Yuletide Greetings for the Witch in Your Life

Acknowledging the holidays celebrated by the special Witch in your life is a wonderful way to express appreciation for and understanding of a very unique aspect of your loved one. When December rolls around, why not add a personal flair based on an understanding of what this season means to those close to you who practice Wicca? By doing this you can deepen your understanding of what this time means to your loved one, while also showing that you are willing to acknowledge a large part of what spiritually fulfills the individual.

Unlike many other holidays, there is a great deal of overlap in seasonal celebrations this time of year with pagan and Wiccan celebrations. In fact, unlike Samhain which may take some practice to get used to, the Wiccan celebration in late December bears a name with which most of us are familiar: Yule.  It is important to note that many traditions and customs later carried out during December festivals such as Christmas, St. Stephen’s Day, and other Winter Holiday traditions originated in pre-Christian, pagan cultures. The roots of many of these traditions still hold strong in the modern Wiccan and Pagan celebration of Yule, or Midwinter or Winter Solstice. This holiday occurs circa December 20-22, depending on the year. It marks the beginning of winter. A great example of a special tradition for Yule is the decorative or functional Yule Log, or an evergreen log with holes drilled along the side for candles. Holly, Mistletoe and other natural accessories of winter are very important and symbolic, as well as beautiful accents used during this holiday. Even wreaths and other remnants of nature’s stoic survival in the harsh winter months make great Yule gifts.

As it marks the heart of winter in the northern hemisphere, this holiday is a fire festival. Any gifts that bear the mark of fire, from candles, to warm spicy foods and ciders, to specialty stews or toasty warm blankets, carry the energy of this holiday: warming the heart and home and uplifting the spirit in an otherwise dark time of year. Gifts that capture the light are a great way to acknowledge this season as well, and can be given in the form of sparkling, glittery or shiny ornamentation, jewelry, and household accents. Gold colors are significant this time of year as they relate to the Sun and this is being the holiday marking the “rebirth” of the Sun God.

While most symbols of Yule are close enough to other winter holiday décor and symbolism to be compiled together in one big politically correct happy family, acknowledging the specific celebrations of one you know to be Wiccan can be deeply heartwarming. When in doubt consider that since Wicca is a nature based religion, most symbols reminiscent of winter holidays that stem from the natural world will be held in high esteem. Go for the holly, mistletoe, and pinecones in decorative or fragrant arrangements, even the reindeer as symbolic of the “Stag King” (fertility representative of the God) or any variety of candles or representations of warming and fire. Choosing gifts carefully can help you avoid awkward moments on the holiday and during family or workplace gatherings.  With the right gifts you can demonstrate that you took the time to choose seasonally appropriate gifts for the known Wiccan in your life: gifts that show an understanding and respect for Wiccan holiday customs and traditions.

Article by: Angela Kaufman.  Angela is a Priestess for the Dragon Warriors of Isis Coven in Upstate, New York, and the co-author of Wicca: What's the Real Deal?  She is a professional tarot reader.  For more information about Wicca: What's the Real Deal? visit http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

The Devil You Know….

by Fuzzypeg/Wikimedia Commons

When the Devil card appears in a Tarot reading people have strong reactions. “Does this mean I am evil?” they ask, or “Is evil around me?” they wonder. Neither is the case, although the second fear comes closest to the implication of this card. The Devil appears stark and sinister, a demonic looking beast seated authoritatively, smugly watching as a distortion of the “lovers” stand in chains at his feet. There is often black or dark backgrounds, flames appear and we know this is an indicator of difficulties encountered by the Querent in his or her journey. The Devil in Tarot is a helpful indicator, though. Not to be confused with the presence of evil, this card represents the presence of an interpersonal type of evil; the enslavement brought on by compulsion and addiction.

It is no surprise that during prohibition alcohol was likened to and called “the devil” or a “demon” and people describe embarking on rehabilitation processes as personally being called to “face their inner demons.” A popular Irish folk song calls Whiskey the “devil” and “Demon Rum” was a popular term in days past to conjure the reality of those living with alcoholism, and alcoholics, in American history. The Devil here is not portraying an evil person or entity, it is alerting the Querent to the fact that their life is being drained and slowly overtaken by some form of compulsion or addiction. Looking at the other cards, or discussing this with the Querent can often yield clues as to what that addiction is.

Regardless of the external vehicle for one’s addiction, it is a force to be reckoned with. It assumes a position of power, becoming an obsession and taking priority over all other goals and relationships. High moral posturing aside, those who have been acquainted with the demon of addiction know all too well that no one is spared its influence.

