Today I’m listening to an old favourite- “Jingle Bones” from the Disney Christmas album and giggling madly. Why? Because this album is from my childhood and I realized how much this album played in my psyche as I grew up. I’m a witch/druid/eclectic pagan who loves holidays and enjoys her family and friends in varying doses. (Too much and I so need solitude!) But more than that– Yule is approaching as is Mithra’s birthday and Christmas and my family will be here for the first year ever. This is the first year we’ll have been together since we were kids for the holidays. I’m excited, nervous and want everything to go according to plan– which amuses my male and my psychiatrist both. It’s even funnier to them both to know I’ve even programmed in the chaos and last minute changes that are bound to happen as well.
How do I prepare for my personal Yule before handling my family for Christmas? I’ve been preparing for weeks actually. I’m actually off this Yule, so for me it’s a blessing. I’ve started baking for myself and the male all week. Yesterday I made my favourite Dutch Apple Cake recipe, and I added in Maraschino cherries for a hint of extra colour. I even made pulled pork last night using my own blend of spices in the slow cooker. *sigh* It turned out better than I thought possible because I was tweaking the seasonings. I think I’ve finally found the right spices that just enhance the pork without overwhelming it. Go me! Today, I’m relaxing and I’ll be making cookies and some Yule bread. Tomorrow, we’re cleaning up the house, which will give me the clean feeling of renewing the sun and bringing spring to the house, even though we’ve been having unseasonably warm weather here in Florida.
The other thing I’ll be doing for Yule is my annual ritual. This includes spell working for peace in the upcoming year and to bless those in my family and friends. I do this every summer and winter to ensure those I love are always cared for. I also thank the gods and goddesses for the time of winter- the time that allows us to think more on ourselves and what we wish to get rid of, what we wish to change of ourselves.
Winter is a time of core realizations. It’s a time to prune away the deadwood in our lives and get back to the basics of life and living. It’s breaking it down to family, friends, and living life simply and contentedly. It’s a time for me that I spend rereading my favourite books on divination, basic spiritual practices and I make lists– what I want to do, what I know I can do, what I need to do to get to the first list. Then I work out how I can honestly do it all without sacrificing anything. Then I rework the lists. I can’t always do what I’ve done. I’ve started to accept this, though it hurts me deep inside. So, I have to retrain myself as if I was a new person in the world of writing and in the world of being me. This means little steps. This means having people to help me along this journey this year, like Kell, Nik, Lena, and others. People who love me for me and want me to succeed– they also aren’t afraid of kicking my ass. LOL
Spending time baking and thinking this Yule is important to me. It’s the gift of life and the gift of endings. Things change in the dark half of the year. This is where the shortest day is. This is where twilight and darkness is greater than daylight. It’s when you become more aware of not just the physical but the spiritual aspects of yourself. Take the time to honour this part of yourself- even if you’re not a believer of any major religion. Why? Because we’re all spiritual. We all need to honour that aspect to come to terms with our entire essence.
Happy Yuletide and may the Gods and Goddesses bless you this year!
Cyn’s Dutch Apple Cake
3 medium peeled apples, diced (3 cups) (Can be tart or somewhat sweet)
3 tbsp sugar (for apples)
1 cup sugar (for cake batter)
2/3 cup softened butter
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/8 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon, divided
1 tsp nutmeg
In a large bowl, combine the apples, 3 tbsp sugar and 1 tsp of cinnamon. Let sit about an hour. In another large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Add vanilla. Combine flour and salt, then gradually add to the wet mixture, beating until just smooth.
Fold in the apple mixture into the cake batter. Then pour this into a well greased 9 inch loaf pan or a 8×8 pan that has high sides.
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour or so until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 30 minutes on a rack, then remove to cool further or serve warm.
