#solstice blessings

[rosemaryprosser]

Winter Solstice (2022)

[innervoiceartblog]

“So the Shortest Day came and the year died

And everywhere down the centuries of the snow‐white world

Came people singing, dancing,

To drive the dark away.

They lighted candles in the winter trees;

They hung their homes with evergreen;

They burned beseeching fires all night long

To keep the year alive.

And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake

They shouted, reveling.

Through all the frosty ages you can hear them

Echoing behind us ‐ listen!

All the long echoes, sing the same delight,

This Shortest Day,

As promise wakens in the sleeping land:

They carol, feast, give thanks,

And dearly love their friends,

And hope for peace.

And so do we, here, now,

This year and every year.

Welcome, Yule!”

~ Susan Cooper, “The Shortest Day”

Artwork: Tijana Lukovic, “Winter Solstice”

https://www.tijanadraws.com/

[arcaneworms]

now obviously i had to raise from the dead to draw fjord with long hair. it's just necessary.

what an amazing episode too!

[maculategiraffe]

as is tradition. jan richardson's "blessing for the longest night":

.

All throughout these months

as the shadows

have lengthened,

this blessing has been

gathering itself,

making ready,

preparing for

this night.

.

It has practiced

walking in the dark,

traveling with

its eyes closed,

feeling its way

by memory

by touch

by the pull of the moon

even as it wanes.

.

So believe me

when I tell you

this blessing will

reach you

even if you

have not light enough

to read it;

it will find you

even though you cannot

see it coming.

.

You will know

the moment of its

arriving

by your release

of the breath

you have held

so long;

a loosening

of the clenching

in your hands,

of the clutch

around your heart;

a thinning

of the darkness

that had drawn itself

around you.

.

This blessing

does not mean

to take the night away

but it knows

its hidden roads,

knows the resting spots

along the path,

knows what it means

to travel

in the company

of a friend.

.

So when

this blessing comes,

take its hand.

Get up.

Set out on the road

you cannot see.

.

This is the night

when you can trust

that any direction

you go,

you will be walking

toward the dawn.

[nyxshadowhawk]

Yule 2023 by IrenHorrors

[wishbow]

to live is to sacrifice finding balance on what you get what you give what you know what you cannot what you catch what you miss you have a life to try

Inscription under cloth banner of the same image in the library of the Order of the Empty Cup hall in Walla Walla, WA

[wearetheweirdos-mr]

Some Yule ideas for those limited in how they can celebrate

(broom closet, lack of materials, disability, whatever. all these require minimal effort and materials)

Drink herbal tea, or mix things like cinnamon into your tea/coffee

Listen to music about Yule or instrumental music with bells

Wear colors/makeup matching Yule colors (red, green, and gold)

Pray/meditate with Yule/Yule correspondences in mind

Say/think/write Yule chants

Make plans for how you'll enjoy the return of the sun (whether that's planting a garden or feeling it's warmth on your skin or just seeing it's brightness in your window)

Think about what the return of the sun means to you

Do some self reflection or shadow work (if you're in the mindset where it'd be healthy for you)

Work with deities that correspond with Yule

If you cannot use candles/fire, make sure your house is brightly lit in other ways (if you have LED lights it'd be cool to light them in Yule colors!)

And lastly, wish other pagans a blessed Yule.

Blessed Yule, hope you all find ways to celebrate! May your days be bright.

[sugaryewscythe]

just a reminder that most wrapping paper is not recyclable unless otherwise stated. do not put it in your recycling bin as it will back up recycling facilities!

you can always use recyclable alternatives like paper bags, fabric that can be repurposed afterwards, newspaper, or glass jars! all of which can be decorated with eco-friendly yarn, plants, or art which adds an even more personal touch.♡

[mamamoon92]

🖤✨

[daphyswitchylibrary]

Blessed Yule!

Yule, Yuletide or the winter solstice, happens usually around the 21st to the 25th (it depends for each year!) The winter solstice is a celebration of the longest night and shortest day of the year: after that, days will get longer again! It's a great time to celebrate home, family, friends, and reflect on ourselves. It also celebrates the eternal cycle of light and dark, life and death.

