Winter Solstice 2012
What a year as Cauldron of the Gray Witch has celebrated its annerversary in Sept.
Wow, with now over 500 members and so many active. I love reading the posts of others, as one learns so much. I may not comment on every single person, or posts,but do read, and know whats going on.
For the most part LOL. A community is nothing without the members.What you put in you also get out.
A successful community,requires the right Admins to,and although we have bummed heads,I know they give me a bigger picture, and are always truthful with me.They each of a great heart for our community and truly care.
Well we have tried to develop two covens, it is not the time I now get that. It is a challenge to do a online coven, and do it well. Tey are now studies, and one day who knows.
I have been HPS of online covens before it is work, work,work. Not easy, but can be rewarding indeed.One truly needs the right people,as coven life is not for everyone, even in an eclectic one.
I have taken a brief break from theme making for others right now, and doing readings as well..
The Winter is a time to quiet the soul, come in, work on ones inner life.Take time enjoy the moments, and even the weather as it comes.
My hopes for our Circle in the Cauldron is others will step forward to do , head classes, even chat classes,
There are so many wo would do well, and everyone has things to share, and we can learn more always.
Me
I am working more on my inner life, balance, health, healing.
As I sit tonight reflecting, and writing, I feel at rest, and I am blessed indeed
I am blessed as I have many who belive in our community and even as able financial support as well.
I am so so grateful.
I am blessed I have not just one, but many who are true friends indeed, and yes some will just smack tell me like it is. It is fine, I love them, and they love me.
I am not rich, yet I am in many ways.
Take time this season to count your blessings, and share.
Blessings also come from blessings sent
Gray Witch
The Fae
To enter the magickal realm,
you must circle around the secret tree, nine times, at midnight,
when the moon is full !
Bring an offering of the heart
Shiny, or sweet,
from your heart will to please
Along with Christmas came a whole plethora of activities, including the Twelve Days of Christmas. During the Middle Ages, people were free to make merry and feast throughout these twelve days, with the Twelfth Night marking the end of the Christmas season and the coming of the Epiphany (which concluded on the 2nd of February with Candlemas, known to some as Imbolc). It was customary to choose a “Lord of Misrule” from amongst the peasantry to preside over the “Feast of Fools” and lead the revels. Some sources believe the practice of ritual sacrifice was part of the very ancient “Lord of Misrule” tradition, with the “Lord” giving up his life in exchange for the preceding days of glory “in the character of the good god [Saturn] who gave his life for the world.”
While no one practices the more dramatic aspects of the Lord of Misrule today, many other Twelve Day traditions survive. Modern day performances mock authority and a woman plays the principal male lead while a man plays the leading older female character, or “Dame,” thus setting things “topsy-turvy” in the tradition of the Lord of Misrule. Most of us are familiar with “Twelfth Night” through William Shakespeare’s play of the same name, which often makes an appearance during the Yuletide season. In some places, special pastries, such as the tortell and king cake, are made on Twelfth Night and eaten the next day for the Feast of the Epiphany celebrations. In England and France, it is customary to bake a Twelfth Night cake containing a bean and a pea. The people whose slices contain the veggies are then designated king and queen of the night’s festivities.
Between sunset on Twelfth Night and Epiphany morning on Twelfth Day was and remains the traditional time to take down the Christmas tree and decorations. It was unlucky to leave Christmas decorations hanging after Twelfth Night, a belief originally attached to the festival of Candlemas. But why? And how are the fae involved?
First, let’s back up to pre-Christian times, when pagan homes were dressed with mistletoe, ivy, holly, bay, rosemary, and various types of fir trees during Yuletide. As I shared in last month’s column, The Faeries of Winter, fae elementals came into the home along with the holiday evergreen trees and greenery in order to share in the warmth and the season’s festivities. These adornments (and their inhabitants) remained in the home until Candlemas. Queen Victoria (1837-1901) gets the credit for changing this custom to Twelfth Night.
Ever on their toes, Candlemas had been created by the Christian church as an alternative to Roman paganism because “the Gentiles dedicated the month of February to the infernal gods, and as at the beginning of it Pluto stole Proserpine, and her mother Ceres sought her in the night with lighted candles, so they, at the beginning of the month, walked about the city with lighted candles. Because the holy fathers could not extirpate the custom, they ordained that Christians should carry about candles in honor of the Blessed Virgin; and thus what was done before in the honor of Ceres is now done in honor of the Blessed Virgin.” So said Pope Innocent XII.
Thus, Candlemas coincides with the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin (when Mary emerges from 40 days of ritual confinement and is purified of uncleanliness after giving birth to a man-child), attempts to eradicate memories of the Goddess Persephone/Proserpina, and replaces the Roman feast of Lupercalia, three rituals centered on feminine reproductive capability. As a sabbat of fire and purification, it makes sense that this was an ideal time to remove the Yuletide foliage from the home. Exactly why Queen Victoria moved this custom to Twelfth Night I do not know, but it may have something to do with the following.
