The Magic of Yule

The Magic of Yule "The frost-king ties my fumbling feet, Sings in my ears, my hands are stones, Curdles the blood to the marble bones." - Ralph Waldo Emerson Yule celebrations begin on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, and continue for 12 12 days. In pagan traditions, on Yule the Holly King dies and the Oak King rises to rule until the summer solstice. In druidic tradition, on Yule the Chief Druid would cut sacred mistletoe from an oak using a golden sickle. Other important yule herbs include holly, ivy, juniper and bay. Yule The beginning of the Wild Hunt, led by the Norse god, Odin. Sighting this spectral hunt presages doom. A depiction of the Wild Hunt, by August Malmstrom Did you know...? Odin May Have Been the Original Santa Claus? On the solstice, Norse pagans brought entire evergreen trees into their home, seeking the aid of their nature spirits against the wandering undead, called the draugar. Divination is also thought to work better at Yule. One old Germanic tradition is to pour melted bits of metal into water and then "read" the odd shapes that arise. Magical practitioners Endless consider Yule a HAPPINESS YOUR FAMILY. good time to cast spells for love, peace, and increased happiness. By Kirsten Weiss http://kirstenweiss.com