Many may be asking themselves how they may celebrate Yule this year, or any other year when ours is one of sultriness and heat. Traditionally, the Pine Log is used to be decorated in tinsel, pine cones, decorations of ribbons, laces, leather tassels, skins, stones and anything that be added to give this some shimmer and shine. Although we do get variations of Pine, I do not find them as strongly scented as the Norfolk Pine used throughout my childhood, living in New Zealand.
In all context of good cheer, and what is readily available to me-the scent I find rather pleasant in a cleansing, purification type of aroma, is the Tea Tree. I decorate a piece that I find abandoned on the forest bed and decorate this with all the seasonal colors of an Australian Yule, reds, pinks, yellows, mauve and gilded tinsel to represent the sun and summer, not to mention the glorious crests of nature all about us, surrounding us like a protective mother shelters her child. My altar and table, I decorate with luminous, radiant flowers- whatever I find in bloom at this time of year, flowers that range from the fiery reds of the Poinciana, Flame Tree, variations of Banksia, and Grevillea. Passive, perfumed and peaceful whites of the Frangipani Tree and Azalea flowers that make you close your eyes and drift into the yonder of magickal and mythical places, bringing us back to our childhood when we wore the flowers in our hair, exotic and Faery-like. Mauve's and purples of the Jacaranda Tree, where tussles of purple rain gently fall from the clutches of the waving branches- purple rain drizzling across our driveways and footpaths.
A white Yule may be something to behold, but I prefer my Yule in a splash of color, like the Goddesses own rainbow- painting our landscapes with colors to inspire the wildest of imaginations and creativity. Greenery of the trees, the birds singing their sonata within a symphony of temperate breeze adorning our faces with kisses of summer. Have you ever taken the time to close your eyes and just inhale all the wonderful scents around us? Do you feel the magick all around you, smothering you like a blanket of the most wonderful energy, especially at this time of year, when excitement and celebrations are abundant, effervescent and vivacious?
In all context of good cheer, and what is readily available to me-the scent I find rather pleasant in a cleansing, purification type of aroma, is the Tea Tree. I decorate a piece that I find abandoned on the forest bed and decorate this with all the seasonal colors of an Australian Yule, reds, pinks, yellows, mauve and gilded tinsel to represent the sun and summer, not to mention the glorious crests of nature all about us, surrounding us like a protective mother shelters her child. My altar and table, I decorate with luminous, radiant flowers- whatever I find in bloom at this time of year, flowers that range from the fiery reds of the Poinciana, Flame Tree, variations of Banksia, and Grevillea. Passive, perfumed and peaceful whites of the Frangipani Tree and Azalea flowers that make you close your eyes and drift into the yonder of magickal and mythical places, bringing us back to our childhood when we wore the flowers in our hair, exotic and Faery-like. Mauve's and purples of the Jacaranda Tree, where tussles of purple rain gently fall from the clutches of the waving branches- purple rain drizzling across our driveways and footpaths.
A white Yule may be something to behold, but I prefer my Yule in a splash of color, like the Goddesses own rainbow- painting our landscapes with colors to inspire the wildest of imaginations and creativity. Greenery of the trees, the birds singing their sonata within a symphony of temperate breeze adorning our faces with kisses of summer. Have you ever taken the time to close your eyes and just inhale all the wonderful scents around us? Do you feel the magick all around you, smothering you like a blanket of the most wonderful energy, especially at this time of year, when excitement and celebrations are abundant, effervescent and vivacious?
The year starting to wind down as another year approaches, a new start, a chance when we all get a fresh slate, a new start to our lives with no regrets for what has now been and past. It does not matter how to celebrate these events, be it Thanksgiving, Yule, Christmas, Summer Solstice- or whatever title or moniker you wish to give…it is all one and the same, a time when loved ones come together to celebrate. Have no lament that ours is not a White Christmas, instead rejoice that we have been given such a profusion of vibrancy to venerate, matchless, distinctive and unique, unlike any other in the world. Give for the sake of giving, share for the blessings of sharing, rejoice in the jubilation of being alive, love like there shall be no tomorrow, shed tears if they are needed to fall- remember that tears are the rainbow of the soul. Cast aside all malice, grudges, discontent, hurt and strife; heal your heart so that you will know what it is to be 'really' alive and not a slave to negative emotions. See the New Year with a smile, gladness in your heart, positive and healed.
How do you celebrate this time of year? What foods do you relish and bring rapture to the sensation of taste buds? Snacks and sweet treats of rum balls, Yule Chocolate Balls, Cherry Caramel slices, Mars Bars Slices, Coconut Ice, White Christmas (with a tropical twist), fruit and nut loaf and everything else that makes you put weight on just by looking at it. Personally, I still do the typical Traditional style of feast, the Glazed Ham but with a tropical twist. Marinated in Pineapple Juice and Lillypilly (if I decide to be artsy) or Mango Jam.
Use a basting brush then embellish with pineapple rings held into place by cloves, and, in the center of those golden rings, a cherry fixed by a toothpick. Bake in a moderate over and keep basting with the marinade until it's a delightfully lustrous and shiny. Roast potatoes, pumpkin, sweet potato (yam) sprinkled with a dash of sea salt in just a spray of olive oil. Decorate with freshly chopped chives and mint. Mushrooms stuffed with breadcrumbs, bacon, capsicum, tomato and a little cheese and also baked in the over with just a light spray of olive oil. Then, I get creative with salads, Asparagus, pear and baby beetroot salad, Yule Summer Coleslaw, Summer Solstice salad, and just a tossed salad of lettuce, pine nuts, feta or Romano cheese, cucumber, avocado, shallots drenched in a dressing of lime juice and olive oil. Not everyone likes to eat meat so I always take this into consideration if I have Vegetarian guests and make them a banquet of Yam Balls, Vegetable bakes, breads and fruit and nut platters. And just to be real Kitchen Witchy to top it all off, out come the deserts of Pavlova, Yule Cheesecake, Fruit salad of watermelon, rockmelon, honeydew, pineapple, passionfruit, kiwi fruit, mango, banana (lady fingers), shredded coconut, and spritz with lemon juice (stops the banana and other fruit from going brown) and don't forget the ice-cream. Then sit back and enjoy Watermelon Mai Tai's & Sweet Solstice Punch (for the non-drinkers). Recipes are given at the bottom of this article.