A loving parent will follow the inner obsession with their child in the sidelines; a dedicated worker will find their career infiltrated by the infestation of their addiction. It creeps in gradually with allure and seduction and slowly takes hold, taking no prisoners. Usually before one realizes it, the wondrously gratifying illusion they have been pursuing has brought havoc to their lives and relationships, naturally they simply try to leave, only to find they are fastened in place by heavy chains that are not so easily unlocked. Just as the fellowships of AA and NA propose that it takes a power greater than an individual to restore “sanity” in the grips of an addiction, so do we see the powerful clutches holding the Querent in slavery, likewise sucking away any chance at spiritual progress so long as the Querent remains in bondage.

When this card appears, there is a need for some higher intervention, a greater perspective, and a force larger than will or ego to help break the chains tying the figures to each other and the Devil. What that powerful benevolent force will be will depend on the situation. It will involve some form of spirituality that has been missing from this dark vacuum of compulsion and obsession, but the type and manner can be varied based on the individual’s lifestyle and circumstances.

When the Devil appears be ready to face facts; something that began as rewarding and pleasurable, fun and positively reinforcing, has taken on a life of its own. What has enslaved you? What do you feel you cannot live without? Are there relationships that have become compulsive, needy and codependent? Has work become an obsession, draining energy from you and keeping you from nurturing other goals? Are substances like alcohol, pills, drugs, or even food carrying more significance than they should? Are processes such as gambling, cleaning, exercising or care-taking defining you more than your spiritual path, leaving no room to have a life? These questions can be difficult to answer because as dark as the Devil is, this card also represents a sense of need and often accompanies a belief that the substance, behavior, or relationship is needed and that without it life would not be manageable. This is a false illusion.

It can be useful to contemplate both the Devil and Lovers card and meditate on what has been missing, what is needed to set the figures involved free again. As always don’t hesitate to seek professional help if matters seem to be beyond your personal control, and when the Devil card appears there is a pretty good chance things have reached that point.

Temperance - Finding the Right Combination

by Fuzzypeg/Wikimedia Commons

While navigating the landscape of the less desirable within the Major Arcana of the Tarot, The Fool has encountered a challenge requiring Strength, has been hung out to dry as the Hanged Man, and has recently undergone the transformation of Death. Now a light beckons. A peaceful landscape, a serene pool and a divine winged figure present what will perhaps be a relief after all. The Temperance card promises calm, tranquility and balance. It promises these things, but does not automatically grant them. With Temperance, we must conquer the challenge of patience and prudence. This is no easy task in a modern era in which most would rather be scraped from head to toe with straight razors than have to wait for delayed gratification. The Temperance card reminds us of the need to cultivate patience. The right combination will be found, success will be had, and accomplishments will be achieved. Just not right now.

Death brings a transformation and sometimes painful losses. Temperance brings a challenge to the soul as well - that of a gradual emergence into relief. The Fool would love to tear through the kitchen throwing ingredients into a skillet to whip together an impromptu stir fry which just might be tasty. Zest for life and enthusiasm pulling the reigns, caution and reason nowhere to be found. Temperance on the other hand, carefully hand picks the finest quality foods, carefully combining one at a time into a slow cooker, allowing the aroma to waft through the air. Dinner will be served - eventually. Luckily we know that with Temperance, our reward will be worth the wait. Now as for the whole waiting thing….

Temperance challenges us to delay spontaneous reactions. We must re-examine our motives, and strive for balance. If we are used to acting in complete control and flying solo, we are now faced with the need to share, to admit that we have not perfected every skill and to find the blend of talents, resources, strengths and capabilities to bring about a more ideal combination. Esoterically speaking it is a card of Alchemy, purification through combining the right increments of the right elements. This requires a knowledge that spans beyond the comfort zone and allows for gradual exposure to ideas or skills that may be foreign or new. Compromise, combination, pulling creative forces together, this is the nature of Temperance. There is no dash to the finish line here.

This card suggests processes involved that contribute to a whole. Assembly, separate skills brought together for a common good, specialization and cooperation and harmony and contribution as part of a team rather than for individual gains. When this card appears it is a reminder that as good as you are at your trade or niche, it is by combining talents with others of equal skill in complimenting areas that completion is found. You may be required to exercise patience while working as a team or coordinating or collaborating on a project over which you do not have complete control. It is a card of acceptance, surrendering, cooperation and moderation of efforts. It is also a card of creative energy, bringing the best of your abilities to the fore, combined with the best resources in your surroundings, including other people, and bringing together various facets to find completion, refinement and achievement. Just as the Magician earlier in this process granted the lesson of wielding one’s thoughts to manifest in reality, Temperance raises this lesson an octave. It is not just the refinement of one’s thoughts and restraint of one’s reactions that cultivates success, but the discipline of one’s own mind and collaboration of skills with others to serve a common good.

