No rest for the wiccan

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/12/2018 (2773 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year.

I don’t mean Christmas, I mean the dark time. The short days and the long nights. There is something primal about this season. It’s the feeling that you should be hunkered down in front of a fire, indoors or out, listening to thrilling stories and sipping nog.

Winter isn’t just coming, baby, it’s here. And it’s cold outside.

There is another celebration to be had at this time of year — and I’m not referring to Frank Costanza’s “Festivus for the rest of us.” (Although I understand many families enjoy the ritual “airing of grievances,” which can be risky around an open fire.)

There is a much older tradition, shared by many cultures long before Christmas… or Seinfeld. It’s winter solstice: a time to embrace the longest night of the year, make a little noise to scare off the dark and welcome the sun back.

Lots of people everywhere have continued, or adopted, spiritual practices and celebrations that recognize and honour those things around us without which we cannot live: The earth, the water, the air, the sun. And winter solstice is the time to send long dark nights on their way so long sunny days can return.

So, how to celebrate this winter solstice on Dec. 21? Here are some suggestions to help you throw together a get-together on Friday night:

1. Take a pre-party nap if you can.

In a perfect world, you would stay up and watch the sun return, banging on some pots and pans or drums to chase the dark away. The longest night and the sun isn’t scheduled to rise until 8:25 a.m.

2. Make a yule log. A real yule log. Not chocolate.

Burning a yule log is an old, old tradition. Generally speaking, it symbolizes renewal and the meeting of masculine and feminine energetic aspects of nature. Oak is traditional, but other woods are fine.

Choose one that appeals to you and set about adding a few natural, burnable, enhancements that you can affix to the log with a little melted candle wax.

You might have a log that has some natural crevices that can be used for tucking items in. Examples might be pine cones, dried flowers, incense cones or sticks, a small envelope with cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, whole allspice, even a few slivers of dried orange peel. You can add notes with wishes or goals on them to be burned with the log.

If you don’t have a place to burn a fire, you can create a centrepiece out of a small log to hold three candles. You could also spread woodsy items on a tray with tall candles in the middle. It’s fire — so vigilance is imperative. No kids running around.

Gather your loved ones around, light the fire or the candles and take the opportunity for some quiet talk or storytelling and some games.

Traditionally, the cooled ashes or leftover candle wax are gathered and kept in a cloth bag to protect the home throughout the year.

3. Add a little libation to the mix. Or mix to your libation.

This recipe for mulled wine was originally developed to be “paired” with Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Hamlet may not be winter solstice, but it’s a good, dark ghost story, perfect on a cold night.

This recipe and description is excerpted from Literary Libations by Amira K. Makansi (Copyright © 2018) with illustrations by Elena Makansi and is used with permission from Skyhorse Publishing.

Mulled Wine

Set in the frigid Kingdom of Denmark and laden with enough existential angst to torture even a Buddhist monk, you’ll need something to warm your soul through this dark and potent story. Mulled wine is simple enough to make and will provide you with enough alcohol to trudge through the bitter depths of this play while reassuring you that there really is a light at the end of the tunnel. Break a leg, and remember to check your glass for poisoned pearls before you tip your cup. Serves 6-8.

Ingredients

125 ml (½ cup) brown sugar

About 20 cardamom pods

3-4 sticks of cinnamon

15 ml (1 tbsp) whole cloves

5 ml (1 tsp) crystallized ginger

2 bottles (750 mL) red table wine

500 ml (2 cups) white port wine

Raisins, for garnish

Slivered almonds, for garnish

In a large mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and ginger with red wine and white port. Allow this mixture to sit for at least 1 to 2 hours, but ideally overnight.

Before serving, heat the mixture on the stove in a non-aluminum pan and bring to a gentle simmer. Do not allow the mixture to boil (or you will cook off all your alcohol, and what a waste that would be).

When the mixture is heated through and the spices well-incorporated, strain through a sieve. Garnish with a handful of raisins and slivered almonds.

Serve hot. For the kids, serve your standard hot chocolate with marshmallows or a warmed, non-alcoholic apple cider with a cinnamon stick.

4. Cast a spell

Call it a wish or a spell, magic or goal-setting — the longest night is the perfect time for a little introspection. This spell for peace of mind comes from a charming set of cards called The Modern Wiccan Box of Spells. Take some time to think and share thoughts, and cast some good forward to precede you as the days now grow longer.

This spell card is excerpted from The Modern Wiccan Box of Spells by Gillian Kemp (Copyright © 2018), illustrations © CICO Books, and is used with permission from CICO Books.

Spell: for Peace of Mind

In front of a mirror, symbolic of the moon’s reflection, burn frankincense and myrrh incense, or anoint a white or silver candle with frankincense and myrrh oil. Both have a purifying influence.

Sit in front of the mirror and look at a picture of a dove. Focus on the dove, allowing the peace essence of the dove to imbue you with tranquillity. Your mirrored reflection is your soul, the dove is the guiding spirit.

When you are at peace, snuff the candle out.

5. Sing. Make some kind of noise.

Scare off the dark so the sun can come back. You will need lots of percussion, including all manner of drums, shakers, spoons, tambourines and bells (jingle and otherwise).

Got musicians? Horns, woodwinds and even dollar-store recorders will add to the din. Singing is good.

This is your chance to belt out George Harrison’s Here Comes the Sun and really mean it.

6. And finally… remember others.

With the dark comes the cold. Share some warmth and invite others to do the same. There are plenty of places to drop off much needed outdoor clothing items.

Check their websites for drop-off times and locations, and for donation guidelines.

● Siloam Mission: (siloam.ca/make-an-impact/donate-goods) winter clothing, food and other items.

Phone: 204-956-4344.

● Koats for Kids: (unitedwaywinnipeg.ca/koatsforkids) Donate all sizes, infants to youth, of new and gently used winter gear. Donation hotline: 204-477-UWAY (8929).

● Main Street Project: (mainstreetproject.ca/donate) Warm winter clothing. Phone: 204-982-8257.

● Manitoba Association of Women’s Shelters: (maws.mb.ca) has a list of contacts for shelters throughout the city and province. Visit the website and use the list to contact a shelter you’d like to help, or donate directly to MAWS.

Administration line: 204-430-4346.

● 1 Just City: (1justcity.ca) Turn your winter solstice party into a fundraiser for Just a Warm Sleep and provide a warm, safe night for others. A donation of $250 cleans, opens and secures the community space with BearPaw staff. Phone: 204-995-2944.

Twitter: @WendyKinginWpg