eyes, for the tail you can use licorice, or use a twizzler which has been frozen into the curly shape.

You can then bring in the platter with much fanfare, of singing & dancing.

Information from Winter Solstice by John Matthews, and Wikipedia.com boar image courtesy of bing.com/images.

Celebrate with fanfare the bringing in of the boar

Be Blessed

12 days of Mithra-mas day 4

December 29th Feast of Fools

Feast of fools--

Feast of buffoons--

Feast of ass--

Feast of fools---

Feast of the sub-deacons

Feast of the Fool’s Bishop

Feast of the lower clergy

-- From: La Pete De L’Ane

In the ancient Roman tradition of Saturnalia, it was customary to choose a mock King who ruled over chaos instead of order. When the early church attempted to get a greater grasp on the ancients they banned the traditions of anything 'pagan', but many people simply adopted a more 'christian' like version called the Feast of Fools.

It became a modern adaption of the saturnalia custom which allowed for the crowning of King of Fools whose job was to act as foolish as possible. The custom of switching roles also took place during the feast, as kings served their servants and lords and ladies gave up their position for this one day of acting up. This day allowed many to relax from the strict rigors and rules applied to their roles while allowing those on the lower class to also relax and taste what it meant to be from the ruling class.

The king of fools was chosen by hiding a coin or symbol within a cake or meal, when everyone had their piece the person with the coin became the King of Fools. his job entailed insulting the guests, chasing women, wearing silly clothing and entertaining the members of the hall, much like the jester.  Generally flaunting the rules and roles of society.

The real origins of the feast of fools perhaps pertains to the tradition of Kingly sacrifice. Where a year king was chosen and allowed to rule, at the end of his year he was killed to ensure the return of the sun, the earth's fertility and the good fortune of the tribe. In Scotland, they would bake bannock cakes, and purposely burn one, then place all the cakes within a bag, the person to draw the burned cake became the king. 

How to Celebrate

Why not host your own feast of fools party? 

• Invite your guest to come in their most unusual outfits as possible. 
• Reverse the menu, eat dessert first, then dinner then appetizers
• How about having the ladies act the role of men, and men the role of ladies? Holding doors, men seared first, anything you can think of.
• food fight anyone??
• everyone could wear makeup that doesn't match, as well as paint their nails garish colors (men and women)
• relax, and enjoy the party.

Tired of parties this season? How about making this into a mediation? Sit back and think about what you consider foolish, what acts and things would make you feel silly.  Think on what prevents you from letting go and having fun. Does the idea of being perceived as foolish bother you? Why?

Consider that the fool in the tarot story is the only one who simply opened the door, while the others argued about how to open the door or argued on the merits of the door being opened. It is in the middle age stories it is the ultimate "fool" who finds the Holy Grail, Perceval, whose innocence and belief took him where others feared to travel, yet he received the greatest reward.

Why not meditate also on what the fool in the tarot deck means, of the many interpretations these seem to be universal:

• beginning
• spontaneity
• apparent folly
• Faith

If nothing else, indulge in a few games, and acting silly today even if it just means making faces in the mirror.


Information from Wikipedia "Feast of Fools", Tarot information from LearnTarot.com, mediation idea derived from Winter Solstice by John Matthews

Be Blessed and Silly

Book Review

As a follower of the Celtic tradition it is often times a trial to find good information and well researched books, as this is one of the most written about traditions in which many people have confused both the fairy-tales & their fantasy as a ‘true’ source of info. 


Each day we learn more about the Celts: about how they truly worshiped, what & who they were.


One of the best researched books, well written books about Yule I have found has to be Winter Solstice by John & Caitlyn Matthews. This writing duo does an amazing job researching and truly seeking to use historical accuracy (at the time of their writing for as we all know archaeology is a field that is very fluid as new information arises each day to change what we once believed to be true).  


It is my personal belief that as writers or purveyors of information that we should strive to share the accurate information, because if I change the meaning of a word here, and you change it when you have received it when it finally reaches twenty other people it's not the same and the true information or the true translation of something will be lost. This probably has to do with the fact that my mom is a professor and I heard a lot growing up that one must reference your information, and be accurate, not just make it up off the top of your head; particularity in the context of history.  There is room for interpretation, but one must strive to share what is considered to be the "truth" about events and people.


It's one of the reasons I either love books or hate them, there is almost no in between for me, because you have a responsibility (especially now  a days when people don't do their own research but simple take what they have been told to be true) to give the proper information.  As evidenced by the fact that I don't stop talking about them; they do a wonderful job. Not only do they share their research information if you wish to read it (some of which I did) they as well as give where you can learn more about something that might have intrigued you.  