Regardless of where you are and who you are, I hope everyone has a magickal time, enjoying it with all who you love and without a care. It doesn't matter if it is a White Christmas or a Rainbow one- we are all equally blessed by the breathless portraits of nature that Mother Nature provides us with to enjoy- it is the display of nature we are given that are the true miracles, blessings and magick we are given at this time of year. Stand out there are bask in the sumptuousness of the sunrise, the sunset and the hanging portrait of the moon stirring aloft in the cauldron of night. Raise a glass; salute our Lord and Lady, giving them thanks for everything they have provided for us in joyous salutation. Tip a little to the Mother Earth, giving to her the nourishment she provides us in return.
Leave some sweet treats out for the Fae in order that they bless us with a healthy garden and environment. Even the smallest of reverences in our eyes can equal that of the most sacred of ceremonies and rites, every small action leads to one that is far greater; even in our eyes. For every little bit that we do, we strive to better ourselves and those around us- it starts with us and finishes with us. Smile, and see how many you receive in return, laugh and the world shall laugh with you… after all laughter is the greatest of medicine. Cliché? No, it has much sentiment. Celebrate this time of year, offer thanks and be thankful. I am going to smile like I have never smiled before, laugh like I have never laughed before and the most important thing of all, is that I have beautiful people around me to share it with, my children, my husband, my dearest and most cherished friends. Thank you for this year, thank you for the friendships granted me and the special people brought into my existence, healthy children and my health in return.
How do you celebrate this time of year? What foods do you relish and bring rapture to the sensation of taste buds? Snacks and sweet treats of rum balls, Yule Chocolate Balls, Cherry Caramel slices, Mars Bars Slices, Coconut Ice, White Christmas (with a tropical twist), fruit and nut loaf and everything else that makes you put weight on just by looking at it. Personally, I still do the typical Traditional style of feast, the Glazed Ham but with a tropical twist. Marinated in Pineapple Juice and Lillypilly (if I decide to be artsy) or Mango Jam.
Use a basting brush then embellish with pineapple rings held into place by cloves, and, in the center of those golden rings, a cherry fixed by a toothpick. Bake in a moderate over and keep basting with the marinade until it's a delightfully lustrous and shiny. Roast potatoes, pumpkin, sweet potato (yam) sprinkled with a dash of sea salt in just a spray of olive oil. Decorate with freshly chopped chives and mint. Mushrooms stuffed with breadcrumbs, bacon, capsicum, tomato and a little cheese and also baked in the over with just a light spray of olive oil. Then, I get creative with salads, Asparagus, pear and baby beetroot salad, Yule Summer Coleslaw, Summer Solstice salad, and just a tossed salad of lettuce, pine nuts, feta or Romano cheese, cucumber, avocado, shallots drenched in a dressing of lime juice and olive oil. Not everyone likes to eat meat so I always take this into consideration if I have Vegetarian guests and make them a banquet of Yam Balls, Vegetable bakes, breads and fruit and nut platters. And just to be real Kitchen Witchy to top it all off, out come the deserts of Pavlova, Yule Cheesecake, Fruit salad of watermelon, rockmelon, honeydew, pineapple, passionfruit, kiwi fruit, mango, banana (lady fingers), shredded coconut, and spritz with lemon juice (stops the banana and other fruit from going brown) and don't forget the ice-cream. Then sit back and enjoy Watermelon Mai Tai's & Sweet Solstice Punch (for the non-drinkers). Recipes are given at the bottom of this article.
Regardless of where you are and who you are, I hope everyone has a magickal time, enjoying it with all who you love and without a care. It doesn't matter if it is a White Christmas or a Rainbow one- we are all equally blessed by the breathless portraits of nature that Mother Nature provides us with to enjoy- it is the display of nature we are given that are the true miracles, blessings and magick we are given at this time of year. Stand out there are bask in the sumptuousness of the sunrise, the sunset and the hanging portrait of the moon stirring aloft in the cauldron of night. Raise a glass; salute our Lord and Lady, giving them thanks for everything they have provided for us in joyous salutation. Tip a little to the Mother Earth, giving to her the nourishment she provides us in return.
Leave some sweet treats out for the Fae in order that they bless us with a healthy garden and environment. Even the smallest of reverences in our eyes can equal that of the most sacred of ceremonies and rites, every small action leads to one that is far greater; even in our eyes. For every little bit that we do, we strive to better ourselves and those around us- it starts with us and finishes with us. Smile, and see how many you receive in return, laugh and the world shall laugh with you… after all laughter is the greatest of medicine. Cliché? No, it has much sentiment. Celebrate this time of year, offer thanks and be thankful. I am going to smile like I have never smiled before, laugh like I have never laughed before and the most important thing of all, is that I have beautiful people around me to share it with, my children, my husband, my dearest and most cherished friends. Thank you for this year, thank you for the friendships granted me and the special people brought into my existence, healthy children and my health in return.
Thank you for all the insights, the trails and tribulations,
the tears, the laughter and the understanding.
Have a wonderful Summer Solstice, a spectacular Yule
and a
Merry, Merry Christmas to all.
