Have a Happy and Healthy Yule!

Love and Light,
Aphaiawyn <3

It's The End Of The World As We Know It... Plus Some Astrology.

First of all, I'm crazy about R.E.M.  Second, the world will not be ending on the Winter Solstice this year.  I desperately hope that the people who subscribe to my blog are intelligent enough to realize that the Mayan calendar is a circle, a wheel, just like the Wiccan Wheel of the Year, and that because a circle has no end, the Mayans did not predict the end of the world.  In fact, when we get to the "end" of the Mayan Calendar, we just start over again into a new age. 


Let me explain:

Astrology is a study that attempts to combine science and mysticism, but it hasn't been properly updated with the shifts in our heavens (read this article for more info).  I first learned about this in my Intro to Physical Science class a few years ago when my professor walked into class one morning and announced that whatever zodiac sign we think we are, we're probably not, no offense.  He had us do a worksheet that showed us what zodiac sign we most likely are according to how the stars have shifted.  If you're near to the beginning of your sign's range, you're most likely actually aligned with the sign before that.  For example, I've grown up believing I'm a Gemini (born on June 2), but since I'm close to the beginning of Gemini's range, I'm actually most likely a Taurus.  Those born near the end of their sign's range, are probably still the same sign.

Of course, as I said earlier, astrology attempts to combine science and mysticism.  I have looked at both the Taurus personality type and the Gemini type and I find that I'm a combination of both.  This may be partially or wholly because I grew up believing I was a Gemini and therefore grew into the Gemini personality type, although it may not.  I am of a completely different personality than the rest of my family, however.  Anyway, I'm digressing into what could be a whole other blog post.  Back to the topic at hand!

An astronomical movement known as precession of the equinoxes adds to the scientific explanation of astronomy and the act of moving through the ages.  Here's a video that's approximately 7 minutes long; it does a much better job than I can of explaining this phenomenon:

In case you're not interested in watching the video, the point is that we move into a new astrological age every 2, 156 years or so.  We are currently in the age of Pisces (the Fish) and the next age will be the age of Aquarius (the Water Bearer).  This article points out that we can begin to feel the effects of a new age about 500-600 years before the age officially arrives, and that tidbit conveniently coincides with the estimated birth of Jesus.  That tidbit also conveniently coincides with the end of the Mayan Calendar, a.k.a. December 21, 2012, a.k.a. Yule or the Winter Solstice 2012.  The age of Aquarius isn't scheduled to officially begin until the year 2654, however astrologers are pointing out that it's no coincidence that the end of the Mayan calendar falls within 650 years of the beginning of a new astrological age.


My point for this whole blog post is this: the end of the world is not nigh, although the end of an age is upon us.  The end of the Mayan calendar is only a prelude to a new age, and the epilogue of an old one.  When the Mayan calendar comes to it's end, it will simply continue to turn and begin anew, just like we currently do at the end of every December, ushering in a new January every year.

Yule 2012

Holy crap, next Friday is Yule! It's crazy how time flies. I would really like to celebrate the longest night by seeing it through to fruition and welcoming the sun back into the sky on December 22.

This celebration reminds me of New Year's Eve because of waiting through the night. If I had a house, I'd have organized and planned a Yule party, but I doubt my roommate would appreciate me taking over the apartment if she has to work early in the morning.
Ah well, maybe next year. This year I may talk my husband into staying up with me and keeping a 12-hour candle burning through the night. A simple celebration is better than none at all, I suppose.

Anyway, a merry Yule to all my readers and subscribers, and may your holiday be one of love and cheer, whichever holiday you choose to celebrate! <3

Love & light!

A Festive Yule to All

Here's wishing everyone a merry and festive Yule today!

Yule is a holiday that many Pagans celebrate alongside or instead of Christmas.  Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, many Africans celebrate Kwanza, etc.  At this point in my life, I'm celebrating both Pagan and Christian holidays.

Pagan holidays follow the seasons and the cycle of the earth.  Today is Yule, a.k.a. the Winter Solstice.  Tonight we will experience Last night we experienced the longest night of the year, and today we will experience the least amount of day-time.  Starting tomorrow, though, each day will grow longer and longer as we approach spring and summer.  Yule is also known as Mid-Winter.

In older days, in Norse and Germanic cultures, Yule eve was a time when the rebirth of the sun was awaited with baited breath, and the morning was a time of joy and celebration.  Many of these people would light candles or bonfires and keep them burning throughout the night to help the sun make it's journey back up into the sky.

Yule is also the time of year that many Pagans celebrate the Oak King's rebirth.  This correlation with Christmas and the birth of Jesus is not coincidence.  Many traditions now associated with Christmas started as Yule celebrations.

The Yule Log

I found this excerpt here:

                  "The ceremonial Yule log was the highlight of the Solstice festival. In accordance to tradition, the log must either have been harvested from the householder's land, or given as a gift... it must never have been bought. Once dragged into the house and placed in the fireplace it was decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze by a piece of last years log, (held onto for just this purpose). The log would burn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days afterward before being ceremonially put out. Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. It is the sacred world tree of the Teutons, known as Yggdrasil. An herb of the Sun, Ash brings light into the hearth at the Solstice."

There is another type of Yule log, possibly more suitable for the times we live in:  this version of the yule log is actually a smaller ash log, cut in half, with 3 holes traditionally drilled in it for candles.  Don't worry about being too close to tradition if you want to be creative, though.  Below is another version of a Yule log someone made and I think it's wonderful!  It can be decorated with holly and mistletoe, and it makes a beautiful centerpiece for a holiday table.

The Yule Tree

 

 Another excerpt from another page:

                     "The Celtic Druids decorated the evergreen trees at Yule with all the images of the things they wished the waxing year to bring. Fruits for a successful harvest, love charms for happiness, nuts for fertility, and coins for wealth adorned the trees. These were forerunners to many of the images on today's Christmas trees. Candles were the forerunners of today's electric tree lights.

                      "In Scandinavia, Yule trees were brought inside to provide a warm and festive place for tree elementals who inhabited the woodland. This was also a good way to coax the native faery folk to participate in Solstice rituals. Some believed the Saxons were the first to place candles in the tree."




My personal celebration of Yule really only goes as far as the time of year and the Winter Solstice, however I do enjoy the lore surrounding this holiday and the history of it.  This year, my Christmas tree is actually a Yule tree, and through the years I plan to collect ornaments that will symbolize my hopes and wishes for the coming year.



Merry Yule to you all!