I just thought I would post a little description of what a Pagan christmas is all about...We call it Yule or Winter Solstice and celebrate on the 21st or 22nd, depending on the path that is followed. Enjoy and Many holiday blessings.....

The holiday is rooted deeply in the cycle of the year. It is the Winter Solstice that is being celebrated, seed-time of the year, the longest night and shortest day. It is the birthday of the new Sun King, the Son of God -- by whatever name you choose to call him. On this darkest of nights, the Goddess becomes the Great Mother and once again gives birth. And it makes perfect poetic sense that on the longest night of the winter, 'the dark night of our souls', there springs the new spark of hope, the Sacred Fire, the Light of the World, the Coel Coeth.

Long before the world had heard of Jesus, Pagans had been observing the season by bringing in the Yule log, wishing on it, and lighting it from the remains of last year's log. Riddles were posed and answered, magic and rituals were practiced, wild boars were sacrificed and consumed along with large quantities of liquor, corn dollies were carried from house to house while carolling, and divinations were cast for the coming Spring.

Yule (from the Anglo-Saxon 'Yula', meaning 'wheel' of the year) is usually celebrated on the actual Winter Solstice, which may vary by a few days, though it usually occurs on or around December 21st. It is a Lesser Sabbat or Lower Holiday in the modern Pagan calendar, one of the four quarter-days of the year, but a very important one. Pagan customs are still enthusiastically followed. Once, the Yule log had been the center of the celebration. It was lighted on the eve of the solstice (it should light on the first try) and must be kept burning for twelve hours, for good luck. It should be made of ash. Later, the Yule log was replaced by the Yule tree but, instead of burning it, burning candles were placed on it.

Along with the evergreen, the holly and the ivy and the mistletoe were important plants of the season, all symbolizing fertility and everlasting life. Mistletoe was especially venerated by the Celtic Druids, who cut it with a golden sickle on the sixth night of the moon, and believed it to be an aphrodisiac. (Magically -- not medicinally! It's highly toxic!) But aphrodisiacs must have been the smallest part of the Yuletide menu in ancient times, as contemporary reports indicate that the tables fairly creaked under the strain of every type of good food. And drink! The most popular of which was the 'wassail cup' deriving its name from the Anglo-Saxon term 'waes hael' (be whole or hale).

Well I hope this helped you understand a bit more about Yule/Winter Solstice!

Blessings to all of you...

Tiffany

I am sorry I haven't been around in a long time, but I wanted to say hello to everyone and thank all of you for your posts and emails...It means so much to me!

I had a recent MRI done, and they found 2 ruptured disks on top of degenerative disk disease. It explain's the increased pain and I will return to the doctor on the 21st to see what they are going to do about it. Wish me luck.

I have been trying to get ready for the holiday's, but it's been hard. My sister and brother are flying in for a week, so I am looking forward to seeing them and spending some time with them. My daughter hasn't been as excited for Solstice to come as she has been in the past. I think it has been a trying few months for all in my family. I am going to try my best to make it as nice as I can though.

Well I hope the season find's all of you healthy and joyous, and I will try my best to let everyone know how I am doing. Again, thank you for all of your emails and warm wishes...You are all truely wonderful and caring!!

Solstice Blessings,

Tiffany

It has been a long time since I last updated, and I just wanted to let everyone know how much I appreciate all the comments, tags, and emails that you have sent! Every one of you is a blessing! I am still not feeling great...pretty bad most days...but I am looking to other doctor's for answer's and hope to find some soon. The money thing is no better either...at least we have a roof over our heads and each other! Well, not gonna post too much today, but wanted to say hello and post that homecoming pic of my daughter that I promised everyone. I will try to get in here more often...until then...

Biggest Hugs & Much Love...

Tiffany

It's been a week since I last posted, but with good reason.

I have spent the last week in the hospital, with severe spasms that are associated with my "fibromyalgia" (if thats really what this is...). I started Friday evening with the tremors and then by the end of the  night, it was like I was having seziures. <sp?> To make a long story short, I have been poked and proded and pumped full of different drugs for the last week.

I am glad to be home, but all of the last weeks events have just added more stress to our stressful life. This trip will only add to the pile of bills (mostly my medical expenses and utilities now) that lays on the table...a constant reminder that we are behind on bills because of my inability to work. As if I don't feel guilty and depressed enough over my disability! Still no word on my claim that I filed for SS disability. It would be a tremendous help, but  in the meantime, we fall more and more behind, credit sucks (because of this crap) so can't get a loan, family can't help, and "we make too much $" to get help from anyone else. (Latter part...the system never works for those who are truely in need, work hard and don't milk the government  for all its worth!) My husband already works 6 days a week, just to keep us afloat and give our daughter the things she needs.

