Parting the Mists

The days leading up to Christmas (which I celebrate with family as a secular event, though my family sees it otherwise), can be hectic and frazzled for many people. It can make us less than generous when we are stressed. Now is that time to remember that not having everything “perfect” for the holidays won’t be the end of the world.

However, being helpful and kind to others at this time could really make their season. In our local community, which hasn’t had an overnight homeless shelter in several years, the community is rallying behind our local food bank and community health center that is coordinating an overnight shelter through the winter months. Luckily, it started this Wednesday, before the arctic blast hit us. It has made my heart lighter seeing people taking care of strangers in the season when we are supposed to reach out to others in need.

Blessings,

Thistle

Uncle Holly

Santa’s Chief Helper and the Supervisor of his Workshop

This is a jolly-looking fellow who seems to be doing something very Santa-like  – making a list and checking it. Uncle Holly is a character in a short play about Father Christmas and his secret twin brother (Holly). At Selfridges store in the UK around the 1950s, Uncle Holly was a character children spoke to instead of Santa (I’ve also found that he was the person they spoke to before visiting Santa’s lap).

Let’s not forget that Holly, in Celtic tradition, is half of the battle for the year: The Holly King (winter) and the Oak King (Summer). Holly itself reminds us of the earth’s energy and vitality when most other plant life has gone dormant. It reminds us of hope and generosity.

StoryWorld: Christmas Tales by John and Caitlin Matthews and (this card) artist Tomislav Tomic

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Sorry to be running late today, but with 1 degree Fahrenheit, it’s hard to leave the cozy chair with it’s soft throw and two warm kitties! I hope everyone facing this arctic blast is safe and warm.

Fittingly, the Polar Bear is here to help us make our journeys safely. Seek this powerful ally if setting out on a new journey – and today let some of that ally be caution and common sense if you have to go out in unsafe weather!

Blessings,

Thistle

The Polar Bear

Powerful and fierce, he carries friends on long journeys

Bears are often seen as protective and fierce, and here we have a polar bear carrying a girl on an adventure by the light of the full moon. Behind them is a cozy home with a couple folks watching her leave – at least one of them is a child as well. Notice how she doesn’t look frightened at all? She knows the power of the bear is with her and will guide and protect her. 

I think we might be getting the suggestion that we should seek a powerful ally in a forthcoming journey, whether it’s an adventure or a journey to a new job, home, relationship, or connection to spirit. Don’t forget that we are not alone. Even if you do not believe in deity outright, the symbolism of a powerful ally like a bear, wolf, or eagle can empower us. The cold of winter and the dark season need not frighten us when we are prepared.

Storyworld: Christmas Tales by John and Caitlinn Matthews and (this card) artist Peter Malone

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Sorry to miss yesterday’s card – we had a morning guest and I didn’t have time before work. But here we are today with a duo that is powerful though they might look demure. There is much lore and wisdom with the Wren and the Robin, so take note of that but also keep in mind they are breaking free of the cage they were in. We too can break free and recreate things for ourselves – even age-old traditions for Yule and Christmas can take on a new luster if we tweak them for our current lives.

Blessings!

Thistle

The Robin and the Wren

In this card, we see a robin and a wren sitting on a holly branch (feminine aspect) in front of a broken bird cage with an evergreen tree inside. In the bottom left, you can see little toy soldiers walking through the snow with a cat, dog, and squirrel also walking away. 

OK, so the thing to note here is some of the folklore of these two birds. 

The wren has associations with this time of year and is the King of Birds, according to old folk legend. This ancient totem bird flew highest of all creatures by riding on the back of the great eagle, thus earning itself the title of King of All Birds through it’s cleverness and resourcefulness rather than on pure physical ability. It serves as a reminder that the smallest of the Earth’s creatures is capable of soaring to the greatest heights and seeing beyond the furthest horizon. In Ireland, there is an old tradition of “wren boys” or “straw boys” hunting a wren on Dec. 26th, or St. Stephen’s Day. The dead wren was affixed to the top of a pole and the wren boys would go around the community asking for money. 

There are a lot of theories of why this is done. It is believed that the Celtic Druids considered the bird sacred, and later Christian traditions sought to dismantle its ideology, even recasting it’s resourcefulness to become King of Birds as deceit and treachery. 

As for Robin Redbreast, who hasn’t heard of the “first Robin of spring”? Well, that’s not really an accurate concept, as the Robin is not a spring-only bird as the common expression would have us to believe. They will stay in winter if it does not get too cold and if there is a good food source. The striking birds were also featured on the earliest Christmas cards, but that might be due to early postal workers wearing red jackets and artists associating the two for the new postal system. 

