The Wild Hunt’s 2015 Winter Solstice Gift Guide

Looking for the perfect Solstice gift for your favorite Pagan, Heathen, or Polytheist? The Wild Hunt’s 2015 Winter Solstice Gift Guide, with expert advice, reviews and recommendations for the latest movies, books, gifts and treats can help. If you find something you like, just click on the photo to find more information or to purchase the product.*

Adults

Astral Calendar – This calendar was designed for people to get more connected to a genuine solar year, even if they know little or nothing about astrology. Each zodiac month features a nude montage by Jean Jacques Andrè, an artist and photographer who has been creating with the female form since the 1950s. It also includes the Celtic holidays, eclipses, and the new & full moons–although the main focus is on the sun’s (earth’s) annual cycle. You don’t need to have any previous knowledge of astrology to use this calendar, and yet seasoned astrologers will also love it. $15 CAD

Cauldron Mug – These mugs are made to order, meaning you can pick the glaze color and choose a left hand or right hand mug. As a lefty, this is a big deal! You can even add a name or different words to the mug for an additional $5. All mugs are are made from red stoneware clay, and are microwave and dishwasher safe. Please note that the artist says turnaround time for custom orders is four to six weeks.So if you want this mug under the tree as a special gift you’ll need to order quickly. $35

Community Supported Witchcraft Share – I love this concept. It’s like Community Supported Agriculture, but for magic. You can purchase a “share” of magical ritual goods and give them as a gift. Each month a different collection of three to six products are offered, whatever the artisan Witch is creating. It is both a fun gift and a way to support the further practice of Witchcraft as an art. $35-50 CAD

Raven Talisman – The etching on this copper medallion combines Norse and Celtic style elements and creates a look that is just a bit different from the typical raven. Ravens are known as messengers and watchers, and they can carry spirits off to the underworld. Ravens can bring you wisdom and magic or they may try to trick you. The talisman is hand etched on copper and is 1.5 inches in diameter. The Talisman comes with a woven leather cord. Not interested in a Raven? There are also many other talismans styles featuring animals or Gods and Goddesses. $29

Many Gods, No Masters T-Shirt – A fun t-shirt that any Polytheist on your list would get a kick out. These t-shirts are super soft, and the image is hand-silkscreened. The shirt comes in unisex sizes, and is also available in a women’s cut. Practical Rabbit also has other fun shirts to order for both adults and kids, as well as other hand-made related items. I own the Beet the System, grow your own food shirt, and if anyone wanted to order me a women’s Fuck Bigotry shirt I wouldn’t complain. These shirts have been my go-to tees for the past year. $22

Teens

The Raspberry Pi 2 Model B – This is a ridiculously affordable embedded computer that is perfect for teens interested in programming and building electronics. The size of a credit-card, this computer plugs into a computer monitor or TV, and uses a standard keyboard and mouse. It is a capable little device that enables people of all ages to explore computing, and to learn how to program in languages like Scratch and Python. It’s capable of doing everything you’d expect a desktop computer to do, from browsing the internet and playing high-definition video, to making spreadsheets, word-processing, and playing games. $35

Evil Eye Bracelet – Being a teen is hard. This bracelet can help make it a bit easier. This cuff evil eye bracelet turns away curses and the bad intentions of others while looking pretty bad ass. The cuff is made of brown leather and lined with velvet. It’s laces help to ensure a good fit. The evil eye center bead is hand carved wood with a beeswax polish. Along with the powerful bead, there are also turquoise stone beads sewed on, imbuing the wearer with peace, calm, and more protection. There are currently only two of these cuffs left. $38

Tree of Life Key Chain – Got a new driver in the house? A thoughtful gift could be this Tree of Life key chain, a gentle reminder of how they are connected to everyone and everything else. The key chain comes in either black or brown leather and is distressed with paint suitable for leather. The Key of Life medallion is made of brass. Artisan accepts custom orders for other colors and materials. Created in Greece, ships worldwide. $19