I have scoured the internet for sources that might be able to help...can't find anything...same as above. Maybe $5000. will fall out of the sky tonight....

Anyways, sorry to sound like this, but I needed to vent and cry and after all this is just as good a place as anywhere else...

Goddess Bless....

Tiffany

Here's a little something to make you laugh today...

(*not responsible for dry cleaning of pants*)

 http://www.slabearkazad.com/sniff/ 

 OK...On a more serious note, here's a little autumn treat that is fun and tasty! 

  Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

It seems such a shame to waste all those seeds left over from baking or carving your pumpkins at this time of year. Not only are they healthy for you, but delicious by themselves or added to salads.

Once you have removed them from the pumpkin, rinse and dry them well. Air dry them for at least 3 hours, then place them on a baking sheet in the oven for 30 minutes, at 350 degrees.

Another delicious way would be to toss them with a small amount of olive oil, after air drying them, and bake them for 20 minutes. You can also use your favorite spices to give them a little more kick. One of my favs is using Cajun spices.

Bon Appetit!

 HUGGLES

 ALL NEW

This is just to let you all know that I have added a forum to my journal. There have been a lot of people who have posted on my journal or emailed me with question's. I thought that this would be a good way to have an open Q&A for everyone, without repeats and for those of you who may be too shy to ask.

Please enter with an open mind and heart  and be kind to all who post!

Blessings,

Tiffany

Triskele (triple spiral, triskelion)

The triskele, or triple spiral, a symbol closely related to the triquetra, is a tripartate symbol composed of three interlocked spirals. The spiral is an ancient Celtic symbol related to the sun, afterlife and reincarnation. The example above comes from the Neolithic "tomb" at Newgrange, where it is supposed by some to be a symbol of pregnancy (the sun describes a spiral in its movements every three months; a triple spiral represents nine months), an idea reinforced by the womblike nature of the structure. The symbol also suggests reincarnation- it is drawn in one continuous line, suggesting a continuous movement of time.

Triskeles are one of the most common elements of Celtic art; they are found in a variety of styles in both ancient and modern Celtic art, especially in relation to depictions of the Mother Goddess. They also evoke the Celtic concept of the domains of material existence- earth, water, and sky, and their interelations.

***I hope this was useful and informative!***

 

"Tuan"

(By Nicholas R. Mann)

I am Tuan.

I am the stag-horned, eagle feathered one.

I see all things.

I have been since before the world began.

In the likeness of Queens and Princes,

In the likeness of salmon and boar,

In the likeness of heather and gorse,

Of bold oak and maiden birch, I am.

Before the nine trees of wisdom,

Before the filling of the bag of secrets,

Before the telling and weaving of every craft,

Before Manannan's Feast of Age, I am.

With the Raven I have seen the beechmast on the plains of battle.

With the Hound I have read my fate in tall stones.

With a lament beside deep lochs

I have bled out my heart in the agony of the grave.

In the lofty chambers of the winged ones,

In the passing of geese and swans,

In the triumph of the riddling rhyme of words,

I have filled my heart with every rising of the sun.

I am Tuan, the stag-horned one.

I have been since before the world began.

Before the poets on Cader Idris

My song sang of the earth, the sky and sea,

Of the adder's back, the starry web, the dance with eternity.

 

Good morning everyone! I hope everyone had a great weekend! We went to see "The Forgotten" yesterday, and we thought it was a good  movie. Not as creepy as we had hoped but a few spots had us jumping...LOL.

We saw our daughter's homecoming date while we were there and Dad's hair was starting to raise on the back of his neck as he watched "K" give him a big  hug....OOOOO! hehe! I talked to the young man on the phone last night and asked him to come over to the house before the dance for  pictures and stuff...of course the teen unit was totally embarrassed! Poor thing! HAHA HA! The  dance is this Friday night and we are all a bit testy for our own reasons...as a parent, you might guess mine and hubby's reasons!

I added two more new friends, who just recently joined the journal community, so visit them and say  hello...Miria and GyspyWynd.

Later today I will adding that info I promised...Looking for the right thing! So until then...

Blessings!

Good morning all! Hope your weekends are going well!

This morning my husband informed me about 50 times that he folded the towels and put them away...including the kitchen towels and all the washclothes....I think he wants a cookie!  Hehehe! He's so funny! He has lots to do today, including staining the deck and taking me and the teen unit to the movies later. We are going to see "The Forgotten" and see if it lives up to its previews. I'll let you know. 

Well I added a new friend to my list, Lucid, so be sure to visit his journal! Other than that, not much to more to add right now. I will try to add some more interesting info this evening, since everyone seems to like reading it. (Thanks Kal!) Have a blessed Sunday afternoon and I'll talk to you later....