::copied from my Open Ways Yule 2012 column::
Yule is a
special sabbat for us all. The shortest
day of the year is a day for all forms of magick, high and low. It marks the ending of long nights and
promises a new Spring yet to come. In
our community, Yule is often commemorated by drumming up the sun, the burning
of a Yule log, and with many traditions that had been co-opted by our Christian
friends. The Christmas tree, mulled
wines, wreaths, and many more Christmas traditions were “borrowed” from Pagan
traditions and I love it when I see modern Pagans reclaim these
traditions. In some ways, Christmas and
Yule are very difficult to tell apart and I think that’s a great thing for us. Like many families, my family celebrates both
holidays. Yule is the spiritual holiday
and Christmas is the secular one.
Yule is
celebrated in many ways and in virtually every culture past and present. I also believe that Yule is a sabbat that is
a rare chance for Guardians to practice their own magick and celebrate who they
are and what they do. Generally
speaking, all sabbats are busy for Guardians.
There is always work to be done in preparation and always circles that
need protection while they celebrate their own rituals. I have always seen Yule as the one exception
to this. It is the one sabbat where, I
believe, Guardians should consider their own needs and practice their own
magick. That’s not to say that there
still isn’t plenty of preparation and protection to be done, but during the
night of Yule I encourage Guardians to gather together and celebrate who they
are and practice the special magick generally reserve for others.
Many of you
may be asking “what do you mean by ‘Guardian’?” so before I go further I want
to give a (decidedly truncated) explanation. Sometimes called “Dragon”,
“Watcher”, or “Green”, Guardians have existed in virtually every culture and
society throughout mankind’s history.
Guardian is not a “tradition” as we Pagans label things. A Guardian may walk any kind of Pagan path:
Wiccan, Heathen, Eclectic Solitary, Druid, or any other path you can name. Guardians are a special (some would argue
“infected”) group of people who truly live to serve others. The next time you go to a festival and say
“darn it, I left [fill in the blank] at home and I need one!” and then whatever
you needed miraculously appears, there’s an excellent chance that a Guardian
provided it. Guardians stand watch
during other people’s rituals not only to intercept any tourists who may be
curious about the activities but also to ward against any unwanted energies
that are often attracted to energetic rituals.
The ultimate
goal for most Guardians is to protect the community while providing for the
needs of its members, but doing so in the most subtle and unobtrusive way
possible. Guardians prefer to remain in
the background and facilitate gatherings and public rituals out of the community
eye (as much as possible). Guardians
tend to spend so much of their time making it possible for others to safely
practice their Craft that the Guardians themselves sometimes forget the joy
that they feel from their own personal rituals.
One of the many pitfalls faced by Guardians is the losing of self in
work for others. That makes it critical
for Guardians to take a step back on occasional and focus on their own workings
and their own needs.
That’s
another reason that I think it’s great when Guardians can gather for Yule. This is a sabbat that is especially
appropriate for Guardians. Yule is a
night to stand watch while awaiting the rising of the first Winter sun. Therefore, Yule is actually a kind of
celebration of the role of the Guardian within the Pagan community. The long night provides the perfect
opportunity to reflect on the year that went before and plan for the one about
to begin. When Guardians gather for Yule,
they can do this as a group. It is also
a time for ritual to renew the energy needed for the work in the coming
year. It is a chance for the Guardian to
cleanse, release, and energize.
If you are a
Guardian, then I urge you to set aside the night of Yule for yourself. There is a great deal of work to be done at
this time of year and we Guardians find it impossible to stand aside while
others do the work. Preparing for the
holidays, following through with holiday plans, and the clean-up afterwards are
all tasks that demand our attention.
Just remember yourself in all of this.
Make Yule night for you and those with whom you share the affliction of
being a Guardian.
Is there a
special Guardian in your life that you would like to thank? Here’s a way to shock, stun, and thrill a
Guardian: offer to stand watch while your Guardian performs ritual. It is generally considered an honor when a
Guardian offers to stand watch for others.
It is an amazing honor when a
non-Guardian makes this offer to a Guardian.
It is a way to recognize what Guardians do for us by following in those
steps for a few minutes.
I
wish for a wonderful and energetic Yule for you and yours. Sing some carols (“Deck the Halls” is my
favorite Yule carol – I love when people sing it for Christmas!), have some
mulled wine, and kiss the ones you love and tell them why they matter to
you. My thanks to Charlotte Stoehr (who
offers reiki sessions, magickal living classes and general spirit coaching) for
her response to my Samhain column about Paganomics. If you are interested in Charlotte’s
services, please let me know and I will provide you with her contact
information
