Here's my little fake tree from Walgreens. Yes, I am aware that my ornaments are not strictly Pagan but they mean something to me and it's my spiritual space so that's what's important.
Some more little decor from Walgreens plus my two candles. One is from Bath and Body Works. The 'Tis the Season scent in case anyone cares. It's awesome. The other is from Joann's that I got last year, and I have never lit it because I don't want to melt away the pretty!
Bird's eye view of the decor. Yay sparkles, they just feel festive to me.
This year is going to be my first year actually celebrating Yule/Solstice. When I was younger it was always Christmas, with my mom it wasn't really that religious. Except for the one year we went to the midnight Christmas Eve service at First Presbyterian in Palo Alto when I was six or seven. With my dad it was always rather traditionally Christian. This year though, I am finally doing a little Pagan celebration. Though I don't know what yet. So far I just have my altar. Any suggestions for what you and yours have done would be very welcome!
All I know so far is that me, my boyfriend and my best friend will be meeting up at her house on the 21st. Other than a present exchange we haven't figured out any rituals or what not. I am still doing the "normal" Christmas thing with my mommies (my mom and her wife). Complete with stockings and Christmas morning waffles. Although it will have to be the weekend before Christmas, because I work retail and my mommies will be leaving for Connecticut on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve at midnight I will be at my boyfriend's for his family Christmas. And now that you know every detail of my Christmas I am going to shut up and go away.
Cute! Seriously, I think, the most important aspect of a Yule Altar is what it means to you, so I guess, you've done a great job! ^^
ReplyDeleteWe've used to set up a small Yule Altar every year with my best friend, we placed it on a self - made, embroidered tablecloth with a bunch of yellow and golden, and red candles, mistletoe (once I fell off a tree while fetching it...), and a big bell. :)
Thank you! :) Also you picked mistletoe yourself? That's awesome!
DeleteAwesome! Awesome! Awesome! hmmm ... Yule is the time of the rebirth of the Sun. It's a time of hope. For a good place to start I recommend looking at Scott Cunningham's "Solitary Practitioner" or Starhawk's "Spiral Dance." One nice thing to do is to light all the candles in the house, exchange gifts, have some awesome food, and stay up until sunrise. Go outside and sing to the sun!!! :) Welcome him back to your life. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for participating ... and let me know how your ritual goes.
Thank you for the idea! Not sure I'll be able to stay up that late due to my work schedule. But I think we'll definitely light as many candles as we can find!
DeleteIt's nice that you're developing your own meaningful traditions while still keeping the ones with your family. And I agree - there's nothing like glitter at Christmas (and Hallowe'en and Valentines, etc. etc.)! I lit one of my new black sparkly candles last night and now I'm kind of regretting it myself - they just don't look as nice afterwards in the display! :D
ReplyDeleteThank you. And yes glitter on everything!
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