A to Z Challenge -- Y -- LOG, GRAVEYARD, AND A DAY

YEW -- English Yew is a long lived tree found in many graveyards across Great Britain and many predate the churches, which may have roots in Druid groves.  It was a sacred tree to the Druids.  It was a symbol for immortality, death and rebirth.  It can live for 1000 years or more.  There are estimates that some trees are even 4000 years old!  It is one of the oldest known species of tree. Weapon handles were made from its wood.  Its a poisonous plant.  It has connections to the Otherworld.

YULE -- It is celebrated on the Winter Solstice, around December 21.  It is the rebirth of the God as one of the eight Sabbats of the Wheel of the Year.  Many of the Christmas traditions come from this holiday, including the hanging of mistletoe and the Yule log.

The Yule log was burned to celebrate the the rebirth of the sun.

Many cultures shared this celebration in different forms like the Egyptians, Celts, Norse (Juul), Romans (Saturnalia), and Germanic tribes.

The burning of the Yule log is a tradition that has been carried on for at least a thousand year or more.  A piece from the old Yule log (kept for protection through the year) kindles the new Yule log after a piece is taken from it for the next.  There are certain rituals and superstitions about how the log is decorated and received, but I'm not going to get into them.

YEAR AND A DAY -- December 23.  The Druid lunar months consisted of 28 days in each of the 13 months.  It was used in courts of law.  Mistletoe rules this day, which was called All Heal, Golden Bough and a few other names.

Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

A to Z Challenge -- E -- CEREMONY, POWER, AND FOOD

ELEMENTS --  These are Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and most times Akasha, which is the elemental spiritual power throughout the universe.  Each of these elements are representative of specific type of magic, a direction, and many other aspects of Wicca.  Earth and Water are both under the Goddess and Fire and Air the God.

A Symbol for Earth

EARTH -- One of the four Elements.  It's compass direction is North and is associated with the color green. Salt is the one of the most commonly used symbol for Earth.  It is feminine in nature and is receptive in nature.  Herbalism, stones and gems, and most anything dealing with Earth are part of Earth magic. Fertility magic falls under this element. The Pentacle is the tool associated with this Element.

ESBAT --  (Pronouced Ess-bot)  Esbats are different from Sabbats.  It is a ritual (and gathering if one is in a coven) that does not involve a holiday like Beltane.  Many practice esbats at the full moon when the Goddess is at her full power, but esbats can be held at the moon's other phases as well.

Esbats are more 'working' ceremonies.  Depending on the moon phase, specific goals like a healing ceremony are performed.

Cakes and Ale is a ceremony where food and drink is shared between the solitary practitioner and the Goddess, or the coven and the Goddess.  It is an offering of appreciation to her.  I say food and drink because the libation and food are flexible.  They can anything from wine and cake literally or cookies and fruit juice.

Esbats share similarities to communion rites.


EVOCATION -- This is a term sometimes confused with Invocation.  Evocation is when a spirit or deity is summoned/asked to join the summoner/s into a circle.  Basically it's saying, "Hey, hang out with us."  Usually it is the Goddess and God called to empower a circle even more.


Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

A to Z Challenge -- C -- CUP, POTION, AND WANING MOON

CAULDRON -- It is a symbolic of the Goddess' womb and associated with the element water.  Only it can be linked to all elements since it is used as an all purpose tool to create spells, burn things, use it for scrying, and many other things.

It is associated with the Celtic goddess Cerridwen. The dead were brought back to life when placed in her cauldron.

CHALICE -- The chalice is associated with the element water and is used to represent it on the altar.  It is used for rituals as well.  They can be ornate or as simple as a mug. It is is used with the athame to perform the Great Rite, which is the symbolic joining of the God and Goddess.


CHARM -- An object charged with energy for a specific task.


CIRCLE --  This is the the place that ritual magic takes place.  It is formed through personal energy and visualization.


CRONE -- The third aspect of the Goddess.  She is the is symbolized by the waning crescent moon.  She is part of winter when the land is cold.  She is the old wise woman.  She is the end of the cycle before rebirth.


Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

A to Z Challenge -- B -- BROOM, FERTILITY, AND PERSECUTION

BESOM -- This is the classical witch's broom.  It is used to cleanse an area of negative energy before casting a circle.  They were originally used as ordinary brooms.  In some places, they are still used as such.  The besom's staff is made of ash, the bristles are birch twigs, and they are tied together by thin willow wood strips.  Besoms were and are used in Handfasting ceremonies because it both thought to be feminine and masculine.

BELTANE -- (Pronounced bell-tayn, Beel-teen)  This Sabbat is also known by the name May Day.  It is a celebration of fertility.  To celebrate the fertility of the land, many would gather around balefires, dance, and well, . . . you know.

It symbolizes the sexual union of the Goddess and God.  Also, the Celts revered the the sun god, Bel.

The Romans had a festival called Floralia, which is for the fertility goddess Flora.  It was similar to May Day, where flowers, dancing, and revelry were used to honor Her.

People still celebrate Beltane and May Day.  Dancing around the May Pole is still popular.  Just so's ya know, the May Pole is symbolic for a man's manly bits. Some places have the May Queen choose the May King (Green Man, Jack-in-the-Green, or one of many names) and they are married albeit symbolically or truly handfasted.  They are the physical representation of the God and Goddess union.

BURNING TIMES -- This is a reference for when many people were tortured and burned.  More of them were women and children.  I'm not talking about just the Spanish Inquisition.  They had their share, but there were other times when so called witches were persecuted.  Let's just say that many of them were innocent and falsely accused.

 BOLINE/BOLLINE -- This is the the working blade. This knife is used to prepare herbs, cut string, and many other physical tasks. They can be both straight or curved.  They are sometimes on the altar.

Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.

A to Z Challenge -- A -- BLADE, BREATH, AND CARD

A Symbol for Air

AIR -- One of the four Elements.  It is associated with the East. The color that is associated with it is yellow.  The wand is the ritual tool that is associated with it.  Wind magic, divination, travel, and intellectual/mental stimulation are all ruled.  Psychic powers, dreams, and wishes are also associated with this element.  On the altar, a feather is the most usual symbol placed there because winged animal and insects are represented by this element.  It is a projective element.  It is masculine in nature.

ALTAR -- This is the one of the most basic things. It's the place where ritual tools are set to perform ceremonies, sabbats, and esbats. Most altars are split into three sections. The left for the Goddess, the right for the God, and the center is usually a working area belonging to both.  Elemental representations can also be found in the central area.  Most altars are set up facing North or East.  They can be as elaborate or as simple as desired.

AMULET -- This is an object used to deflect specific (like negative) energies away from a person.  It's used as a protective object that is magically charged.  Many things can be an amulet including stone, wood, sachet of herbs, and a host of other things.  It all depends on what is needed to be deflected.

APRIL -- This comes from a Roman word Aprilis and perhaps refers to aperire. It means "to open" in Latin, which most likely means the opening of buds and blossoms. Plus, it may refer to Aphrodite a.k.a. Venus. This was the time of fertility. The Veneralia was celebrated by the Romans on the first. It honored Venus.

ATHAME -- Pronounced ah-Tham-ee, Ath-ah-may, ah-Thaw-may.  This is a ritual tool.  This knife is usually double edged and most likely will have a black handle.  It is consecrated and cleansed of negativity before use.  It is never, never used to cut physical objects. It is one of the symbolic God items and therefore usually placed on the right side of the altar.  

ARCANA -- This is what the two halves of the tarot deck are called.  There are 22 major arcana (e.g. The Tower, The Lovers, The World) and 56 minor arcana.

There are four suits in the minor arcana. Cups, pentacles, swords, and wands are the most recognized ones, but there can be named differently.  For example, wands can also go by rods, staves, or spears.

They predate the modern playing card decks, but a modern 52 card deck can be used in a similar fashion as tarot.


Disclaimer: None of these pictures belong to me.  I found them on Google.