Given all this, these birds here are breaking with their traditional folkloric roles – and perhaps we need to do the same. At Yule and Christmas, it can be easy to get stuck with the traditions handed down to us. Sometimes they are wonderful and nostalgic, but sometimes they need changed or updated for the new age and new people. Perhaps it’s time to shake things up a bit and create a new tradition or evaluate an old one. To quote Gustav Mahler, “Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” 

Storyworld: Christmas Tales by John and Caitlin Matthews and artist Peter Malone

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I guess even the Christmas Tales deck has a challenging card! What challenge is before you and how will you tackle it?

Blessings,

Thistle

The Frost Queen

Makes the ice and snow in wintertime

Though one may associate this Frost Queen with the legendary Snow Queen or similar winter figures that tend to have a destructive or negative side, I’m not sure we could so easily dismiss this card as like that. This Queen is feeding the wild animals and though she doesn’t look particularly friendly, she also does not look harsh either. The animal are all looking to her for something. To me, it appears that she wants us to understand something; note the empty bag in the foreground with a note. A mystery is to be solved or a task or quest is being asked of us – or perhaps a challenge. After all, she makes the snow and ice in winter, which is both beautiful but challenging to live with.

Perhaps it’s time to detach a bit from those around you to get your grounding or to evaluate something not going according to plan, to create a new plan. Or are we avoiding a challenge set before us? Remember that overcoming challenges can help us to grow, so avoiding something that seems hard may hurt us in the long run.

Storyworld: Christmas Tales by John and Caitlin Matthews and artist Tomislav Tomic

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No matter what winter holiday you celebrate or how you do so, take a few minutes today to consider the magic of the season. For many cultures, this is a time to hold the light through the longest night of the year. How will you come through the darkest season? Perhaps someone you know needs a little of that magic and YOU can be the fairy, bringing light to others in need.

Blessings and have a lovely weekend!

Thistle

The Christmas Fairy

Bringing magic to people who need it at the holidays

In this card, we have a live fairy atop the tree, winding its magic to light up the tree and inspire awe. Even the ball ornaments have become personified and are smiling. And while for some it is an angel who delivers holiday magic, for others of us it is the Far and the Spirits of Nature. While some might think I’m stretching things to align a fairy for the top of a tree instead of an angel, consider some of the lore for fairies – that they were fallen angels who weren’t bad enough to be sent to hell with Lucifer. And ever notice how some folks refer to Christmas lights also as fairy lights?

No matter what winter holiday you celebrate or how you do so, take a few minutes today to consider the magic of the season. For many cultures, this is a time to hold the light through the longest night of the year. How will you come through the darkest season?

Storyworld: Christmas Tales by John and Caitlin Matthews and (this card) artist Tomislav Tomic

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A sweet and warm card greets us on the first day of the Christmas Tales cards, but it also reminds not to fall into materialism. What does it say to you?

Blessings,

Thistle

The Christmas Wish

It’s a tradition generations old – making a Christmas wish list for Santa. What I love here is that, as the children carry on this tradition, there are little elves and sprites all around them listening and taking notice. Not only do they see if we’ve been “good or bad” but they can also see what we already need and have. As we make our wishes this holiday season, it’s good to remember what we already have and not ask for excess – or even to ask something for others who have less than they need. These children are clearly loved and cared for: they have books and toys and a warm home. Let’s hope they (and the generations being raised now) have learned to ask with a humble and appreciative heart – and to learn to see the magic around them.

StoryWorld: Christmas Tales by John and Caitlin Matthews

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OK, this is always a difficult one to figure out, but today it just made me laugh. I’ve been struggling to get holiday preparations going my way, and one of those preparations is making sweets. Last night was attempting my first treat when an old mixing spoon (supposed to be able to handle high temps and has many, many times before) melted while attempting a toffee. So, no toffee today! Hopefully, you all will get something more useful from today’s draw.

Blessings!

The Christmas Cookie

Meaning: OK, this is a tough one. This is NOT an oracle deck, but as the holidays approach I like to use this storytelling deck in lieu of one. Some of the cards are easy to sort out but this one did make me chuckle and scratch my head a bit. Of course, we have a cookie running away from the bakery and potential customers – the poor thing is even being chased by a fork and spoon! On one hand, I see a treat (I do so love to bake) and immediately think the message might be that it’s OK to treat yourself, whether it’s a sweat treat or another type of reward. But then there’s the part where I see the cookie is trying to run from responsibility. On the other hand, I see its running from its prescribed role as a bid for sovereignty, much like the goddess Bloudewedd. (Not much help there, am I?)

There is some other symbolism to parse out.

A goose walks along in the foreground of the card; geese are symbols of loyalty and bravery (and fiercely protective). They were also the popular choice for Christmas dinner in England. There is also a mouse in foreground, possibly awaiting a chance at the crumbs that are falling off the cookie. These two creatures seem almost opposite in nature: one small, quiet, and resourceful and the other white, loud, and fierce. 

