Checklist
And so, it was the day before Solstice and all through the house, not a creature was stirring. Except for the cat, he was crying to be let in before the ice rain hit. Time to check in, lovelies! Things that I have done for Yuletide thus far:
The obligatory staff Xmas party, which involved pizza and virtual golf.
I have watched the sunset every night for the last week or more (helps that I work outdoors in the evenings)
Attended a couple of holiday parties.
Drank beer and whiskey.
Made and drank mulled wine.
Went on a walk in the woods at night with my room mate.
Attended the Yule ritual for my ritual group/coven/hedge, which was awesome and cozy and full of wonderful stories.
Ate half a sugar cookie (I am cutting down on sugar, especially the refined kind)
Worked a little on the prayer shawl, I am out of wool.
Bought the ingredients for homemade Irish cream.
The ancestors got a cigarette at the start of the holidays.
Introducing new & replacement pieces to the casting collection.
Bought the ingredients for “fixings” or “trimmings” (gravy, stuffing, you know)
Bought or made gifts.
Found a really neat lantern… Continue reading
Easy Mulled Wine
One large bottle of dark red wine. A cup or two or three of cranberry-grape juice. A few oranges in slices or quarters. Plenty of organic honey. Ground cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Cover, low temperature for a few hours. No metal utensils.
Reconnaissance Mission
My roommate and I went for a little night time hike in the woods the other night. We are planning on holding vigil for Yuletide. We thought that a midnight picnic in our woods would be a nice addition to our vigil.
So, being good girl guides, we figured that a quick reconnaissance mission was in order. By the time Yule peaks at Soltice, the land will be covered with snow. Since we are still new to the area, we are still learning our way around the woods that are a short walk from our house. Better to get the lay of the land before the snow blankets everything. As it is now, there are small patches of snow and ice, but you can still see where you step.
So, once I got home from work we bundled up and packed a bag. First stop was the local pub for dinner, of course. It turns out that the local pub has a ugly sweater night for the holiday season and we happened upon it.
Once properly fortified, we walked down the road, down the hill, through the culvert and into the woods. Ottawa has tonnes of greenspace, including the wonderful… Continue reading
Defence Against the Dark Arts (When You are Locked Out of the Circle)
A young woman contacted me a while back asking for knowledge. Not some Craft secret or anything. What she wanted to know was why. WHY?
You see, she had spent the year or two (or more) being harassed by what we shall call a (demon) nasty asshole spirit. She hadn’t done anything in particular to attract such a beastie. She’s not sure when it found her, but she thinks it started with nightmares that kept her up at night and by the end of it, she was a mess. Depression, lack of sleep, couldn’t really eat. The joy of life being sucked out of her, strange obsessions and compulsions. The constant feeling of being watched.
It wasn’t a mental illness, it wasn’t a physical illness and she wasn’t playing games or looking for attention.
She searched high and low for help and found none. She lives in a large-ish city in the USA, a city with a thriving Pagan community. Yet, there was no help for her there. She went to bookshops and asked for help. She went to Meet & Greet Coffee Cauldron type events and found no help. She went to the local teaching coven… Continue reading
To Fly By Night
Hoofprints in the Wildwood
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