 Infants

Thor’s Hammer Plus Rattle – This is an adorable little rattle for your Viking baby! The charcoal gray fleece ‘hammer’ has a bark brown fleece handle, and is filled with poly-fil and two metal bells. It has white machine stitched embroidered detail on the hammer and black stitched wood grain detail on the handle. And, they even offer the option to have your little Viking’s initials sewn in one side in Norse Runes. $14

Witches Hat – I’m not all that into babies, but even I have to admit this is pretty cute. Not only do you get the hat, but it also comes with a headband, too. Both are handknit from acrylic and is machine washable on gentle cycle. The one pictured is for 0 to 6 months and is ready for immediate sale. If you need something custom made, be aware it can up to 12 weeks. However, if the Witch hat isn’t to your taste, the foxes ears are to die for. $20

Baphomet Plushie – I’ve never thought of Baphomet as adorable, but then again, I’ve never seen a Baphomet plushie. Until now! And really, why can’t a representation of the sum of the entire universe be cute? This plushie is made of soft fleece and is hand stitched felt. The plushie stands about 8 inches high. It might also make a good gift for the little Thelemite in your life. $20

Children

Original Buddha Board – Children live such hectic lives and are always on the go. The Buddha Board not only is a creative outlet,  but it also allows them to live fully in the moment. Think of it as a Zen-like Etch-A-Sketch. Children use the brush and water to paint designs onto the board, no paint needed. As the water evaporates the image fades away, but reveals a new perspective on your creative endeavors, encouraging the Zen idea of living in the moment. Since it can be used over and over with no other supplies needed, it is environmentally friendly, too. $35

Animal hand tattoos – I want a set of these! Simply apply these temporary tattoos with water, and kids can make their own puppet show. You get two sets of eight different animals in your pack – bird, shark, zebra, giraffe, cow, alligator, tiger and bumblebee. Uncommon goods has some great educational and eco-friendly toys for kids, but they are usually pricey. These tattoos are relatively inexpensive, but they are made in China. Life is full of trade-offs. Retail $12

Make Your Own Chewing Gum – Part chemistry project, part botany lesson, all fun. Glee gum uses chicle, a tree sap, as its base. With adult supervision, kids can melt the sap and add flavors to make their own gum. Each ingredient comes with information on where and how it is harvested, and the history behind it. This kit makes learning fun. Parents can feel good about the gum because the chicle has been sustainably harvested, which helps preserve rainforests. And, what’s more, the packaging is eco-friendly. The same company also sells a Make Your Own Chocolate and Make Your Own Candy pack. $14

Coloring Books and Tarot

Green Witch Tarot by Ann Moura and Kiri Østergaard Leonard – Ms. Gallo says that this is Llewellyn’s hottest tarot. Very in tune with Pagan sensibilities, the deck features different names for many of the majors, such as the Green Man in place of the Fool and The Lord and Lady for Lovers. Presenting Witchcraft practices and meaningful encounters with plants and animals, The Green Witch Tarot lets you open a channel between the reader and the spiritual beings of nature. It is full of powerful symbols and energetic wisdom that you can use to find the answers you seek. $29

Raven’s Prophecy Tarot, by Maggie Stiefvater – If you’re looking for a tarot deck for a teen, this is a good option. The deck was written and illustrated by uber-popular New York Times bestselling YA author Maggie Stiefvater. The iridescent sheen of a raven’s wing reveals a tantalizing glimpse of the future. A tattooed hand, sinews roiling like ley lines, peels back the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next. The Raven’s Prophecy Tarot reveals the wisdom of dreams, helping you harness the opposing forces of intuition and cunning, Moon and Raven, spirit and intellect. $29

Norse Gods Coloring Book by Grace D. Palmer – Coloring is becoming more and more popular these days – with kids and adults alike. Many of the recently published coloring books are geared more for adults, but this book could be enjoyed by the entire family. It contains images of ten of the Norse Deities: Odin, Frigga, Frey, Freya, Thor, Tyr, Loki, Sigyn, Eir, and the Nornir. $20

