Happy Yuletide!

Yule- the Winter Solstice. The Darkest time of the year. The season when traffic is the most crazy and the stress of trying to get everything done just makes everyone a little bit bonkers. However even though the darkness may outweigh daylight, this is also the time of year that the little lights shine the best and brightest in their contrast to that dark. The time of year that candles warm the heart and remind us that we have the power to create the light as our ancestors once did. The time of year when it’s most important to make time to visit with our kin and clan. To create space to share our light with one another, because together our candles burn just a little brighter. 

Our Druid Grove managed to come out of the woodwork, tired as we all were… and rallied for cookie decorating, ritual and feasting day. Hugs and smiles were exchanged, excited to be in each other's presence once again. The little acorns all tried their hands at smearing the frosting and sprinkling the sprinkles on festive shaped shortbreads. Cookies were munched, drinks were imbibed, and fun was had by one and all. 

We gathered around the Yule log and my husband Marc led the ritual. It was so nice to be together again, cosy by the altar, grounding out the stresses of life and sharing the hearth fire… the smell of burning herbs and beeswax filling the air. The oghams pulled were fortuitous. The first ogham pulled being Vine… fitting for the festive season and occasion, reaping the harvest of seeds sown long ago. The second being Birch… Rebirth of the sun anew, ready for the year ahead, reminding us of the natural cycles on which our traditions have been built. Fortuitous indeed. 

The ritual wrapped up, and the feasting commenced. The traditional foods brought from our various hearths and homes mingled upon the festive table. Stories of heritage and history shared and recipes exchanged. 

With our bellies full, and our souls a little lighter and brighter, we say our goodbyes, taking the light of the ritual candles to our respective hearths… blessed to have gathered again with our chosen tribe!

The Breaking of the Stick

Over the years I had seen a new tradition sort of creep up through the druid communities online and it piqued my interest. I had asked a fellow Canadian Druid Chelly Couvrette where this tradition came from and she directed me to a blog by Earrach of Pitsburg, The book of Sassafras.

Over the years, you may have seen me posting pictures like this on my blog or Facebook and, although some of you already may know the significance of this custom, some of you may not. "Custom?"... Yes, "The Breaking of the Stick" - - "but why do that? - Is it an ancient practice?"

My old article "The Power of the Impending Moment" sums up most of the idea here and introduces you to the tradition of the breaking of the stick at the sacred moment of the unique Earth/Sun relationship we pass through on every solstice and equinox. My idea of its core principle, the Sanctity/Veneration Feedback Loop, shows up in that article as well and in detail more recently in a post on this blog in November 2016.

"Ancient?" Although I first started this tradition in my own personal practice in the 1980's and incorporated it into my Grove Work in the 90's, I am not aware of a historical precedent for this ritualized action. This I'll assume is most possibly due to the fact that it was only recently that we have pocket timepieces that could with certainty mark a moment within the seconds of the minute of one's special moment de jour. I used to use the shortwave radio time signals from WWV at the Bureau of Standards in Ft.Collins CO - but nowadays, the times shown on anyone's cell-phone are reliably accurate to deep-down within the fractions of one single second. Yes, being within The Seconds of The Minute of the sacred event itself... that's what makes it especially powerful for me and the others who have adopted it or practices similar to it.

Yes, there it is, the imprint of the Sacred Moment, preserved in the broken ends of the stick, and clothed with all the import of that moment. 

Its utility in your Rites of the Wheel?  As is often the case, if your public rite is not held on the true day of the solstice or equinox, bringing the Broken Stick (wrapped/enshrined) to the rite and announcing its principle and importance before revealing it at the right moment, and then in the reception of the blessings, dipping the broken ends together into the Grail of the rite and using the wet ends to individually bless the Folk, that type of operation can potently bring Sacred Time and its spiritual inferences right down to a very personal level in our rites.

So, as it is that I've been doing this four times a year since the 1980's, yes,  I've accumulated A Lot of Broken Sticks.  In all that time I never have gotten around to doing the one cool thing I'd always mused on doing: binding the sets of sticks together on a wooden wheel or grapevine wreath to represent at least one whole solar cycle of The Wheel. Inevitably the new ones shove the older ones out of centrality on my shrine/altars - and, even with my fitful attempts to tag them, I've been consistently inconsistent to the point where I've not yet tagged and stored even one set of four to make a wheel. Yet I do treat the old ones with reverence and I have long had a special repository for them though: my Kiste ("Sacred Basket") of the Mysteries. Below you see me offering them from it into the Brushwood Nemeton Fire during my ordination to the ADF Druid Priesthood in May of 2002...

"Now all the knowledge of the heavens 

pertinent to agriculture, standeth principally 

upon three sorts of observations, to wit, 

the rising of the fixed stars; 

the setting of the same: 

and the four cardinal points, to wit, of

the two tropics or sunsteads*, 

and the double aequinox, 

which divide the whole year into 

foure quarters and notable seasons..."

 Pliny the Elder (bk.  xviii, chapter 25)
* Sunsteads: the December and June solstices

Celtic God Grannus

From some research online I am unable to find a whole lot about Grannus. A lot of his lore seems to have been approbated by the Romans. Anything online I can find in refrence to Grannus seems to be associated with Apollo Grannus which points that the dieti was taken from the Gauls and Celts. Tomorrow for Summer Solstice our grove will pay tribute to Grannus as our workings will be about self care and love and Grannus being the god of spas felt very appropriate. I will add to this post when I find more information to add as well as a future post will discuss the ritual and our workings its self.

