The pagan tradition of wassailing dates back to the English Middle Ages.
Still popular in England,
Wassailing is an activity that continues to this day.
People go into apple orchards,
During or around the time of Yule,
To sing and make loud noises,
Both to frighten away any evil spirits and to wake up the trees in order to ensure that a good growing season will follow.
Some of the wassail is poured over the roots of the trees,
And some people will place a piece of toast,
Which has been soaked in the cider,
On the boughs of the trees to feed and thank them.
This tradition gave us the expression to toast someone.
So what is wassail?
It's a warm or mulled cider with many different recipes,
But a basic one is this,
With the proportions being to your personal liking.
Apple cider,
Orange juice,
Lemon juice,
Cinnamon sticks,
Whole cloves,
Ground ginger,
And ground nutmeg.
In my personal recipe,
I also add in a handful of fresh cranberries.
If you've ever wanted a way to describe what Yule smells like,
Just put a kettle of wassail on your stove to simmer.
So for this workshop,
I'd like to take a look at the ingredients for the basic wassail recipe from a magical perspective,
So that we can all understand and appreciate what we're brewing up in our cauldrons,
So to speak.
The energetic properties of apple and orange are love and prosperity.
Orange is also used in workings for friendship,
And apples have long symbolized eternal life in pagan traditions.
Cans are for purification and happiness.
Cinnamon promotes personal and spiritual power,
As well as healing,
Strength,
And success.
Cloves are for protection and banishing negative energies.
Ginger is for protection and safety,
And nutmeg is for abundance and happiness.
So when we look at these properties collectively,
We are literally cooking up one big pot of magic that's very much in the spirit of Yule.
Friendship,
Happiness,
Spirituality,
Protection,
Strength,
Success,
Safety,
Abundance,
Love.
This blend is what everyone,
Everywhere needs,
Especially at Yule.
If wassail is something that's already a Yule tradition for you,
Or if you'd like to begin making it for your holiday celebrations,
I invite you to blend the ingredients with mindfulness,
Intention,
And love.
As you add each ingredient,
Pause for just a moment to recognize its magical properties.
Ask yourself,
Who is the working for,
Or where is the energy being sent?
You might find it meaningful to stir the pot clockwise,
Or use your spoon or ladle to draw an invoking pentagram in the cider.
Then,
As it begins to simmer and steam,
Visualize those energies going out into the world,
And to wherever you specifically direct them.
See those energies not only coming from your kettle,
But also from your heart.
I always say that the non-negotiable component of any magical working is your intention.
Further,
I am always reminded that our words have great power,
And that they are spells in and of themselves.
During the season of Yule,
And always,
We have daily opportunities to metaphorically give strength to the apple trees around us with offerings of toast dipped in cider,
Such as saying things like,
Thank you,
I appreciate you,
I love you,
I forgive you.
By doing things like giving a patient and silent pause when someone around us needs a little extra time.
By sparing a few seconds doing something that will take the load off the shoulders of someone else.
By listening with compassion.
I invite you to pause for just a moment,
And take several deep breaths,
And as you do so,
Feel yourself rooting into the earth,
And drawing in energy from the core of the earth.
See sense and feel a divine,
Sacred,
Loving,
And life-giving light.
The light of life itself,
Surrounding you in a protective hug.
This light is filled with peace,
Healing,
And love.
Visualize this light rising up through your feet,
And flowing through you until it reaches your crown chakra.
Now see a portion of this light going out from you through your heart chakra,
Embracing the entire world and every being in it,
And sending healing energy to those you silently call to mind at this moment.
With love and light,
Do we embrace the season of Yule and each other.
The energies of Yule we hear combine and hallow the blessings of the divine.
Bring to all of us on earth the joy of the sun's rebirth.
So mote it be.
Blessings and praise for the season of Yule,
For festive times and seasons,
For the sun's rebirth that is soon to come,
For peace and love.
Blessings and praise.
Bright blessings to you during this season of Yule,
And always.
