Let’s start on a positive note again this week, Welcome Yule Lads!
The Yule Lads are mischievous, troll-like figures from Icelandic folklore who visit children during the Christmas season. They are part of Iceland’s unique Yuletide traditions and have evolved over time from fearsome creatures into playful, sometimes naughty characters. They are the sons of Grýla, a terrifying ogress who is said to eat misbehaving children, and Leppalúði, her lazy and passive husband. They live in the mountains of Iceland and descend into villages during the 13 nights leading up to Christmas.
Here’s a list of these charming gentlemen:
- Sheep-Cote Clod (Stekkjarstaur): Harasses sheep, but he’s stiff-legged.
- Gully Gawk (Giljagaur): Hides in gullies, waiting to steal milk.
- Stubby (Stúfur): A short lad who steals pans to eat the crusts left on them.
- Spoon-Licker (Þvörusleikir): Steals and licks wooden spoons.
- Pot-Scraper (Pottaskefill): Scrapes leftovers from pots.
- Bowl-Licker (Askasleikir): Hides under beds to snatch bowls left there.
- Door-Slammer (Hurðaskellir): Slams doors, especially at night, to disturb sleep.
- Skyr-Gobbler (Skyrgámur): Loves to eat skyr (a type of Icelandic yogurt).
- Sausage-Swiper (Bjúgnakrækir): Steals sausages that are being smoked.
- Window-Peeper (Gluggagægir): Looks through windows to find things to steal.
- Doorway-Sniffer (Gáttaþefur): Has a big nose and sniffs for baked goods.
- Meat-Hook (Ketkrókur): Uses a hook to steal meat.
- Candle-Stealer (Kertasníkir): Follows children to steal their candles.
Photo Credit: MJTM
The next full Moon, known as the “Cold Moon,” will occur on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 4:02 a.m. Eastern Time. In Old English and Anglo-Saxon traditions, the December Full Moon is called the Moon Before Yule and the Long Night Moon, both of which are associated with the winter solstice and ancient Yule celebrations. In Celtic tradition, it is also referred to as the Oak Moon. This year, the Oak Moon heralds the December Solstice on Thursday, bringing the season of winter to the northern hemisphere and summer to the southern hemisphere.
The Moon is not the only celestial event this week. The Geminid meteor shower, one of the most spectacular and reliable meteor showers of the year, peaks tonight and tomorrow. It is known for producing a high number of bright meteors, with rates of up to 120 meteors per hour under ideal viewing conditions.
The shower is named after the constellation Gemini, as the meteors appear to radiate from a point (called the “radiant”) near the bright star Castor in this constellation. The best time to view the Geminids is typically late at night and in the early hours of the morning when the radiant is highest in the sky. They are visible from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, though viewing conditions tend to be better in the Northern Hemisphere.
Geminid meteors are often bright and can display a variety of colors, including white, yellow, green, and blue, due to their composition and interaction with Earth’s atmosphere. To enjoy the Geminids, find a dark location away from city lights, bundle up for the cold, and give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness. No special equipment is required—just a clear sky and some patience!
he Portrait of Michel de Nostredame (Nostradamus), a French Renaissance Medicine & Astrologer, painted by his son César de Nostredame – Public Domain
Nostradamus’s birthday falls on Saturday. In addition to being a reputed seer, he was a skilled physician, writer, and astrologer who contributed to Renaissance thought. Born in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, into a Jewish family that had converted to Catholicism, he studied medicine and astrology, eventually becoming a licensed physician. He gained recognition for his innovative methods in treating plague victims, including advocating for hygiene and fresh air rather than relying solely on traditional medieval remedies.
Scholars note that his historical importance lies in his synthesis of medical, astrological, and esoteric knowledge. However, he is best known as the author of “Les Prophéties” (The Prophecies), a collection of 942 poetic quatrains published in 1555 that are said to predict future events. Nostradamus remains a controversial and enigmatic figure—celebrated by some as a visionary prophet and dismissed by others as a clever writer whose vague predictions are open to broad interpretation.
