Daniel Pharr
The midpoint of the winter season and shortest day of the year, Yule is seldom the coldest of winter days, even though reason would suggest that shorter days would also be colder days. The coldest days of winter are usually in January, or even in February after Imbolc, the first day of spring. However, this is the time of year when folks hope for snow. The Yule celebration always seems perfect when giant snowflakes are gently falling on a windless moonlit night. A fire is a must on this high holiday, as it symbolizes the rebirth of the Sun, although many find an indoor fire more appropriate for the more intimate gathering that usually happens on the solstice. Dinner and the exchange of gifts are simply easier in the warmth of dry indoors.
Scorpio Moon
The Scorpio Moon will arrive at 7:57 the morning of December 21 and hang out for two days, but will go void after just a day and a half, on the twenty-second at 11:27 p.m. During the time that the Moon is in Scorpio, emotions may feel intense and prove to be a challenge. Envy and avarice will be on the rise, especially in groups, making this a less-than-favorable time to exchange gifts. Sexual energy will be running with little regard for subtlety, which will further add fuel to the covetousness already present. Unless big drama is the desire, keep the gathering intimate.
Yule Log
Light the yule log with coals saved from last year’s log. Oak is the traditional Yule wood for the ritual fire, but as always, use what can be found. Draw a figure of an old woman on the new log with chalk, or by other means, and burn it to ashes as a metaphor for the death and rebirth of the Goddess. Make the fire’s complete consumption of the wise crone depiction a group priority and ask for volunteers to take turns holding a vigil on the pyre. The total destruction of the figure bodes well for the total avoidance of misfortune in the coming year. Play games and enjoy the celebration while she burns.
Make a wassail for the celebration. Always appropriate for the Yule feast are soup and bread, and that which is gathered from nature, such as nuts, meats, and apples. Recent harvest stores will provide the ingredients for pies and cakes, cheeses, anything roasted, and eggnog, mulled wine, or mead to wash it all down.
The Yule candle burns all night. The flame is sacred to the Goddess and was kept burning all year long by the ancient Druids, and, likewise, secretly by the nuns of Glastonbury to honor the Goddess, even though the flame had been ordered to be extinguished by the Church. Be sure to place it in the confines of something
non-combustible that cannot be inadvertently tipped or covered by dancing dogs or curious kitties.
Christmas
Once the Moon fully enters Sagittarius at 11:34 a.m. on December 23, a more frisky energy will arrive, although those more sensitive to her energies might feel the Moon’s movement to void-of-course late on the twenty-second. This Sagittarius Moon will be more conducive to fun and frolic. Take this opportunity to gather with friends and read the tarot or cast the stones, for this Moon will be all about giving advice. Folks will be interested in travel, foreign and domestic, and any outdoor activities, if anyone needs gift ideas. This playful Moon will carry through until Christmas morning at 6:18 a.m., when the Moon goes void and makes its journey out of Sagittarius and into stern and ordered Capricorn. If Christmas celebrations are planned, Christmas Eve might be better suited, especially if the celebrations will extend into the wee hours of the twenty-fifth. Christmas morning will best experienced drinking coffee and lazing in pajamas, while the afternoon, especially after 4:45 p.m. when Capricorn imposes its rules, will be best utilized cleaning up from the night before. If everyone gets involved, quick work will be made of it.
Dark Christmas Moon
The Capricorn dark Moon will arrive Christmas night, but not fully culminate until twelve minutes after midnight on the twenty-sixth. The black night will provide the perfect opportunity to become one with the lunar energies and have some downtime. Take a “me” day. The twenty-sixth is in the middle of the week, so if work is a must, try to avoid taking on any new projects until the Aquarius Moon arrives on the twenty-eighth.
New Year
The conventional New Year’s Eve will be consumed under a pleasant Pisces Moon coming into play at 10:41 p.m. on December 30. Connection will be the catchphrase of this holiday. Increased approachability and receptivity will bring people closer more quickly, allowing for less awkwardness when the time arrives for the midnight kiss. The body will also be more greatly affected by cocktails and the like.
Full Moon
The Leo Full Moon will arrive at 2:21 p.m. on January 10 but will not last long, as the Moon will void its course four hours later at 6:58 p.m. The sun will set at 4:47 p.m., leaving a very short opportunity for a Full Moon ritual before the energies shift into unpredictability. If magical business is to be done during the Full Moon ritual, plan ahead to take advantage of the Leo influence.
Dark Moon
The dark Aquarius Moon at 4:21 p.m. on January 24 will provide an excellent opportunity for time alone and inner exploration, although it is not so much a time for introspection and growth as it is for planning, the analysis of past interactions, and understanding the now and how it might lead to the future. Knowledge is power, as they say, and this Moon will help to uncover knowledge hidden by previous circumstance. A personal retreat for a day or even a long weekend could do wonders.
Gardening
Plenty of food has been stored from the harvests, and the gardens are just now giving up their last grip on their bounty. Black radish, leeks, kale, carrots, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts are finishing the season.
Work the ground. Pull the weeds and grass that took root during the last season. Remove rotting and finished plants. Burn the weeds, grass, and diseased plants. Compost all heathy organic matter. Cover the garden and let it hibernate. Seeds that dropped will freeze over the winter and crack open. These will become volunteers next spring and sprout as soon as the earth is warm again. Now the garden gets time to rest after preparation for the next growing season.