1. Meaning of Name: Olmsted gives us “God of Hot Springs”, but has trouble justifying it. Green is not so optimistic, merely wanting to note that it, “probably derives from the name of Grand in the Vosges”.1

2. Pronunciation: GRAN-us, with the “a” like the “u” in “Gus”, and the “u” like the “u” in “put”.

3. Other Names and Epithets: Very many. Olmsted gives us: Amarcolitanos, Anextlomaros, Atepomaros, Belinus, Belisamaros, Bormo/Borvo, Cermillos, Glanis, Matuicis, Mogounis/Mogonts, Nerios, Siannos, Toutorix, Veletudo, Vindonnus, Vindoridios, Vindovroicos, Virotutis, and Vroicos. He may also be related to Olmstead’s reconstructed proto-Celtic divinity Nectonios.

4. Interpretatio Romana: Apollo.3

5. Irish Equivalent: None. The Dian Cecht performs a similar function, but is a radically different deity.

6. Indo-European Equivalent: If the association with Olmsted’s Nectonios can be believed, then he equates to Xákwōm Népōt, the “Nephew of the Waters”, and the “God of Fiery Water”.4

7. Realm: Ueronados/Upper World Deity, but, in role of God of Hot Springs, has Andernados aspects.

8. Iconography: Grannus was worshipped in typical Gallo-Roman healing shrines, often associated with healing springs. He is depicted with horses, a sun-chariot, and on one occasion, the “head of a radiate sun-deity”.5

9. Significance: Reasoning from the above, we can see that Grannus is a solar deity, possibly God of the Sun, certainly God of Light. Even more, he is a healing deity, called on to cure injury and illness. He was also called on for health and protection. As a deity at once solar and watery, hot springs are especially sacred to him.

Ostara Activites

Spring is nearly here!! Let’s find ways to celebrate the return of life and longer days to come! Ostara is the spring equinox which means that the day and night are again the same length but this time, the days are going to get LONGER than the nights!

Listed below are a few ways to celebrate and honour the returning light and life:

Greet the Dawn

It’s not all that early yet, so get up and greet that sunrise. You can mediate; do yoga; perform a ritual with your grove, family, solo or just take a moment to make an offering to the sun.

Get outside

The days are warming up and the weather is slowly improving. Get outside and enjoy it. Throw yourself a picnic if possible, if not, take a little walk. It can be fun to look for the new emerging life, breathe the fresh air and maybe even take on the #trashchallenge if you are feeling it.

Do some planting

This is an excellent time to refresh the pots in your home if it is cold outside or, take some time to start your seedlings. You can also head outside and clean up your yard a bit from winter’s ravage. While you are doing this, focus your intent on your own personal growth and the beauty you bring to the world each day.

Decorate Eggs

This tradition spans many religions but a great Druid or generally pagan twist on it is to decorate the eggs with symbols to help focus and manifest things you need in your life. They can be used as charms for the home and make a lovely display on their own or as an addition to your alter. Check out this link on Naturally Dyed Eggs and enjoy crafting with intent. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/easter-ideas/how-to/a31737/natural-easter-egg-dyes/

Donate to a Rabbit Shelter or Group

Looking for something a little different? Try donating money or supplies to a rabbit shelter. Rabbits are a long-accepted sign of spring. The Ostara Hare has many a TAIL (god, I love puns). Check your local area for some bunny love and help a fuzz bucket today. Here are some local to our grove.
https://www.10000carrots.com/

https://www.facebook.com/honeysbunniesrabbitrescue/

Whatever you decide to do, take a moment for you. Breathe in some new life of your own and thank yourself for taking the time to connect spiritually. You’ve made it through the winter and things are literally looking brighter ahead.

Blessed be

Imbolc activities

​Imbolc Activities to share with your friends and family

Make a Brigid doll:

Brigid dolls are often made of straw and, among other things is the patroness od bards, healing and all things craft-like. Her effigies are hung over doorways to bring about protection and inspiration for the arts. They can be decorated with small dresses and if you are lucky enough to have any greenery or flowers this time of year she can be adorned with those.

photo borrowed from Pinterest. ​hexenwissen

Feasts and Fire:

​Of course, with the days getting longer this is a time to celebrate. Light a fire and have friends and family around for dinner. Choose homemade foods and throw a potluck with seasonal treats.

Spring cleaning:

My personal favourtie. Clean your home! This activity is usually undertaken before Imbolc Eve. Get rid of clutter and clean up with a focus on driving out any negative energy. Scrub all surfaces thoroughly and if you can bare the chill still in the air, open some windows and let the fresh air though the house. Making this practice into a preparation for your ritual can have rewarding results. Have the whole family join in and experience the benefits of a tidy and cleansed home.

Outdoor adventure:

Traditionally, Imbolc was a time to visit sacred waters. Go on a winter hike and find a lovely pond or stream, you can take a moment to meditate on its peaceful nature and bring back fertility to your dreams. If you are comfortable, make contact with the water to fully set your intention to cleanse and purify. You can also use this little venture to thank the local spirits (they must get lonely in the cold) and pick up and trash you might see along the way.

 Imbolc blessings! The sun and goddess return! 

Yule Ritual

We had a lovely Yule Ritual last weekend and I am happy to be getting this post up before the 21st.

We did ritual, exchanged gifts and enjoyed making hearth protection charms.

Using wooden spoons (a sign of the hearth and common protection symbol) we carefully wrapped them in ribbon while contemplating peace, love and protection along with a couple spare giggles. We said a simple blessing “ Lend us bright blessings on this Yuletide fare, give us love and peace in equal share. With Yuletide warmth our hearths be blessed that lifts the heart of Kin and Guest”. We all took our spoons home and hung them in an appropriate place in the kitchen.

Blessed Yule everyone!