Hi Everyone,
In December, we had two very beautiful celebrations here at the UU fellowship. We started with the Full Moon Esbat on December 10th, honoring the Oak Moon, with Morrigan Oran from the Manhattan Goddess Circle. Before the circle, we had our traditional potluck dinner, and then went back into the old sanctuary for a discussion on crystals and stones, and how to select the right stones for your personal use. I set up stations around the room of stones with their names and their magickal properties, so everyone could touch them, hold them and compare their different vibrations and energies. There were examples of 27 different stones, and at the end of the discussion, everyone was allowed to take one stone home with them as a keepsake. And then on to the ritual. It was a cold night, but we bundled up around the fire for a ritual by Morrigan, discussing and using the magick of fire. At the end of the circle, Morrigan did her Celtic Warrior’s Blessing, a very moving experience for all of us. We are noticing that after every circle we all feel more connected, more a real Pagan community than we did before. And every celebration brings newcomers to our circles, which couldn’t make us happier!
Morrigan’s Warrier Blessing:
“May the weapons of your enemies break across your shields,
May your sword always be true,
May your body know healing.
May your heart know only love.
May your mind be strong and clear.
May your legs always have the strength to carry you forward,
May your arms always have the strength to carry those in need.”
And on December 17th we had our first Yule Celebration! We started off with our potluck dinner, and then reunited in the kitchen for the baking of fine holiday cookies! While we were baking, we discussed kitchen witchery, and how the magick in our lives isn’t confined to our altars or circles. We should allow our magick to flow and permeate all areas of our lives, and no more so than in the kitchen. We discussed magical intent and the healing power of food and fellowship. and we had cookie dough and sprinkles everywhere! We had many more children at this celebration, and they all had a hand in creating Yule cookies to take home at the end of the evening. And I baked cookies shaped like holly leaves for Cakes and Ale in the Circle.
The ritual itself was outside around our firepit. We reenacted the yearly battle of the Holly King and the Oak King. This battle is a Celtic allegory for the light and dark halves of the year. At the Winter Solstice the Oak King reigns supreme as we begin to see the Sun God return to warm the Earth. At the Summer Solstice in June the Holly King will once again win the battle and reign until the next Winter Solstice. We sang Deck The Halls to honor the Holly King’s reign these past 6 months. We also had the Crone aspect of our Goddess, wearing dark maroon poinsettia crown on her head, pass a pure white poinsettia crown to the new Maiden aspect of the Goddess, assisted by the Mother aspect of the Goddess, wearing a crown of blood-red poinsettias. We also burned a Yule Log decorated with evergreens, berries and pine cones. As it burned in the fire, we chanted for the Sun God’s return. We completed our ritual with Cakes and Ale, passed by the newly crowned Maiden and Oak King.
After the ritual we came inside and were treated to traditional Yule carols by Manhattan’s local Heathen Tribe. We passed the Horn and hailed the Gods, our ancesters and each other. We drank warm wassail and ate fresh-baked cookies. It was a beautiful night of wheel-turning and merry-making, and we all came away richer in spirit because of it.
Blessings to all for the coming New Year,
Deirdre