Removing the Yuletide foliage from the home not only cleaned the house, it also released the fae elementals wintering in the foliage back into the wilderness. If this was not done, the forest, and by extension the crops, could not begin to grow again and Spring would fail to return. This, of course, would be an agricultural disaster of monumental proportions. In addition, if trapped in the house by Yuletide greenery after Twelfth Night, the fae spirits would wreak havoc until returned to their rightful place. It seems the sooner the fae were set free, the better Queen Victoria felt!
So, when is Twelfth Night?
If you wish to honor Twelfth Night in the pagan tradition in 2010 (in subsequent years, you must determine the date of the Winter Solstice which varies), you must calculate from Yule on the 21st of December, where the first of the twelve days of Yule begins on the 22nd and the twelfth day is on the 2nd of January. That makes sunset on the 1st of January the beginning of Twelfth Night in 2010.
If you wish to honor Twelfth Night in the Christian tradition in 2010 (or any other year), you must calculate from Christmas on the 25th of December, where the first of the twelve days of Christmas begins on the 26th and the twelfth days is on the 6th of January. That makes nightfall (or midnight, if you want to be thoroughly modern) on the 5th of January the beginning of Twelfth Night.
Whether you decorate your home with fresh boughs or fake, Twelfth Night affords us one more opportunity to reflect on the Mother Goddess’ gifts of abundance in nature and renewed life, and the mysterious and wonderful roles played by ancient fae forces, elementals and spirits seen and unseen in the turning of the wheel. Hinder ye not but aid them in their work and play.
To enter the magickal realm,
you must circle around the secret tree, nine times, at midnight,
when the moon is full !
Bring an offering of the heart
Shiny, or sweet,
from your heart will to please
Twelfth Night and the Fae
by
Kathryn Cranston
It has long been acknowledged that the Christian church, not knowing the date of the birth of Jesus, chose December 25th
in order to combat “infernal” pagan celebrations by subsuming those
celebrations into their own. Thus, “Yuletide” and “Saturnalia” turned
into “Christmas” wherever Christianity held dominion. Although the
converted people retained many of their ancient customs, these customs
often survived only by being renamed or disguised.Along with Christmas came a whole plethora of activities, including the Twelve Days of Christmas. During the Middle Ages, people were free to make merry and feast throughout these twelve days, with the Twelfth Night marking the end of the Christmas season and the coming of the Epiphany (which concluded on the 2nd of February with Candlemas, known to some as Imbolc). It was customary to choose a “Lord of Misrule” from amongst the peasantry to preside over the “Feast of Fools” and lead the revels. Some sources believe the practice of ritual sacrifice was part of the very ancient “Lord of Misrule” tradition, with the “Lord” giving up his life in exchange for the preceding days of glory “in the character of the good god [Saturn] who gave his life for the world.”
While no one practices the more dramatic aspects of the Lord of Misrule today, many other Twelve Day traditions survive. Modern day performances mock authority and a woman plays the principal male lead while a man plays the leading older female character, or “Dame,” thus setting things “topsy-turvy” in the tradition of the Lord of Misrule. Most of us are familiar with “Twelfth Night” through William Shakespeare’s play of the same name, which often makes an appearance during the Yuletide season. In some places, special pastries, such as the tortell and king cake, are made on Twelfth Night and eaten the next day for the Feast of the Epiphany celebrations. In England and France, it is customary to bake a Twelfth Night cake containing a bean and a pea. The people whose slices contain the veggies are then designated king and queen of the night’s festivities.
Between sunset on Twelfth Night and Epiphany morning on Twelfth Day was and remains the traditional time to take down the Christmas tree and decorations. It was unlucky to leave Christmas decorations hanging after Twelfth Night, a belief originally attached to the festival of Candlemas. But why? And how are the fae involved?
First, let’s back up to pre-Christian times, when pagan homes were dressed with mistletoe, ivy, holly, bay, rosemary, and various types of fir trees during Yuletide. As I shared in last month’s column, The Faeries of Winter, fae elementals came into the home along with the holiday evergreen trees and greenery in order to share in the warmth and the season’s festivities. These adornments (and their inhabitants) remained in the home until Candlemas. Queen Victoria (1837-1901) gets the credit for changing this custom to Twelfth Night.
Ever on their toes, Candlemas had been created by the Christian church as an alternative to Roman paganism because “the Gentiles dedicated the month of February to the infernal gods, and as at the beginning of it Pluto stole Proserpine, and her mother Ceres sought her in the night with lighted candles, so they, at the beginning of the month, walked about the city with lighted candles. Because the holy fathers could not extirpate the custom, they ordained that Christians should carry about candles in honor of the Blessed Virgin; and thus what was done before in the honor of Ceres is now done in honor of the Blessed Virgin.” So said Pope Innocent XII.
