Cat’s Morning Bits for December 21, 2020
Good Morning Beautiful Souls, grab a cup of your favorite morning brew and start things off with “Today’s Inspirations”. I hope you find something here that will make you feel good or help you on your path today.
Stay healthy, Stay safe!
Blessings, Cat
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A Yuletide Toast
See the Yule log draped with holly, glossy green and scarlet hued;
Adorned with ribbons and with gifts that Mother Nature grew.
Shaped by hands both large and small, a labor of love and joy;
To celebrate the Suns rebirth and a brand new season to enjoy.
So gather round and raise a cup to toast both log and coming light;
We’ll keep our vigil by the fire on this the longest night.
© CatSister/LBolotin
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December’s Events
Dec. 7 Pearl Harbor Day
Dec, 10 Hanukkah
Dec. 14 New Moon at 8:16 am PST/ 9:16 am MST/ 11:16 am EST
Dec,15 National Cat Herders Day
Dec. 20 Ugly Sweater Day
Dec. 21 Winter Solstice/Winter Begins
Dec. 21 Moon 1st Qtr 3:41pm PST/ 4:41 pm MST/ 6:41 pm EST
Dec. 23 Festivus
Dec. 24 Christmas Eve
Dec. 24 Celtic Tree month of Birch begins
Dec. 25 Christmas Day
Dec. 26 Kwanzaa
Dec. 29 Full Moon at 7:28 pm PST/ 8:28 pm MST/ 10:28 pm EST
Dec. 31 New Years Eve
Dec. 31 Hogmanay
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“The Holly King, represents the Death aspect of the God at this time of year; and the Oak King, represents the opposite aspect of Rebirth (these roles are reversed at Midsummer). This can be likened to the Divine Child’s birth. The myth of the Holly King/Oak King probably originated from the Druids to whom these two trees were highly sacred. The Oak King (God of the Waxing Year) kills the Holly King (God of the Waning Year) at Yule (the Winter Solstice). The Oak King then reigns supreme until Litha (the Summer Solstice) when the two battle again, this time with the Holly King victorious. Examples of the Holly King’s image can be seen in our modern Santa Claus.”
Yule and Its Lore
gardendigest.com
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Spirituality & Health: Elves and More: Embracing Enchantment
BY SARAH BOWEN
Look beyond Santa and enjoy inspiration from elves, the fae, and other not-so-hidden creatures.
“The Kingdom of Elves was inside of the Land of Ireland. It lived in its bosom, concealed in its own light, in its days and cycles.
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crystal life: 8 Crystals for the Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice has been a time of magic for millennia. Celebrated around the globe, the Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year and the longest night. The Winter Solstice represents rebirth, a time of reflection, a time of celebrations, and rituals. For centuries, and still to this day, the celebration of Yule occurs during the Winter Solstice. Yule began with the Germanic people and celebrates the rebirth of the sun and welcomes the season of winter. The Winter Solstice marks the changes of seasons and is a perfect time to cleanse and smudge your spaces.
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ThoughtCo: Sacred Plants of the Winter Solstice
In most modern Pagan traditions, plants and their folklore are an integral part of belief and practice. In particular, many of the Sabbats are associated with the magical properties of different plants. Yule, the winter solstice,
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Magical Firestarters for Yule – How to Make Fire starters, How to Celebrate Yule – Magical Crafting
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Patheos Pagan: A Simple Solstice Ritual For Anyone
There is something powerful in a simple ritual that you know many other people are also doing – even if you’re separated by time, place, and pandemic. It brings a sense of togetherness and the feel of participating in making a pattern.
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MBG: How To Approach Wintertime If This Season Has You Feeling Down
Winter can be tough, especially if you live in a harsher climate. Days are short, nights are long, and the cold can get in the way of your typical pastimes.
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Worts + Cunning Apothecary: Darkest Night : A Winter Solstice Tarot Spread
As we celebrate the longest night of the year we have an opportunity to learn more about ourselves and our desires as they are reflected back at us by the dark mirror of night. The following spread plays with image of the mirror as well as the promise of growing light, helping us to seed our dreams and plant promises for the months ahead.
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Today’s DIY: Yule Goddess Ornaments! Pagan-Witchcraft-Wicca-witch-winter solstice
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Elephant Journal: 3 Ways to Create a Beautiful Winter Solstice Ritual & Find Light in the Darkness.