Followers attribute numerous predictions to Nostradamus, including the rise of Napoleon and Hitler, the Great Fire of London, the French Revolution, and even the 9/11 attacks. Critics argue that these connections are coincidental or based on loose interpretations. Skeptics point out that his quatrains are deliberately ambiguous, allowing for multiple interpretations. They also note that his use of astrological and classical references reflects his Renaissance-era education rather than divine foresight.
Whatever one’s opinion, Nostradamus remains a cultural phenomenon—his legacy endures, even making appearances on cable TV!
Juno Lucina [Photo Credit: Biser Todorov – CC BY 4.0]
The Feast of Lucina, Queen of Light on December 13, is a celebration that honors Lucina, a divinity associated with light, fertility, and childbirth in Roman tradition. Although historical records about Lucina and her feast are sparse, her legacy as a symbol of hope and light remains significant, especially for those who seek to connect with ancient traditions or celebrate the turning of the seasons.
The limited historical accounts mean that specific details about this feast are unclear and may vary depending on cultural or spiritual interpretations. However, it is often tied to themes of light returning during the darkest times of the year, making it particularly significant in December as the winter solstice approaches.
Lucina is often associated with the Roman goddess Juno, who was invoked by women during childbirth. Her name is derived from the Latin word lux (light), symbolizing her role in bringing life and light into the world. Lucina is venerated in some traditions as a guardian of mothers and children, reflecting her protective and nurturing aspects. This celebration aligns with other cultural festivals of light, such as St. Lucia’s Day in Scandinavian traditions. Her feast day has become a significant cultural event there, where it marks the beginning of the Christmas season and symbolizes the return of light during the year’s darkest period.
Monday marks the Festival of Sapientia, a celebration honoring the goddess of the same name and the personification of wisdom. While its origins and practices vary depending on the cultural or spiritual context, the festival is generally observed as a time for reflecting on the pursuit of knowledge, understanding, and the integration of intellect with spiritual insight. It holds particular significance in traditions or communities that value learning, wisdom, and the guiding principles of ethical and enlightened living.
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The Spring Mysteries Festival announced its cast this week. The Festival wrote that its Early Bird Ends at the end of December and that they are taking 300 initiates this year.
More information about Spring Mysteries is available on their event site. Here’s the cast:
Events and Happenings
14th Annual PARADE OF SPIRITS – OFFICIAL
(DER GEISCHDERSCHTRUTZ)
Liberty Lands Park
913 N. 3rd Street
Philadelphia, PA
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Gather from 3:30-4:00 PM
Parade kicks off at sunset (4:36 PM)
PARTICIPATORY PARADE: The Parade of Spirits is a family-friendly, grassroots, community-led event rooted originally in Alpine Germanic and Pennsylvania Dutch traditions, but we encourage participants to share expressions from all cultures and backgrounds. Participants are to dress up in costumes reflecting the shady, shadowy, or downright dark-side characters from lore around the world.
Costumes may be as simple as donning ghoulish makeup to appear as a spirit on the Wild Hunt to as elaborate as a full-on Krampus costume. Hand-made or hand-assembled costuming is preferred, though commercial Krampus costumes are welcomed. BRING NOISEMAKERS! This is most certainly not a quiet event!
Assemble in Liberty Lands Park (913 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA) anytime after 15:30/3:30 PM. Opening remarks begin just prior to sunset, and the Parade steps onto the streets just after sunset (16:36/4:36 PM).
ENTERTAINMENT:
Before and during the Parade, come hear the evocative harmonies of Philadelphia’s own Sing Slavic Choir!
After the Parade has finished its route, please join us in the park for entertainment provided by Squidling Brothers Circus Sideshow (also from Philadelphia! See link below).
