~December Pagan Mama's Circle~

[GoldBerry]

Wow- it's December! Let's chat!

[wombatclay]

Oh my goodness...December already! Ack!

[Indigo73]

I'm here on the first day of the month even...

[GoldBerry]

Advent Sunwheel

"Helen Farias in The Advent Sunwheel, her book of suggestions for pagans wanting to celebrate Advent , points out that the Advent wreath, made of greens in a circle shape and lit by candles is a potent symbol. The circle with the dot inside has long been a symbol for the sun and is still used that way in astrology. Helen suggests putting a fifth candle in the center of the Advent wreath, to be lit on the solstice, to make the symbolism more apparent.

Many years ago I bought a circular styrofoam wreath form which is the base for my Advent wreath. I hollowed out cavities just the width of standard candles and I cover the styrofoam with tin foil and then with evergreens, usually bound to the form with wire, ribbon or ivy. I like to use candles in the colors of the four directions: yellow for east, red for south, blue for west and green for north.

There is another kind of wreath which is found in Germany and Scandinavia, made of apples and dowels (chopsticks would work too). Three apples with dowels connecting them in a triangle form the base and the fourth apple is suspended by dowels above the rest, forming a pyramid. The triangle and pyramid are also both sun symbols."

~ From Celebrating Midwinter by Waverly Fitzgerald

Personally, I think it's a good idea, but since I was raised Catholic the Advent Wreath has too much baggage.

[Emmama]

Hello, ladies (and papas), here's hoping to a great December . THe past months have been tough financially and emotionally for us, but I am really looking forward to the holidays this month. I think we are going to do a Yuletide celebration, based on Norse and Germanic traditions.

[Pam_and_Abigail]

Coming to subscribe.

Not much to add.

Oh, I found some cool books last night at the library....

"Fin M'Coul" by Tomie dePaola- kind of violent, but neat to see it. If you're interested, I suggest reading it yourself before sharing it with your kids

"Do Princesses Wear Hiking Boots?" by Carmela LaVigna Coyle - the message is "a princess is a place in your heart"

"A cloak for the moon" retold by Eric A. Kimmel - a magical fibre made from moonlight

"Odin's Family: Myths of the Vikings" retold by Neil Phillip (ok, this is the most pagan-y one, but the others are worth sharing too)

Oh, and the other night I did an amazing spell trying to gain understanding and patience with my kids. It was a very powerful experience, and it was amazing the way I was able to connect with the goddess within my oldest daughter as a way of reconnecting with her.

[mama in the forest]

Happy December!!
: :

[mamaofthree]

Happy December all!

Eilonwy: I have been thinking about what you said about being wealthy. Until recently I always felt that to be wealthy you had to lie and cheat and pretty much be a jerk. Once I realized that that is not true and I started focusing my positive energy to us having money, it started coming. Not saying that this is your issue... but maybe something similar, like a core belief you have is that being wealthy is bad or that you have to be bad to have money?? I don't know, just throwing that out there.
My dh is sort of not sure about the whole "Secret" thing, but I told him, what does it hurt to think good thoughts about stuff? NOTHING! The worst that could happen is we still don't get what we want, the best thing is we get it!

Got some good news from the bank... apparently Post Office LTD withdrew their request for all my money. LOL We are still proceding with the fraud stuff as they may try again in the next few days, but the woman at the bank said that usually it is over in 10 days.
You know I have to say, I feel really blessed right now. We didn't even need to ask people for money we got three offers to help us out with in minutes of us talking about it. Dh can take the check back to his work and we don't need it, but it was wonderful to know they had our back. Dh is opening a new account right now at another bank and in two weeks or so we will close the other account. I am so happy this is all working out!

Love to all of you!

H

[Valerie.Qc]

Happy December!

We have snow! :

It feels very good to look outside and see all those big snowflakes slowly falling from the sky! Help me staying calm while taking care of my four poor sick ones (DD1 start to get sick last night and it was DH's turn this morning)

mamaofthree, I'm glad all this get sorted out and that you have a good support system IRL!

[fullofgrace]

Subbing so I can try and keep up this month!

Happy December! No snow here yet. our first snow last year was on Thanksgiving Day, so the kid are anxious to see some snowflakes.

[**guest**]

NaturalMomOf3- No, I haven't gotten a coat yet. I can't accept second hand clothing unless it comes from a non smoking/no pet home.
Oh, and I'm a size 20. Thanks though!

So, it's December...and it's in the low 60's here (in MA). I love it! However, it is rainy. Oh well, it's still nice not to be cold. I think tomorrow will be 'normal' temps.

For those of you in cold climates, how do you connect to Mother Earth/Nature in the winter? I can't stand the cold so I tend to stay in unless I HAVE to go out. Of course, then I feel disconnected.

[**guest**]

Mamaofthree- Yay! Glad it's sorted!

[wombatclay]

We have snow on the way...literally! They are calling for gale force winds this afternoon as our temps drop from the really bizarre 60's (where they've been hovering) to the 20's. And then a foot or two of snow is a possible evening event! I can't wait...

I guess since most of my life has been spent in climates with a very distinct winter season, connecting with nature during the winter has never been something I think about...it's just something that is "there". If that makes sense? I'm not that fond of the cold, but I love snow, I love walking in the snow when it's all quiet and the moon comes out and everything turns a little blue and shimmery....mmm...