Thus, Candlemas coincides with the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin (when Mary emerges from 40 days of ritual confinement and is purified of uncleanliness after giving birth to a man-child), attempts to eradicate memories of the Goddess Persephone/Proserpina, and replaces the Roman feast of Lupercalia, three rituals centered on feminine reproductive capability. As a sabbat of fire and purification, it makes sense that this was an ideal time to remove the Yuletide foliage from the home. Exactly why Queen Victoria moved this custom to Twelfth Night I do not know, but it may have something to do with the following.
Removing the Yuletide foliage from the home not only cleaned the house, it also released the fae elementals wintering in the foliage back into the wilderness. If this was not done, the forest, and by extension the crops, could not begin to grow again and Spring would fail to return. This, of course, would be an agricultural disaster of monumental proportions. In addition, if trapped in the house by Yuletide greenery after Twelfth Night, the fae spirits would wreak havoc until returned to their rightful place. It seems the sooner the fae were set free, the better Queen Victoria felt!
So, when is Twelfth Night?
If you wish to honor Twelfth Night in the pagan tradition in 2010 (in subsequent years, you must determine the date of the Winter Solstice which varies), you must calculate from Yule on the 21st of December, where the first of the twelve days of Yule begins on the 22nd and the twelfth day is on the 2nd of January. That makes sunset on the 1st of January the beginning of Twelfth Night in 2010.
If you wish to honor Twelfth Night in the Christian tradition in 2010 (or any other year), you must calculate from Christmas on the 25th of December, where the first of the twelve days of Christmas begins on the 26th and the twelfth days is on the 6th of January. That makes nightfall (or midnight, if you want to be thoroughly modern) on the 5th of January the beginning of Twelfth Night.
Whether you decorate your home with fresh boughs or fake, Twelfth Night affords us one more opportunity to reflect on the Mother Goddess’ gifts of abundance in nature and renewed life, and the mysterious and wonderful roles played by ancient fae forces, elementals and spirits seen and unseen in the turning of the wheel. Hinder ye not but aid them in their work and play.
- Bibliography and Works Cited/Recommended Reading:
- Woodlands Junior School, Hunt Road, Tonbridge, Kent, United Kingdom Website: http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/
- Frazer, James, “The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion: A New Abridgement from the Second and Third Editions,” Oxford University (1998)
- Smith, William, “A School Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities,” BiblioBazaar (2009)
- Presentation of Jesus at the Temple on Wikipedia, Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candlemas
Bitch Section Dec 6,2012
Yes this my own bitch section.
I was reading a blag today, some stuff the person had was actually good,
It was sad when I saw how she trashed my dear friend and a group I do very much enjoy.
Well, yes mouth went fool blast with some control as I struggled not to lower myself to this person.
It suprised me when she posted my responce then trash my friend also on my own site too HMMM.
It is sad when somone has to dedicate a whole blog, and posts to being a bitch, and finding everything to bitch over.How mature. Te truth is no one really likes a bitch, yes I can be a good bitch, however it does not pleasure me to be that way.
Writing is good therapy, but it ought not to be just a bunch of garbage LOLS
Yes I am one to call it like I see it, and told the person just as I saw it.
****
SUVs
Ok now not all of us have them, so do not forget that we some times can not see when leaving a parking space because your SUV is so big.. They did not think of this when they made them, ( Men who are the heads of these car creations lols)
Ridding my ass
OK get off my ass, and stay off,
I tell you what try me, I just may let my foot slip of the peddle and stop suddenly and oops
YOU bent my fender , and oh oh my neck
Get the drift!
*****
12-7
Mom's Birthday!!!
A True Crone indeed 74 and feisty LOLS.
I do love my mom, and am very glad I still have her in my life. We are now pretty close.
Made a cake for her, and we ate at home. Nice quiet night. You could say we are both now more home bodies lols. I am always concerned for her as she is older. It is hard seeing your parent get older, esp when they are your only family . I try to remind myself esp during times it seems she drives me nuts. I am sure I drive her nuts too. We are thus even.
No one loves you quiet like Mom. I am blessed to have one still who has done the best she could, especially as a single mom. I have not always been easy. As a teen I new it all, well now I am 44 and know that I know very little still. Everyday is a lesson.I watch tv, the news. I see what goes on in the world, kand I have much to be grateful for.
12/8/2012
Yes I am both,
I can really be a bitch, do not like it,
When accused of BS, and lied about yes I am a bitch
Like who is not.
I have decided not to defend myself.
As there is nothing to defend.
Thse who know me, know my heart
Those who do not know me, do not
One can not please everyone
I have stopped,
Somone said to me,
" I do not forgive, your Goddess may"
How bitter, and sad.
To each their own
I know where I stand before my Goddess
This is what matters , nothing else.
I will from hence be more guarded, whom I am close to
As it is foolish to allow oneself to be hurt so much
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