The December solstice is here once more. Many Pagans and Witches north of the equator observe it as the beginning of Winter, while those in the south are celebrating it as the first day of summer.
These are times when the tides of earthly power begin to shift, and the solar light reverses course and begins to wane or wax. In much of the modern Craft, this has been mythopoetically represented in the form of a dark god and a light god, each opposite and opposed to the other. The Oak King is said to be the lord of the light half of the year while the Holly King is said to rule the dark half.
As I was first taught the mythic story, these two characters were in constant battle, each vying for the affections of the Great Goddess and coming to blows at the solstices, where one would defeat the other and take their place as the new ruler and consort of the Goddess. Until the next solstice comes along, of course, and the other king would be victorious and rule.
This is a great myth for those who are heterosexually inclined, and so, in all fairness, useful for most people. But not for everyone. Queer people often have to make translations in order to find usefulness in myths and stories. We must find our own myths, or at least our own interpretations of the more traditional ones.
An oak tree dusted by snow [Pixabay]
I will take any chance I get to talk about a queer-centered version of this mythic cycle, in which they forgo their roles as enemies and exist, perhaps, as lovers instead. I have written about them this way in a few of my books and will probably continue to do so until I’m out of breath (aka “dead”).
It is my belief that modern queer practitioners have a responsibility to reinterpret, and even to create anew, myths and practices that enable us to more deeply connect to spirit in a way that affirms our sexuality, rather than ignoring it. This has made me the target of some people’s ire, of course. Their arguments usually sounding something like, “How dare you take our beautiful myth and make it gay?!?” Oh, I dare. And you should, too.
Since I am a cisgender gay man, and because there traditionally hasn’t been much that is specifically focused on queer men when it comes to the occult and Witchcraft, much of my work is focused on that particular niche. For the ladies and non-binary folk out there, feel free to adapt my work to better speak to you.
In the (Anderson) Faery tradition, we see the Oak King and the Holly King as manifestations of beings to whom we most often refer as “the Divine Twins.” These are forces that can appear as identical as well as opposing or complimentary, depending on the situation.
To celebrate a “queer solstice,” we must align with symbolism and a mythos that affirms us as queer beings, rather than to simply “play along” with whatever the straights are doing. There are likely an infinite number of ways to do this, so if my version doesn’t speak to you, feel free to create your own. In my version, first printed in my 2003 book, The Stars Within the Earth as a poem (and reprinted in Betwixt & Between and The Satyr’s Kiss) the Oak and Holly Kings are lovers, each pursuing the other and voluntarily relinquishing their ruling power to the other at the solstices.
At first glance, the timing given might seem somewhat counter-intuitive, as I detail the Oak King gaining power at the Winter solstice and the Holly beginning his rule in the summer. This is because the solstices mark a time when the ruling force now moves into decline. So, for example, the Winter solstice is actually about the Oak King coming to rule because the solar power begins its increase on this day, and vice versa. For me, this is a reminder that both of them are always present and even though winter is in full force, the powers of the Oak King are slowly increasing. That said, if you feel that the Holly King should be honored as the ruler at the Winter solstice instead, please make that adjustment. Myths and ritual are about what connects us to the divine, so it must be personal to be truly effective. As always, your mileage may vary.
A holly branch covered by snow [Pixabay]
As a simple rite to honor these kings, we might gather two candles of complimentary colors (often green for the Oak King and red for Holly, though you might wish to use white and black, respectively, or some other combination of colors that feels right to you) lighting the candle for the current ruler and then making a ceremony of lighting the candle of the new ruler from the already burning one, while reciting the appropriate passage from the poem below (or some other invocation that feels right to you. Feel free to be creative!)
If you are celebrating with others, you might have participants embody the two kings. They might wear crowns and ritually enact the passing of their ruling power to the other, perhaps by handing off a wand or some other object that represents their ruling authority. Once this is done, the new ruler may offer blessings to the other participants or otherwise speak as a type of seasonal oracle, depending on the needs of the group, and/or the details of the particular tradition or magical system in which you work.
No matter how you decide to celebrate, remember that as a queer practitioner, your identity and sexuality are vital aspects of who you are and as such should be represented in your spiritual work. We are not spiritual beings in spite of our sexuality, but rather, our sexuality affirms us as spiritual beings.
Whether you are celebrating Winter in the north, or Summer in the south, I wish you many solstice tidings. May you receive the blessings of the Solstice Kings. IO EVOHE! Blessed be.
•••
The Love of Kings
Two lovers in a sacred ring
The Kings of Holly and of Oak
Dancing dervish ‘round the sun
Desire whirling, hot and wild.
As passion swells with quickened blood
As summer leads to longing
The solstice sun shall mark the time
When Oak shall bow to Holly.
Into their eyes the light of love
Into their hearts’ sweet passions’ flame
Into their kiss a fevered moment
In their embrace, Her Holy Name.
By seed and bud, by fruit and flower,
That all may spiral through rebirth
With milk of moon they spill their power
Their love is poured upon the earth.
As the chill moves on the wind
That heralds winter’s cloak
The solstice sun shall mark the time
When Holly bows to Oak.
Into their eyes the light of love
Into their hearts sweet passions’ flame
Into their kiss a fevered moment
In their embrace, Her Holy Name.
Two lovers in a sacred ring
The Kings of Holly and of Oak
Dancing dervish ‘round the sun
Desire whirling, hot and wild.
The Wild Hunt is not responsible for links to external content.
To join a conversation on this post:
Visit our The Wild Hunt subreddit! Point your favorite browser to https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Wild_Hunt_News/, then click “JOIN”. Make sure to click the bell, too, to be notified of new articles posted to our subreddit.