This book gives a more in depth look at the traditions of christmas and where they stem from, while sharing traditions that can be added into your own celebrations which can help reconnect us to the season. Especially as many people are saying they no longer feel the magic of the season; this book would help to set your mind in a place of greater connection instead of focusing on the outer trapping so much it would help to make the season something to do consciously and with joy.


I love this book and truly believe it should belong on everyone's shelves. If you would love it too make sure to pick up a copy for yourself and maybe your family,


Bright Blessings

12 days of Mithra-mas day 3

December 28th Holy Innocent’s Day, Children-mass,

This is a day associated or dedicated to children.  For the christians today is the day to remember the children slaughtered on the orders of King Herod to preen the christ child from becoming king in his place.  During the middle ages this day was considered unlucky, with the belief that nothing started on this day would prosper. In Northamshire England it is known as Dyzymas Day, “ Nothing began on Dyzymas day will ever be finished”

There is also the tradition of beating children on this day, the belief being that if the children are mad to suffer today they will have no suffering the rest of the year, as well as to drive any ‘evil’ spirits out of the children.  These beating rarely involved real cruelty, the underlying theme seemed to be equality.  The beating implements are freshly gather evergreen and rosemary, a chant usually said when doing the beating is :

“ fresh green, long life

give me a coin”

More on the history of today is contained here on this video

How to honor the children:

We should reflect on the nature of children, think about your own childhood, and that of any offspring. consider the things you best love about children, and about the things you best loved about your childhood. Consider the good moments and the bad, think on how you have been influenced by both, consider how you have changed to keep the bad from your own children, or the children in your life.

Celebrate Childhood

• make a list of the five qualities which best describe your childhood, and if you have children ask them what things are most important to them right now. Compare the two lists and be prepared for some surprises
• Now compare your list to before children and after children
• Most importantly praise your children on this day and honor the qualities of youth that never truly leave us—they are still buried somewhere inside even if you are a sage or a crone.
• Today would be a good day to really reflect on your childhood and consider how it has impacted you as an adult, are there fears your still holding on to? beliefs that have never left, toys and treats you still remember and won’t let go of?
• Consider donating to charity for children today or even dropping of some cloths to a local women’s shelter that takes in children as well, or even make ti a day to go and visit the children’s ward with some games and make a child’s day.

I hope these ideas inspire you and allow you to love the child within as well as those in your life. As always the information contained here was from the Winter Solstice by John Matthews.
Blessed Be

12 days of Mithra-mas: day 2:

December 27th, Mother’s Night, St. John’s Day


In the earlier days of the twelve days, they have been regarded as a supernatural time. A time when the dead are close at hand, there are many different stories across the celtic lands about the Yule Host, the Wild Hunt, the Fairy Host, being led by King Arthur, Woden, and Arawn the king ot the Celtic underworld.  

courtesy of google.com/images

The oldest figure is from Germany known as Frau Holle (Holda, Hulda) a better name for her would be Mother Christmas.  In Germany, she is known as Frau Gode, and if she passes a house with a open door she sends in one of her dogs, if her gift is treated wrongly bad luck will follow.  In more recent times she has become connected to Mother Carey, an american folk figure.  


Honoring the Mothers
On this day include an image of Mother Christmas on your winter shrine. 
here is a modern invocation from Diana Paxson

Holy Holla, in the heavens

A snowy featherbed you're shaking

Bless the earth with your white blanket

Moist the mantle you are making

Holla high above come riding

Your wagon rolls through winter weather

turn away your face of terror

Bless us as we bide together

Holy Holla, here we gather

send us skill in all our spinning.

Hulderfolk (gnomes)  to help in housework

Wealth and health with your aid winning

A Winter Shrine to Holda

• Cut a handful of white yarn, fold in 1/2 and tie them with a contrasting color to create a ring.  
• Into the hollow you can make a face and insert it there. or place a glass/crystal bead 
• give your figure arms if you want, by wrapping the same yarn around a twig and sticking it through the belt.
• As you place her on your shrine feel how she relates to the other figures you may have there. feel how she oversees the household of the Earth, giving all creatures what they need-food, and nurture, but also death's sweet mercy when pain and suffering become too much. Be aware that she revives all the souls that leave the earth at this time during the Solstice. And remember that she also blessed the household and helps to keep it running smoothly over the holiday season.

Information from Winter Solstice by John Matthews, 12 days of Christmas
Blessed be