The winter solstice means “Rebirth of the Sun” or “New Beginnings,” and in the United States, it occurs on Monday, December 21, 2020.
The winter solstice is celebrated, not only as the year’s shortest day, but of the sun’s steady climb toward the long, warm days of summer.
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DARIDEL – Yule (Official Video)
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Treehugger: Garden Cuttings for the Prettiest Winter Decor
The winter garden may seem quiet, but it’s filled with all-natural decorations.
Most of us like to bring some cheer into our homes over the festive season. For many, that involves a Christmas tree. But unless your tree is a living one, and your decorations are all-natural and plastic-free, this is not the most sustainable of choices.
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EarthSky News: Solstice sun at southernmost point
You might think of the solstice as a day, but it’s really a moment. The December solstice happens at 10:02 UTC on December 21, 2020. That time – the moment of solstice – marks the sun’s southernmost point for this year.
Here in North America, the solstice happens on December 21 (5:02 a.m.EST, 4:02 a.m. p.m. CST, 3:02 a.m. MST, 2:02 a.m. PST, 1:02 a.m. Alaskan Time and 12:02 a.m. Hawaiian Time). When is the moment of solstice for your location? Translate December 21 at 10:02 UTC to your time zone, here.
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Patheos-Pagan: Working Magic: Yule/Winter Solstice Spells
We could all do with a little boost to our abundance and prosperity at this time of year. Here I share a couple of ideas to work magic with your festive decorations and bring positive energy into your home. I have used prosperity as the intent, but you could work magic with them for anything.
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Pagan Playlist: Lisa Thiel – Yule (Winter Solstice Song)
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Inner Journey: THE GIFT OF JOY
“Joy is prayer – Joy is strength – Joy is love – Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. She gives most who gives with Joy.”
— Mother Teresa
Some people unconsciously believe it’s not okay to feel more joyful than the people around them. Out of a mistaken sense of caring, they squelch their joy and tune in to the sadness of the one they are with.
In truth, joy is one of the greatest gifts we can give to people around us. Those who are unhappy need our joy, not our sadness.
“Never miss a joy in this world of trouble … that’s my theory! … Happiness, like mercy, is twice blest: it blesses those most intimately associated with it and it blesses all those who see it, hear it, touch it orbreathe the same atmosphere.”
— Kate Douglas Wiggin
higherawareness.com
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“Yule, is when the dark half of the year relinquishes to the light half. Starting the next morning at sunrise, the sun climbs just a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, much celebration was to be had as the ancestors awaited the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth and made her to bear forth from seeds protected through the fall and winter in her womb. Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were “wassailed” with toasts of spiced cider.”
Yule Lore
gardendigest.com
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Today’s Recipe: Herbed Pomegranate Salsa
A delightfully different salsa for the true salsa lover, this bittersweet salsa is often found in Mexican cuisine as well as Persian.
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Winter Solstice/Yule Correspondences
December 21 (approximately)
Colors: Red, Green, White, Gold, Silver
Sacred Stones: Quartz Crystal, Turquoise, Lemon Quartz, Peridot, Serpentine, Garnet, Bloodstone, Ruby, Black Onyx
Herbs: All evergreens, Bay, Blessed Thistle, Chamomile, Ash, Holly, Mistletoe, Ivy, Pine/Fir cones, Cinnamon, Frankincense, Myrrh
Symbols: Yule Log or Tree, evergreen wreaths, holly/mistletoe, Cinnamon sticks, Bells, Spinning Wheels
Dieties: The Holly King, Apollo, Dagda, Brigid, Odin. Osiris, Hathor, Ixchel, Hecate, the Norn’s, all Winter Fae
Food & Drink: Roast fowl, dried fruit, ham, apples, oranges, nuts, mulled cider/wine
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About Cat’s Morning Bits: These daily post are reblogged from various email newsletters that I receive each day.
I invite you to check out my websites!
The Desert Path: The dusty ramblings of a desert pagan. https://thedesertpath.com/
Cat’s Treasure Trove …. an eclectic collection of jewelry & gifts! https://thedesertpath.com
Sacred Spirals (the place where all paths meet)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SacredSpirals/
The Desert Path 
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