Crystals that are good to have for Yule are Ametrine, Orange Calcite, Ruby, Turquoise, Garnet, Bloodstone, Snowflake Obsidian and Onyx

For food, you can think of fruit (like oranges!), dried fruit, nuts, or even drink cider!

Colors that go well for Yule are, of course, red, green, white, silver and gold!

What to do for Yule

Decorate a Christmas/Yule tree. It's also a great activity if you are still in the broom closet

Bake a Yule log (the cake!), gingerbread cookies, plum pudding, or other recipes you usually make for the holidays. For example, fruit pies are always a big thing in my house during Christmas, so I also bake some for Yule!

Since Yule is a great time for reflection, make sure you take some time for that. Sit down and think about what happened in your life this year, meditate on it, try to see what was good and what was bad, and how to fix/change the latter. Do shadow work. Be grateful, make bullet points of your year's highlights. Using divination tools, like making a tarot spread about yourself/your situation, is also a great way to do that. Sometimes, it's even easier because the tool might bring up points you would've never thought of.

Have fun with family and friends! Yule is about the love and warmth around you, that also goes for the people you love.

Take a cleansing bath or shower! It's time to let go of things that you don't need anymore: and cleansing yourself helps to move on, to get rid of energies that no longer serve you. It will make some space for new things to come!

Go take a walk outside! Go appreciate the cold and how calm winter is.

Watch the sunrise and sunset. Afterall, it is the shortest day of the year, and it's nice to really see it.

With all that being said, I wish a blessed Yule to all! Take care of yourselves and have fun :)

[tetsunabouquet]

ITS OFFICIAL! ITS PAST MIDNIGHT! I AM 26!

[innervoiceartblog]

Let us remember within us

The ancient clay,

Holding the memory of seasons,

The passion of the wind,

The fluency of water,

The warmth of fire,

The quiver-touch of the sun

And shadowed sureness of the moon.

That we may awaken,

To live to the full

The dream of the Earth

Who chose us to emerge

And incarnate its hidden night

In mind, spirit, and light.

~ John O'Donohue.

[sfsolstice]

dev patel's monkey man was everything i thought it was going to be and more, really truly a seething war cry for liberation by our own hands and a passionate love letter to india, its culture, and an indigenous people

if you have the opportunity to see monkey man in theaters, PLEASE go see it

[sappy-witch]

Winter Foraging ❄️🍄

Hello darlings 🥰

As winter wraps us in its chilly embrace, nature still offers a bounty of forageables that can enrich our culinary, medicinal, and magical practices. December foraging brings its own unique gifts. Here's a guide to what you can find and how to use them. ❄️🌿

December Foraging Treasures:

Holly Berries: Holly is a symbol of protection and good luck. Its berries, while not edible, can be used in Yule decorations and winter solstice rituals for protection and good fortune.

Rose Hips: These are the fruit of the rose plant and are rich in vitamin C. They can be used to make syrups, teas, and jams, and in magic, they are used for love, healing, and attracting good energy.

Pine Needles: Rich in vitamins A and C, pine needles can be used to make a refreshing tea. In magic, pine is associated with cleansing, protection, and prosperity.

Juniper Berries: Known for their distinctive flavor, they're used in culinary dishes, especially in marinades. Magically, juniper berries are used for protection and purification.

Ivy: Common ivy can be used in wreaths and decorations. In magic, it symbolizes fidelity and eternal life. Note: Ivy is not edible and should be handled with care.

Mushrooms: While some mushrooms are edible and have medicinal properties, extreme caution must be taken as many are poisonous. Only forage mushrooms if you are very experienced or with a professional guide.

Please remember to always forage responsibly and sustainably. Only take what you need, and be sure to leave plenty behind for wildlife and future growth.

____

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____

With love, from a Sappy Witch 🔮💕

Blessed be. 🕊✨

[the-decaying-witch]

❄️Yuletide Blessings🔥

[smilelikeawolf]

Luc: "You're just gonna go and let your friends go out and fight... moon-things on their own?!"

Veth: "They're very strong and capable. Well, five of them are."

Fjord flips Veth off.