Unleash the Goddess Coloring Books by Kerri Hirsch – Each book contains thirteen pages of unbound coloring fun. The books themselves are actually made of individual loose cardstock paper and can be colored with markers, watercolors, or acrylics. There are 12 different coloring book themes to choose from, and they range from simple drawings to more complex designs – all created by Hirsch herself. The themes include, for example, mandalas, Goddesses, pentacles, hearts, and Celtic knots. The one shown at the right is from the pack “Wild Whimsy.” $15

Epicureans and Fashionistas 

Rune Belt with Celtic Buckle – Have a Druid or Heathen on your gift list? The belt is handcrafted from full grain leather and is tooled, dyed, finished, and assembled by hand. It is affixed with four heavy duty Chicago screws with glued threads. The belt itself features runic script while the buckle has a knotwork design. You can customize either the runes or the buckle. $68

Pentagram Dress – Buying clothing for your mate can be tricky, but pretty much any person would be ecstatic to receive this pentacle dress. Elegant, but still fun. It is made from soft touch jersey fabric so it has plenty of swing and drape, while still being as comfortable to wear as a pair of PJs. Need something dressier? Or maybe your mate doesn’t do above the knee dresses? No problem.There’s a floor length version with the pentacle in the back for extra drama.$65

Goddess On Earth Coffee Table Book – This book is so lovely and powerful that I broke my own rule to only include books published in the last year. Goddess on Earth features over 95 lush color portraits and is printed with a rich European cloth cover by Editorial Bortolazzi-Stei in Italy, one of the most renown bookmakers in the world. Introduction by Jean Shinoda and afferword by Starhawk. The photo shown, titled Gaia, is of a mother and her children just days after she had given birth at home, a few inches from where the photo was taken. $56

The Craft Nesting Dolls – Are you kidding me? These are nesting dolls of The Craft Witches Nancy, Bonnie, Rochelle, and Sarah. Nancy is the biggest doll (natch!) at 5.5 inches while Sarah is the smallest at 2 inches. But don’t feel bad for Sarah, she has a tiny surprise inside. These dolls are hand painted, signed by the artist, and made to order. They ship worldwide from Australia and can take 4 to 6 weeks to create. Well worth the wait. $140

The Clitoring – There is power in female sexuality. This ring is a stylized anatomical representation of the newly rediscovered internal clitoris. I can definitely see this ring as a perfect receptical for storing energy raised during rituals. Luxurious enough to be worn at black tie events or as an everyday reminder of the Goddess within us all. The artist says the ring can even be set with precious stones. All handmade, choose from solid sterling silver or gold. $122 for sterling silver, $575 for gold.

Set of 6 Rune Rings – These rings contain power of another sort – the power of runes. There are six rings in this set, each a different rune. Algiz, for protection, on your thumb. Inguz, for love, on your index finger. There are two rings for your middle finger – Mannaz for unity and Kenaz for enlightenment. Teiwaz, for victory, on your ring finger and Othala, signifying your heritage, on your pinky. The rings are made from sterling silver, but have a dark oxidized patina. You can order them in sizes up to a 10 and single rune rings are also available. $320

Goddess rug – This handmade crochet rug features Goddesses on top of circles of color. The rug is made from fabric strips that are cut up, tied together, and then crocheted together to make a 27 inches in diameter rug. The Goddesses are slightly padded and made of felt. The artisan can also make similar rugs featuring moon gazing hares,owls,foxes,faeries and badgers and can use wool in place of felt. I’m not sure I’d use this rug in a high traffic area, but it would be eye catching in just the right spot. $47

Roman Comb – This is a beautiful gift for a Roman reconstructionist of any gender from a man with a truly glorious beard or a newborn baby. This comb is a handmade replica of a comb from the late Roman Period housed in The British Museum. It is made from ash wood and rubbed with linseed oil. It measures 10.5 centimeters long. There are several other styles to choose from, and many are quite intricate. $15

Technomages

Pebble Smartwatch – One of the very few smartwatches that are compatible with both Andriod and iOS. And, it has excellent battery life, too. Pebble has several different watches available, some of them fall under $200. Like most smartwatches, you can take calls, manage your calendar,your sleep and your exercise. You can even text and email. $180 and up