More information is available here:
- About the 2024 Parade
- Parade “Rules” and Expectations
- Sing Slavic Choir
- Squidling Brothers Circus Sideshow
Yuletide Sock Drive:
Donations are passed out via direct handouts to communities in need or to shelters throughout the area. Please donate new, unworn socks and/or underwear for any size or age! Donations are via direct handouts to communities in need or to shelters throughout the area.
Public registration has now opened for Loki’s Wyrdlings LokiFest! This free online festival takes place December 9th-December 13th each year and features a mix of interactive community events and talks by activists, authors, and magical practitioners.
This year’s schedule includes talks on Spirit Marriage, Asexuality, Combating White Supremacy, and Pre-Abrahamic Gender Theology, as well as workshops on magic, tricksters, and revolutionary energy from practitioners of the Roman and Vodou traditions.
Attendance is free, but limited by the number of participants the Zoom servers can accommodate. Use this link to reserve your spot. For those in Europe and nocturnal folks on other continents, a day of programming oriented around European Time Zones is scheduled for 12/11, and registration for this session can be found here. Attendees on all other continents will probably find the main sessions which are scheduled for evening time zones in the Americas and morning time zones in Asia and Oceania more suited to their schedules.
Monday will open with a ritual to move participants into sacred space and Loki’s Wyrdlings community updates, followed by a talk on Loki’s possible role as Lodr the life-giver from the Norse creation story and an interactive bardic circle hosted by Erin Lale.
Tuesday opens with a series of short workshops on magical and divination techniques, as well as a talk by Dr. Avnas Marsh about Loki as a source of support during cancer treatment. The evening will conclude with a talk by Dr. Megan Rose, author of “Spirit Marriage” and a panel on Asexuality Within Loki Worship discussing the experiences of asexual Lokeans with various human and divine relationship styles including celibacy, polyamory, godspousing, and monogamy.
Wednesday will feature a workshop on Runewyrd by Ky Greene, a guided meditation with Arielle Lokadottir, and two hours of channeled divination readings with priest Tobias Lokasson.
Thursday opens with a class on Pre-Abrahamic Gender Theology with Catherine Carr, author of “World Soul: Healing Ourselves and the Earth with Pagan Theology.” The class will focus on the number of pre-Abrahamic cultures which recognized gender transition and three or more genders, and the frequently sacred roles which have been assigned to trans and nonbinary people historically.
This will be followed by “Combating White Supremacy” with Reverend Ethan Stark, who has spoken on the same topic at the Parliament of World Religions, and an evening dedicated to classes on animistic spirit work and techno magic.
On Friday, magical practitioners will bring the energy of revolution for the holiday season, with Damian Han of Solis Illuminatum hosting a class on using the revolutionary energy of Saturn for binding magic and Mambo Jae Marie hosting a class on Navigating Trickster Energy with Self-Care.
The festival will conclude with a class on Accommodations in Spiritual Practice with an eye for disability by Si Titran and a closing ritual to close the magical container in which the festival is held.
The Loki’s Wyrdlings community looks forward to welcoming attendees from around the world to this third annual Lokifest, and is eagerly anticipating the conversations that will occur throughout this week of global camaraderie.
Tarot of the Week by Star Bustamonte
Deck: The Mystical Dream Tarot Deck by Janet Piedilato, illustrations by Tom Duxbury and Janet Piedilato, and published by Red Wheel/Weiser LLC.
Card: Dreamer of Pentacles (similar to the Page in traditional decks)
The week ahead is likely to offer up lessons in patience, as well as the rewards of perseverance. There may also be a concerted focus on staying the course, consistency, and remaining loyal in the face of adversity. Another factor is recognizing that the knowledge held within oneself can often provide the answers being sought.
Contrarily, the potential for feeling stuck, trapped, or lacking motivation is liable to be prevalent and thus prevent or hinder forward momentum. Getting trapped in one’s own head could also be an issue. Breaking the cycle by switching up routines and practices is likely to be key for ensuring progress.
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