If you look along the edges, there is an unattended hat and pair of gloves, as well as a small sack in the snow. Perhaps there is something being missed as one is running along. 

Storyworld: Christmas Tales by John and Caitlin Matthews

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Hope everyone is having a good Wednesday! It’s been a crazy week here, but I hope it calms down for the next couple days and I can get time for some things I love like baking cookies and watching some holiday specials (speaking of which, check out The Secrets of Christmas on on Hulu, which interviews New World Witchery’s Cory as one of the experts!)

Blessings!

Scrooge

Today’s card is … Scrooge! This card clearly shows the unreformed Scrooge as he is up in the dark, counting money and logging it in his books by candlelight while somber-looking folks walk by outside. Notice the waxing moon, a sign of a shift or change and the opportunity to change our own lives.

Are you feeling the spirit of Scrooge? Perhaps it’s time to look at why you feel this way. Holidays and winter can be stressful times for some, but can be enjoyed with the right tactics (perhaps the hygge trend could be useful here). You don’t have to completely flip the coin over in order to change your outlook. A small shift toward appreciation and gratitude can go a long way. Start small if you’re feeling Scroogey- there’s probably a reason why that you need to work through.

On the flip side, perhaps you are not the Scrooge but one of the spirits meant to shed light on how to understand oneself and how to honor the season and be charitable. Look out for those in need of self-reflection and cheer. Sometimes a kind word or some illuminating communication is the gift someone needs.

Storyworld: Christmas Tales by authors John and Caitlin Matthews

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There’s a lot of lore for these two birds, some of which we will explore below. The wren is also one of my spirit guides, so this card definitely speaks to me. Have a great Friday and weekend!

The Robin and the Wren

In this card, we see a robin and a wren sitting on a holly branch (feminine aspect) in front of a broken bird cage with an evergreen tree inside. In the bottom left, you can see little toy soldiers walking through the snow with a cat, dog, and squirrel also walking away.

OK, so the thing to note here is some of the folklore of these two birds.

The wren has associations with this time of year and is the King of Birds, according to old folk legend. This ancient totem bird flew highest of all creatures by riding on the back of the great eagle, thus earning itself the title of King of All Birds through it’s cleverness and resourcefulness rather than on pure physical ability. It serves as a reminder that the smallest of the Earth’s creatures is capable of soaring to the greatest heights and seeing beyond the furthest horizon. In Ireland, there is an old tradition of “wren boys” or “straw boys” hunting a wren on Dec. 26th, or St. Stephen’s Day. The dead wren was affixed to the top of a pole and the wren boys would go around the community asking for money.

There are a lot of theories of why this is done. It is believed that the Celtic Druids considered the bird sacred, and later Christian traditions sought to dismantle its ideology, even recasting it’s resourcefulness to become King of Birds as deceit and treachery.

As for Robin Redbreast, who hasn’t heard of the “first Robin of spring”? Well, that’s not really an accurate concept, as the Robin is not a spring-only bird as the common expression would have us to believe. They will stay in winter if it does not get too cold and if there is a good food source. The striking birds were also featured on the earliest Christmas cards, but that might be due to early postal workers wearing red jackets and artists associating the two for the new postal system.

Given all this, these birds here are breaking with their traditional folkloric roles – and perhaps we need to do the same. At Yule and Christmas, it can be easy to get stuck with the traditions handed down to us. Sometimes they are wonderful and nostalgic, but sometimes they need changed or updated for the new age and new people. Perhaps it’s time to shake things up a bit and create a new tradition or evaluate an old one. To quote Gustav Mahler, “Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.”

Storyworld: Christmas Tales by John and Caitlin Matthews and artist Peter Malone

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Good Thursday, everyone! As I said yesterday, we are now using the Storyworld: Christmas Tales cards for a while. Hope you enjoy them!

Today’s card has a lot of things going on in it if you look at the fine detail. On the surface, Father Christmas and his reindeer has dropped a gift that has been found by two children. But there are also two elves with curious looks on their faces as if these children were actually meant to find this gift, even though it might not be for them. There are three – an auspicious number – owls, which in Western mythology typically represent wisdom. A sly and inquisitive fox is also following along with the children. The pillars on either side of the arch have a carved king and queen, and a tower behind the hedges gives us a destination.

The feeling I’m getting is that we might have some unexpected things come our way, and we need to approach them with both childlike curiosity and wisdom – an interesting balance. Something might be lost, but if we are able to put things right, we should try to do so.

What’s YOUR take on this card?

Storyworld: Christmas Tales by John and Caitlyn Matthews

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