Roku – Know someone who wants to cut their cable? Roku is a good option for them. Compatible with many different viewing systems and one of the more cost effective and reliable non-cable solutions on the market. It is very user friendly, too. There are several different options to choose from – one device even turns older TVs into smart TVs. $40 to $130

Amazon Fire Tablet – This solid tablet is hard not to recommend just based on the bang for the buck ratio. It has consistently high reviews and works as well as tablets several times the cost. This 7 inch tablet has both rear and front facing cameras, and 8 GB of internal storage, which isn’t bad. But what’s really nice is that it comes with free unlimited cloud storage for all Amazon content and photos taken with Fire devices. If that isn’t enough storage, you can add a microSD card for up to 128 GB of additional storage. Normally $50, it’s on special at Amazon for Black Friday for $35.

Tree Hugger

One of the best gifts you can get someone who craves nature is a pass for a National or State Park in their area. Most parks offer a gift pass purchase as an option. State Park passes cost between $25 to $75.

National Park Passports – Also available from the National Parks are Passports books. These little treasures are filled with maps, information, data and guides to the many National Parks throughout the U.S. Every time you visit a park, there is a place within the book to earn a stamp, much like a travel passport, and also a spot for a photo. Friendly rangers and shop keepers have the stamps ready to go when you arrive. Available at the parks and online, these little books are a great way to educate, create memories and even set travel goals. The Passports are available in several formats including one geared toward kids and one for adults. $8.95.

Music

Yule Songs – Miss singalongs while you’re gathered around the tree? This book contains a selection of songs perfect for Yule. Drawing on the Heathen and Pagan traditions of the season, it collects songs for the feast table, songs for rituals, and door-to-door customs still practiced in Britain. Also included are songs in honor of the Northern gods. Combining both original lyrics and music alongside traditional folk songs, this would be a good gift for covenmates, family members, or friends. $5

The Naked Harp by Omnia – Just released this fall, The Naked Harp is Omnia’s 17th album. It contains 15 original songs and runs for just over 48 minutes. It is described as a “beautiful and timeless musickal journey into the realms of Dreams and Faery” and is good for meditation, dreaming and inspiration. Omnia is bohemian folk band from Europe. The newest album is available on their site along with many of their other works. 18 EUR

For the Bookworm

Elysia Gallo is the senior acquisitions editor for Llewellyn Worldwide, based in Minnesota. She’s also active in her local Minneapolis community and blogs for Llewellyn’s Paganism blog, Reflections of the Moon. Llewellyn is offering Black Friday specials, use the code FRIDAY2015 when you check out. Here are her suggestions:

The Book of Oberon by Daniel Harms, Joseph Peterson, and James R. Clark – A fascinating addition to the magical literature of the Elizabethan era, this lavishly illustrated grimoire is a must-have for magic practitioners, collectors, and historians. The Book of Oberon is the meticulous transcription and translation of a sixteenth-century manuscript acquired by the esteemed Folger Shakespeare Library. Unlike the more theoretical magic books of the era, this collection of spells, secrets, and summonings was compiled gradually by unknown authors for working practical magic.This is a significant contribution to the annals of magical history, bringing to light the kind of grimoire that was commonplace in its era but is rarely published today. $65

Yule by Susan Pesznecker –  What better Yule gift could you give someone than a book on celebrating Yule? Also known as the Winter Solstice, Yule is celebrated when nighttime has reached its maximum length, and there is a promise of brighter days to come as candles are lit and feasts are enjoyed. This guide shows you how to perform rituals and work magic with the energy of rebirth and renewal that comes with the return of the light. Its 240-pages contain rituals, recipes, spells, prayers, and more. This is the seventh book in Llewellyn’s Sabbat Essentials series, exploring the old and new ways of celebrating the seasonal rites that are the cornerstones of the Witch’s year. $12

