RITUALS and CIRCLE NIGHTS
(Calgary)
December 20 - Lunar Ritual - Twilight Mysteries
December 21 - Yule Ritual - Grove of Mysteries
January 11 - Circle Night - Calgary Circle of Pagans
January 18 - Lunar Ritual - Twilight Mysteries
February 2 - Imbolc Ritual - Grove of Mysteries
contributed by RavenDreamer
When you get the dates and times on Calendars, they are in Grenwich mean time, so it is off by at least 7 hours.
Please note that the new and full moons are considered
full for three days with the date given as the fullest (or newest) time.
Winter Solstice - Dec 21 -- 6:09 PM
Last Quarter - Dec 26 -- 5:34 PM
New Moon - Jan 2 -- 1:23 PM
First Quarter - Jan 10 -- 6:12 AM
Full Moon - Jan 18 -- 3:48 AM
Last Quarter - Jan 25 -- 1:37 AM
New Moon - Feb 1 -- 3:48 AM
Imbolc - Feb 2
NATIONAL NEWS
Interest in Spira is growing dramatically! It's very exciting. What
are people saying? These are some quotes from random e-lists:
"A form of paganism that is Canada's own"
"the canadian version of Wicca"
"A much more mature and worldy viewpoint than simple wiccan faith"
PROVINCIAL NEWS
Alberta
Caprice, RavenDreamer and Sora are extremely proud and excited to
announce that Spira has achieved provincial recognition as a church upon
the formation of "The Alberta Church of Spira."
Ontario
British Columbia
LOCAL NEWS
Calgary
Mayda is pleased to announce her recent handfasting to her partner, Jason. It was a beautiful ritual attended by close friends and family. Best wishes for a happy future!
Congratulations go out to Adrea and all of her music students on their wonderful holiday recital. Great job!
Happy Yule to everyone! May your holiday be filled with friends, family, and warm memories!
contributed by Mayda
CANDY CANE COOKIES
(makes 3 dozen)
1 cup Butter
1 cup Icing Sugar
1 Egg
1 tsp. Almond flavouring
1 tsp. Vanilla flavouring
1/4 tsp. Peppermint flavouring
2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Salt
Red food colouring
Mix first six ingredients together well.
Add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well.
Divide dough into 2 equal portions. Add food colouring to 1 portion. Blend well. Roll 1 tsp. of each colour dough into rops about 5 1/2 inches long. Lay them side by side. Pinch ends together. Twist to form a spiral. Lay on ungreased baking sheet. Shape top to form a cane. Wreaths are easy to make too. Baking in 350 F oven for about 10 minutes until pale gold. Cool on sheet 2 to 3 minutes then remove.
contributed by Sora
THE DRUIDS THOUGHT THE MISTLETOE
The Druids thought the mistletoe
Would stop the meanest witches,
Cure the most severe disease,
Keep cradles safe from switches.
Enemies laid down their arms
Beneath its pungent spell.
For one whole day they could not fight,
Though hatred fire the will.
In later centuries it served
To force a willing kiss.
For those reluctant on their own
It was the door to bliss.
Today it is a symbol of
The mystic powers of Earth,
For when the sun's about to die
In love we find rebirth.
Nicholas Gordon
***
SELDOM DO WE SEE THE TREES GO OUT WALKING
Seldom do we see the trees go out walking,
Eager to drink in the morning sun.
As they lift their long arms towards the light,
Still they must be rooted in the eart,
Of one soil and water, in one place.
Night is when the restless go out walking,
Seeking dreams that cannot face the sun,
Gigantic, pulsing screams of garish light
Reeling through the agonies of the Earth,
Escaping the drab certainties of place.
Each winter there's a time to go out walking,
To see the hills washed in a newborn sun,
In the pale slant of late December light,
Neither pastel dreams nor solid earth.
Gently adrift, we settle on some place,
Sunlight walking through our patch of Earth.
PINE TREES
What you need:
Dry Pine Cones
Green Glitter
Glue
Sequins
What to do:
Paint the cone with glue. Before the glue dries sprinkle with green glitter. Top with a paper star. When it dries you can glue on sequins or tinsel. Stand on its base for a mini Christmas tree or add a tie to hang.
Tip:
If you cannot find open pine cones. Place some in a 200 degree oven on a cookie sheet.
They will open as they dry
The winter solstice is the time of the solar year when there is the least amount of daylight. It is a midwinter festival that falls anywhere from December 20th, to December 22nd. It is always celebrated as a festival of light. It is known in different cultures and religions as Yule, The winter solstice, Christmas, Hanukah, etc. Within Spira, we refer to it as either the winter solstice or Yule. It is a time of rebirth, of the sun, of hopes and inspiration. Rebirth is a duality. In order for the days to begin to get longer, we must first have the longest night. Thus rebirth is a time of lightness and of darkness. It requires time spent within the dark facing our fears. It is a time to face uncertainties, to conquer them and bring them into the light. What is frightening and misunderstood in the dark often seems silly and comical in the light. From the darkest hour arises the sun and so it is paralleled in our lives. It is within the void of darkness that we find our strength, our courage, and our drive. The process of rebirth allows us to look deeply within and find the value of the dark, the power and potential within. This power gives us hope, for a new day, a new self.
- The Essence of Spira by RavenDreamer and Sora Nalani
contributed by Aurora
Isis
Mother of Egypt
The Winter Solstice is a time to celebrate the coming light, to look on the past year's achievements, and to celebrate with family and friends. Isis, the Egyptian mother goddess, and her family are worshipped and celebrated on this minor Sabbat.
Born of Geb and Nut in the Heliopolis genealogy, Isis is the mother of the god kings of Egypt and both the elder sister and wife of Osiris, the god of the underworld. She is also the mother of Seth and Horus. She is usually depicted as wearing a crown in the form of a throne, or with cow thorns encircling a sun disc.
In legends she is responsible for restoring Osiris back to life twice. The first after Seth threw his body into the Nile, and again after Seth dismembered it. She impregnates herself with Osiris’ body as he is entering the underworld to rule there, and she conceives Horus. As Horus takes over as the King of Egypt during life, Orisis begins as his rule over death. A constant cycle of birth, growth, death and then rebirth. She then goes on to protect Horus from Seth throughout his life.
Isis is the mother figure, symbolic of birth and rebirth, of changing times and new beginnings. During Yule she is at her peak for power and awareness. She protected her family as she protects still today, shinning brightly as the North Star. Greco-Romans were so enamored of her that she was called Stella Maris, star of the sea.