The house I grew up in is in the middle of nowhere so there wasn't a lot of light pollution and we heated with wood so it was pretty chilly upstairs (I remember waking up with snow on my bed, and the bedside water was ALWAYs frozen in the morning)...so we were connected to the realities of he season no matter what. The good and the bad. It gave me a good perspective on winter holidays I think...if you look back at earlier ways of living and what people had available come the end of December/early January you can see just how important having some sort of social gathering would be.

And how much faith and trust people were showing by celebrating. It's dark, it's cold, the fresh food is gone and the stored food might be starting to look a little light for the amount of time you know is still ahead of you before spring. Livestock might be getting sick, people might be getting sick...it's a really really hard time of year in certain climates when you take electricity and "modern items" out of the picture.

So just the fact that people came together and shared food and warmth and company and trusted that the sun was coming back and the spring would come and people could play a role in that...well...it's a pretty powerful season.

Which kind of plays into not liking the cold weather...I don't think our ancestors really "liked" the cold weather either! Winter rituals and practices all seem to be forward looking (bringing back the sun, appeasing the winter spirits to grant prosperity and health during the lean season, giving gifts to support the community and "force" people to remain within the social network of the community, etc).

But now I'm rambling...I want snow!

[Indigo73]

Originally Posted by OdeToJoy

For those of you in cold climates, how do you connect to Mother Earth/Nature in the winter? I can't stand the cold so I tend to stay in unless I HAVE to go out. Of course, then I feel disconnected.

I've been known to hug a tree in my front yard to to get that hum. I am also big on growing herbs on my window sill to get that green energy as well.

Sometimes all I can do is sun (or moon) like a cat, in the patch of moonlight or sunlight.

[Birth Junky]

Happy December, mamas!

I woke up sick this morning, which is a drag . . . but I am looking forward to spending the day relaxing with DD (who has been sniffly because of teething; she cut four teeth in the last week or so!).

Also, I made our first mortgage payment this morning! It was a good feeling, to finally be putting down money on a house of our own instead of sending off that monthly rent check. Scary too, because of course our mortgage payment is a lot bigger than our rent payment was . . . But we will manage! I am working on visualizing abundance and we are living as frugally as possible. I have found that there is a silver lining to being broke for long stretches of time; it teaches you what you can live without! I am grateful that we made it through the food bank days, that we are at a point where we can pay all of our bills every month, and that we rarely use credit anymore. Now, once we get our staggering credit card debt paid off, I will feel even more secure!

The snow is nearly all melted now, which means everything around our house looks slushy and gross. But it was a nice winter storm while it lasted, and a great surprise at the end of what turned out to be the wettest November in Seattle's history!

Lots of healing energy for everyone dealing with illness, and plenty & abundance to all.

[cravenab00]

December???????

When did that happen??

I have that song in my head where they sing "big wheel keep on turning!"

I was out in the middle of nowhere last weekend with my son and his boy scout group, they did a winter nature hike, and roasted weenies. It really was beautiful, the people have 800 acres. Ahh jealousy!
Though note to self, before next woods adventure, dont drink excess amounts of water!!! I had to pee in the woods, twice! : talk about connecting with nature!

mamaofthree-SO glad things are getting resolved. how very scary.

Ode- mama I am so sorry! i cannot believe someone stole your coat. Just like your couch, visualize a pet free smoke free coat and it will come, I just know it!

We havent had much snow. But has been in the single digits here lately!

[wombatclay]

congrats on the house/home Birth Junky (though sorry 'bout the cold). It's such a neat feeling to own the home you live in...

[DoulaLyndsey]

Originally Posted by OdeToJoy

NaturalMomOf3- No, I haven't gotten a coat yet. I can't accept second hand clothing unless it comes from a non smoking/no pet home.
Oh, and I'm a size 20. Thanks though!

I have a cat, so I guess that won't work? Just let me know if you change your mind .

Not too much new going on here. My health isn't great and I'll probably have to go into the doctor (and don't have health insurance : ), so that upsets me. I think I just need to get some bloodwork done, hopefully.

[aweynsayl]

Originally Posted by Salvia

"Helen Farias in The Advent Sunwheel, her book of suggestions for pagans wanting to celebrate Advent , points out that the Advent wreath, made of greens in a circle shape and lit by candles is a potent symbol. The circle with the dot inside has long been a symbol for the sun and is still used that way in astrology. Helen suggests putting a fifth candle in the center of the Advent wreath, to be lit on the solstice, to make the symbolism more apparent.


~ From Celebrating Midwinter by Waverly Fitzgerald

Personally, I think it's a good idea, but since I was raised Catholic the Advent Wreath has too much baggage.

Reclaim it! It was pagan before it was catholic! I take a bowl filled with stones, stick candles and greens in it. Not sure how i'm going to do mine this year, though.... now that i've moved from the pines back to the saguaros...... alas.

[greenmagick]

hello all Well, we had 72 degrees on Weds. and then it dropped to 25 by yesterday afternoon. We had freezing rain, sleet, and snow all day and night. We lost power around 2am so I am hanging out at DH office with the baby. I am hoping to make it to my moms but she lives on top of a bluff, so her road is not driveable yet. It is supposed to get down to 11 tonight.

I love snow, but hate ice Trees are uprooted amd branches are down all over. There are over 1/2 million people w/o power and the number is climbing.....: