Yule

It's getting much closer to Yule and I'm extremely excited for it. Today, I'm going to be decorating my room and transforming it into a zen paradise complete with a waterfall and beautiful crystal lights. I guess having my roommate move out back near the beginning of the semester was a good thing. I'll also be teaching a study session today about Yule, its traditions, history, and customs.

Yule various within each tradition. Some traditions reenact the great battle between the Oak King and Holly King, some use Ash as the wood for the Yule log while others use Oak, some sing Yule carols, the list could go on and on. I'll probably just hit some of the major points that are similar in all traditions.

Christmas isn't celebrated much differently from Yule. During Yule, people set up a Yule tree and decorate it with tinsel and ornaments and candles. They celebrate with feasts, gifts, caroling, and spread joy and happiness and wishes.They decorate with holly and mistletoe and light the Yule log. Also the main colors that symbolize this sabbat are red and green. Sounds a lot like Christmas doesn't it? Or should I say that Christmas sounds a lot like Yule since Yule predates Christmas.

Basically, Yule is the winter solstice and is normally celebrated between December 20-23 depending on the year. It celebrates the rebirth of the Oak King, or Sun King/God who will begin warming the frozen earth with the waxing of the year. It's a time for joy, happiness, and just the feeling of being alive!

On this day everyone should wish each other a happy well being. However, that's not always the case, unfortunately. Our teachings are not so different compared to all the religions that are floating around out there. Of course, there are a few exceptions to this rule. I really hope that one day we can all set our differences aside.

I really don't like the word "religion". I guess I don't like what comes to mind when people say that word. I feel like it's almost restrictive in some way, like I can't partake in anything outside the accepted religion. I love the word "spirituality", however. It sounds free to me, like I can express who I am openly. Like I don't have to conform to be a person of one boxed in religion. I can be everything at once and believe everything or reject everything and have a new belief.

That's just my opinion. I'm not sure if anyone feels the same way.