#paganistan

For those who are in Minnesota, particularly the Twin Cities area, we've got a bunch of different things lined up; if interested you're welcome to participate in as many of these events as you'd like. Here is the current list in chronological order:

Volunteer event: Northfield, MN: Carleton College Arboretum litter cleanup: (registration required) Saturday September 17, 9 AM to 12 PM (be sure to select "Northfield Carleton Arb" as there are multiple locations doing a cleanup that day). Where to meet at Carleton should be sent in a mass update prior to the event for those who register.

September casual meetup: Bonfire: Como Park Fire Pits, Sunday September 18, 1 PM to 4 PM, 1340 Como Ave, St Paul, MN

Autumnal Equinox grove officer elections and ritual: Oakdale Nature Preserve picnic shelter, 4444 Hadley Avenue North, Oakdale, MN, Saturday September 24, 2022, 1 PM

October casual meetup: Tree & Plant identification walk: Locke County Park, 840 71st Ave NE, Fridley, MN, Saturday October 1, 2022, 1 PM gather at picnic tables for coffee (near restrooms), walk is 1:30 PM to 3 PM

Zen Buddhist Meditation and Teaching: Skinner Memorial Chapel, Carleton College: 1 North College Street, Northfield, MN, October 9, 5 PM to 6 PM. Masks recommended.

Samhain ritual: Roseville Central Park fire pit (next to Jaycees picnic shelter from Lexington parking lot) Saturday October 29, 2022, 1 PM

I'll add that the two events in Northfield, the litter cleanup in the Carleton Arboretum and the Zen Instruction are not organized by Oakdale Grove, but are put on by Carleton College (and litter removal partnership) and the general public are invited.

That the Horned God speaks directly to contemporary needs and sensibilities may readily be deduced from the hundreds—if not thousands—of contemporary visual images that He has inspired.

Summer is over, Winter is in full swing, and Yule is upon us. 

Yule, pronounced “yool”, falls on the 21st of December in the Northern Hemisphere, a date that is also known as the Winter Solstice. In the Southern Hemisphere (below the equator), Yule falls on the 21st of June.

The Winter Solstice is the day of the year when the night is longest and the day is shortest. After the solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter.

Some Historical & Cultural Stuff:

Yule is the time of the year when the “dark half” of the year ends and the “light half begins”. 

Until the 16th century, the winter months were infamous for being times of famine in Europe - most cattle were slaughtered during this time so that they did not need to be fed during the winter. The feed was needed for the mouths of the farmers and the people. This meant that the solstice was a time when meat was plentiful, and is the reason why a lot of the celebrations surrounding this time of year centre around feasting and merriment.

In pre-Christian Scandinavia, there was a feast (named the Feast of Juul) that lasted for twelve (12) days. It celebrated the rebirth of the sun, and from this feast came the custom of burning a Yule log.

In ancient Rome, the Festival of Saturnalia (famously referenced in an episode of The Big Bang Theory) was the pillar of solstice celebrations. It was used to honour the God of agricultural bounty, Saturn and lasted around a week. Saturnalia was characterised by feasting, debauchery and the exchanging of gifts. Does that sound familiar? Well, it should! Many of these customs were absorbed and assimilated into Christian Christmas celebrations upon Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity. This was done to make the conversion less of a shock.

Yule Associations: 

Colours:  Red, green, gold; white; silver; yellow.

Herbs & Plants: Mistletoe, Snowdrop, Lemongrass; Chive; Cinnamon; Sage; Rosemary; Ginger; Garlic; Orange Peel; Dill; Basil; Black Pepper; Bay Leaf; Ash; Thistle; Evergreen; Cedar; Frankincense; Holly; Ivy; Juniper; Mistletoe; Oak; Pine; Sandalwood; Yew; Cypress; Fir; Comfrey; Elder; Chestnut; Myrrh.

Symbols: Mistletoe, pillar candles in any associated colour, evergreen boughs and wreaths; fruit studded with cloves; wassail; Yule logs; holly.

Food & Drink: Yule log, wine (mulled), cider; turkey; lamb; venison; beef; cranberries; stew; pork; nuts; oranges; clementines. Seasonal vegetables. Wassail. Apples. Fruit. Cakes soaked in alcohol.

Stones Crystals & Metals: Gold, silver, diamonds; rubies; emeralds; bloodstone’ quartz.

Activities & Things to Do: Carolling. Wassailing, feasting, exchanging gifts; burning fires/candles; decorating a Yule tree and making decorations to put on it, such as Witch Balls, clove pricked fruit; make Winter potpourri.

Really, in the long history of human religion, the Pagan Revival has got to be one of the most surprising—and unforeseen—developments of all.

“I shall go into a hare, with sorrow and sighing and mickle care, and I shall go in the Devil's name; aye, till I come home again.”

—Isobel Gowdie

Every Pagan knows that there are gods walking among us: seen, unseen, and (most often of all, I suspect), seen but unrecognized.