Article by: Angela Kaufman.  Angela is a Priestess for the Dragon Warriors of Isis Coven in Upstate, New York, and the co-author of Wicca: What's the Real Deal?  She is a professional tarot reader.  For more information about Wicca: What's the Real Deal? visit http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.

 

Three Pagan Pride Days in September

By Dayna Winters Original posted on Examiner.com

New York-based pagans looking to express their pride in their pagan identity can attend one or more of the three Pagan Pride Day celebrations scheduled in September 2012, including events in Rochester, Liverpool, and New York City slated on Sept. 8, 15, and 29. All of the events’ hosting organizations will be accepting donations from event visitors that will be used to benefit specific charities or causes. Pagan Pride Day is a yearly celebration hosted by different pagan-oriented groups and organizations around the world. The mission of the hosting organizations is to spread a message of religious tolerance and to educate others about pagan religions, traditions, and practices.  Read more…

Samhain Gifts the Witch in Your Life Will Appreciate

It must be said that there are as many types of modern Witches as there are types of modern people. Perhaps birthday gifts for your loved one are easy to figure out. After all, you know them first as a person, and then as a Wiccan. What better way to surprise your loved one by coming up with a gift for those other special occasions? Even better, imagine the look of joy and surprise when your loved one receives a card, gift, and “Happy Sabbat” greeting? The smiles of course will be followed by gasps of “How did you know what Sabbat it is?!”

This easy guide will help you to stay in tune with the special times of celebration for the Witch in your life as well as typical gifts that correspond to these celebrations. Bear in mind that there are many traditions in the Wiccan faith and some traditions may use alternate names etc. The gesture of acknowledging the special days for your loved one will likely exceed any unintended mistake such as a card saying “Happy Lammas” instead of “Happy Lughnasadh” but when in doubt, ask your loved one or one within the Wiccan community for clarification.

Samhain - Celebrate the New Year early - that is early for you, and right on time for the Witch you love. October 31^st marks the entry into the darker half of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. This is no secret to you, you know the days are shortening and the air is cooler. What you may not realize is that to your Wiccan loved one this is a tremendously special day. It is not only one of the few days that it is socially acceptable to be “Witchy” in full force, but it is also a time where the veil between the living world and afterworld dissipates. This makes it a special time to commune with ancestors, perform divination, and  honor the deceased. Special gifts for this Sabbat include anything that could honor and recognize the life and legacy of those who have passed.

Some creative ideas are Photo or other memorials, scrapbooks, even an electronic slideshow setting photographs of the ancestors and deceased loved ones to appropriate music. A family heirloom or relic of another time is another special gift for this time of year as it reconnects the Witch to his or her past and heritage.

Then there is the fun through horror angle. Some Witches enjoy entertainment found in ghost stories and this can be a great time to set the mood for the Sabbat by having a marathon ghost story night with special themed dinner. Perhaps Ghoulish Goulash! Playing up the excitement and even romantic reminiscence of other times presented in ghost stories with a special meal prepared in a traditional style (maybe even a family’s traditional recipe) can also set the tone and connect the events of the night to the heritage and ancestors, and provide another link from past to present. Be sure to consider what types of ghostly entertainment your loved one favors. There are some forms of horror or ghost stories that some Witches find offensive. If unsure, stick with ghost stories based on real events, or even historical or legendary tales that conjure up a connection to the past and the dead.

Divination is traditionally associated with this Sabbat as well. After all, the veil between the realms is gone, intuitive sight is clearer, and hey, its New Year, who wouldn’t want a glimpse of what is to come? If your loved one has a soft spot for one type of divinatory method, a gift related to that would be perfect this time of year. A new deck of Tarot cards for example, or a beautiful decorative box in which to keep the tried and true deck they have used for years. A new set of runes can be easily made for little money from scrap wood chips or purchased inexpensively. Don’t forget that just like hairdressers seldom cut their own hair, sometimes Witches enjoy a real treat of having someone else divine for them, and Samhain makes a great Sabbat for giving the gift of a date to take your loved one to a local reputable psychic reader for a truly meaningful experience.

Since this is one of the few times that black taper candles are easily found, a heartfelt and economical treat can be a surprise of black taper candles as well as incenses and other ritual supplies that any Witch can never have enough of! Also consider a handmade greeting card expressing a sincere “Happy Samhain”. The best gift ever, is the joy of knowing someone cares enough to remember to say “Happy Samhain!”

Article by: Angela Kaufman.  Angela is a Priestess for the Dragon Warriors of Isis Coven in Upstate, New York, and the co-author of Wicca: What's the Real Deal?  She is a professional tarot reader.  For more information about Wicca: What's the Real Deal? visit http://www.wwtrd.webs.com.