If you read my post from yesterday about getting ready for the Winter Solstice, you’ll remember that I’m (virtually) joining with the Three Cranes Grove to take part in their annual Yule Along. Today is the day to begin and welcome the winter wanderer. Since a day to celebrate winter and snow comes later, I felt that, although An Cailleach fits the role of winter wanderer, she is better suited to the later. Instead, my family gave offerings to Manannán mac Lir. As a gatekeeper deity, it seemed fitting to honor him as we start our winter festivities. We prayed that he help us focus on the Kindreds and the truly important aspects of the season rather than becoming distracted by anything that would close the doors on our spiritual connections – gift anxiety, family drama, baking stress…
We also decided to adopt a tradition our German grovie Holda taught us. Each day of the Yule Along (essentially the “Twelve Days” everyone sings about), we’ll draw a card that corresponds to one month of the coming year. Tonight we drew a card for January 2014. The boar brings tidings of challenges but also the warrior spirit, indicating that we have what it takes to survive.
You’ll notice I haven’t had a chance to decorate my altar yet. By the time we finished dinner, it was dark out and we needed to get groceries for our feasting! Thankfully, my other grovie Tara gave each of us a rock painted with mistletoe! That is on my altar and standing in for all the beautiful greenery I’ve yet to collect.
I’m looking forward to tomorrow. It is “Mother’s Night” and I’m going to honor my own mother, my ancestral mothers, prepare the home and, somehow, make some time for myself.
Author M. A. Phillips 