Circle of Eight by Jane Meredith – Good for any Witch or Pagan who wants to listen to her immediate surroundings and work local magic with others. The Circle of Eight is an exciting magical system for developing powerful, transformative rituals based on your relationship with the land. Through explorations of mythic work, invocations, inner discovery, and relationships within magical circles, this book provides much-needed insight into the experience of local magic—whether you live in a rainforest, a city, or anywhere in between. With instructions for setting up your own Circle of Eight, Jane Meredith’s unique approach will radically reinvent your relationship with traditional circle magic. Suitable for beginners, advanced ritualists, groups, and solo practitioners, this book helps you step boldly into the powerful magic of place and the great Wheel of the Year. $18

The Practical Art of Divine Magic by Patrick Dunn – This is for any Pagan or magician who wants to work more on direct access to the divine, a stronger relationship with deity. Dunn revisits Neoplatonic practices and makes them fully accessible and practical for the modern user. The ancient world of Egypt, Greece, and Rome was home to a set of magical and spiritual technologies, called theurgy, that unite the practice of magic with the aims of religion. Theurgy, or “godwork,” is the art of creating a stronger bond between the theurgist and his or her deities. The results of this stronger bond were imminently practical: stronger magic, more meaningful existence, and a better life. With the fall of Rome, these techniques faded into obscurity, and many of them were lost forever. Whether you practice Witchcraft, ceremonial magic, or chaos magic, you can benefit from the practice of theurgy. $20

The following selection was recommended by Red Wheel/Weiser.

Brigid by Courtney Weber – Mother, daughter, healer, bard, warrior, fire goddess, goddess of the oak, animals, and magic. Brigid of the spring, her festival Imbolc, oversees fertility of all kinds. Brigid is many things to many people. In this enticing book, Courtney Weber offers up a wide-ranging exposition and celebration of all things Brigid, who is arguably the most popular figure in Celtic mythology and religion. Meet Brigid in her various incarnations—Celtic Pagan Goddess, Christian Saint, and Voudon Loa. Each chapter ends with guided meditations and exercises that help readers tap into Brigid’s healing powers. Inside you’ll find Brigid-focused spells, blessings, recipes, and rituals for love, harmony, protection, and much more. $13

To Trim the Tree 

Ankh Tree Topper – The Ankh represents eternal life, a nice sentiment during the longest night. This ankh tree topper is 8″ diameter and uses a beveled glass border. Iridescent clear granite glass surrounds a clear amber Ankh, while the solder lines are silver. The artist notes that the topper is quite heavy and suggest it only be used on trees 6 ft or taller. City Free Glass also makes pentagrams and peace symbol tree toppers. $70

Dryad Resin Ornament – A dryad, otherwise known as a wood nymph, is a perfect ornament for your tree. This ornament is 6 inches tall and is made from a hand painted resin. The artist is a classically trained sculptor with a wide selection of ornaments, candle holders, and statues. If Krampus ornaments are more your thing, Dellamorteco has you covered as well. $20

Broomstick Ornament – Here’s one for all the Witches on your gift list. This adorable little broomstick ornament is handmade in France by The Witch Chandlery. I’m not a Witch and I want one of these. If red ribbons are not your thing, other colors are available to fit your holiday decor. Ships worldwide. $10

Rooster Ornaments – The rooster is the animal most sacred to the Greek God Helios, greeting the Sun each dawn, which makes him perfect for a Winter Solstice tree. The ornament is laser engraved from Baltic birch and hand painted. I ordered five of them and they are just as cute in person. $8

Yule Countdown Calendar – Delight children with treats or surprise a special loved one with gifts of appreciation during the holidays with this countdown-until-Yule tree calendar! Each day of December, up until Yule, is marked on a little drawer, perfect for hiding tiny gifts or candies. The drawers measure 1” wide x 1” high x 1” deep. The tree is decorated with wood-burned knot work and stained with sealer. The tree measures 18 inches tall, and 15 3/4” wide at the base. The calendar is supported upright using an easel stand. $85

We hope you’ve enjoyed the gift guide. This is just a small taste of what Pagan or Pagan-friendly artisans and stores have to offer. As always, when possible, support your community by buying local or buying direct from the artists.

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*Disclaimer: This is a wholly independent gift guide. The Wild Hunt was not paid to endorse any of the listed products. All prices were current as of publication date.

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