"The Yule Log": A Remembrance of Solstice Past

Part 2: "Longest Night: The Yule Festivity of 1987"

It was 5pm on that already cold December night, and I was ready for a Yule to remember! I would like to mention that traditionally the Wiccan "Yule" celebration is what is referred to as a "crossover" Holiday because of the similarities to the celebration and concept of the Judeo-Christian Christmas (And Easter) as well. It is a time when Wiccans celebrate the death and rebirth (resurrection!), of the Sun-God (Son, of God… see how it begins to blend the two holidays already?).

Yule shows the Goddess at this time in her "death" aspect, The cold and dark, frozen winter Lady/Goddess, in preparation to birth the new "God of the Sun" who shall rule in future months to come as the wheel of the year turns. Interesting huh? The "Official" Yule Log (or substitution for it, It's a symbolic gesture and the THOUGHT that counts!) is burned as a token or offering to ensure the return of the Sun, the "God of Life".

The next question I know you are avidly awaiting answer to is "JimmiRae, Is there REALLY a "Yule Log"?". Yes, Dear Friends, There is REALLY a Yule Log. It is a piece of "Log de Jour" (or even a simple incense stick if you are a solitary practitioner) that we burn in either the cauldron or simply upon the open hearth. In our own rite, since we were doing an indoor celebration, The Yule Log was always a glowing warm log of wood burning in the H.P.'s cauldron (Yes it WAS a cauldron, Right out of the pages of the Bard and sitting center square in her living room where we would have circle!) and was always quite nice to snuggle up around. Very nice & toasty, too bad we had no chestnuts handy… up oh well!

Upon arrival I unloaded my own bag of goodies and was asked to relax and make myself comfortable. I greeted "Ma", (H.P.'s Mother) who was what the French refer to as "A Certain Age", a very kind and compassionate lady. I'm sure by looking into those ancient yet still sparkling eyes of hers that she had a few choice volumes of wisdom and mirth in her had she ever cared to share them in book form, alas, that was never to transpire. It would have been well worth a read!

Ma had seen better days and had been ailing for quite some time now, but this was one of those strong ladies who never complained as a rule of thumb. She went on to the Summerland a few years later and I send her loving thoughts when she crosses my mind, with my brightest blessings and a big hug, Even those in spirit still love those big hugs, tell that to the "Boogey Man" called "Death"! Ha!

Next to arrive was our "Maven" friend. She was actually a very nice woman when she had a mind to be, She simply had a tendency to be very condescending to those closest to her so she could feel validated and important at the expense of others. Oh yes, and she did love to tell some "Whoppers" on a regular basis, none of which we believed though. We knew better.

We were simply being kind to this obviously lonely individual ("Maven"!) seeking approval and ever-elusive "true love". (On a rather funny note, This "Maven of Love Unrequited" started a business for herself a few years later billing herself as an Ordained Reverend and Metaphysical Love Counselor, specializing in mending all of your "Affairs of the Heart"…NOT! At least, I hope not, as I find that thought rather frightening.)

As everyone gathered, The H.P. opened the circle with myself being selected to sweep the sacred space clean with her own besom, an ancient term for the witch's "Broom". She then continued in such magickal style and grace to consecrate the sacred circle and to call in the guardians of the watchtowers for power and protection.

Like always, When my turn came and she asked "How dost ye wish to enter this sacred circle?" I humbly replied "In perfect love and perfect trust", and then with her kiss, I was in! When the celebrants were all in and the circle was closed as a "World between Worlds" and a "Time in no Time", we began our Yule ritual.

I, of course, cannot divulge the actual ritual in itself except to say that it was one of the most magnificent and truly magickal times of my life. I am at liberty to say that I was gifted with many lovely things that evening and my personal favorite was a large, gold plated chalice from my H.P., Which I was so very proud of as it looked like my own personal "Holy Grail", which it was! And the special "Holiday Wine" the H.P. had flown in from upstate New York was so delicious, to the smell as well as the taste. I have never seen evidence of this wine since that night… but if I had to describe it, all I could say was it was sweeter to the nose than incense, sweeter to the lips than honey, and smelled like "Christmas"!

I do trust you can envision even a mere fragment of this Yuletide picture I attempt to paint in words for you, as some such things are…unexplainable. I also got all the books I had wished for as well as some beautiful and quite functional quartz crystals as well. We finished our libations and ritual and closed the circle together with our H.P. leading the way through this darkest of nights as the Goddess gave life once again and promised to us all the return of our new "Sun-King".

After we ate and made merry and took all the leftovers and did as the H.P. instructed, which was, to go outside and put underneath a nice tree for all the little animals to find and nibble upon, after all, this was their Yule too!

I do hope I have not led you astray by mentioning all of the beautiful presents I had received, as this was just secondary. The "Main Event" was the unconditional love, the peace and the spirit I had experienced within that Yule circle celebration that cold and lovely evening of Yule, 1987, which will always warm the cockles of my heart on a cold winters night.

And now at last, it is at hand once again. Blessed Be, Everybody. Blessed Be, Absent Friends. Blessed Be, Yule of 1987 and Blessed Be, Yule of 1999. "Merry Meet, Merry Part and Merry Meet Again"!!!