Winter Solstice Recipes: During the winter solstice, many Pagans celebrate the rebirth of the sun and the return of longer days. This festive time is often marked with ceremonies, rituals, and gatherings. Food plays an essential role in these celebrations, with various recipes that bring warmth, comfort, and a sense of renewal. Here are some traditional winter solstice recipes followed by Pagans around the world: 1. Mulled Wine: Mulled wine is a popular beverage during the winter solstice celebrations. It is made by simmering red wine with spices such as cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, and star anise.

Untangling 13 Taylor Swift Midnights Theories: Real or Our Wildest Dreams?

It is made by simmering red wine with spices such as cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, and star anise. The aroma of the mulled wine fills the air, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. 2.

From song inspirations to what is going on with that upside down phone, here are 13 wild theories we have about Taylor Swift’s upcoming album, Midnights.

Break out your evidence boards and magnifying glasses because this meeting of the Midnights conspiracy club is now in session.

Taylor Swift releases her highly anticipated 10th studio album in just one week and recently unveiled the full track list, including a collaboration with Lana Del Rey. But, if you are a Swiftie who knows her penchant for dropping clues about her music, you might've suspected this team-up was coming. And that isn't the only sign fans have picked up on about Midnights.

Ahead of its Oct. 21 release, we've assembled a list of theories about the album, including the inspiration for songs like "Karma" and "Lavender Haze," as well as the result of our Easter egg hunt through her "Midnights Mayhem With Me" TikTok videos. Come on, did you really think we weren't going to see the way she held that red phone?

Thirteen songs. Thirteen clues. Thirteen reasons we need to take a nap. Are you ready for these Midnights theories?

When Taylor Swift released Lover in August 2019, she revealed to Entertainment Weekly that the record was originally titled "Daylight," the album's final track. She ultimately went with Lover because she felt it fit the "aesthetically very daytime" vibe compared to her previous album, Reputation, which was "all cityscape, darkness, full swamp witch."

Now, three years later, Swift's next album is titled "Midnights," which is, obviously, dark. And let's all reflect on Lover's closing line, shall we?

"I wanna be defined by the things that I love, not the things I hate. Not the things I'm afraid of, I'm afraid of or the things that haunt me in the middle of the night. I just think that you are what you love."

When it comes to the 11th song, fans are convinced all signs point in one direction: West. Yes, as in Kanye West.

"Karma is definitely about Kanye because it's definitely not a coincidence that it's Track 11," a fan wrote on Twitter. "When Innocent (her song forgiving Kanye for the 2009 incident originally), is Track 11 too."

Also, the date in which she posted the "Karma" TikTok is telling as well.

"October 6, 2016, the original demo of Kanye's song Famous leaked with the full lyrics about Taylor," another Swiftie noted. "October 6, 2022, Taylor announces Karma. Coincidence? I think not."

A few other nuggets to add to the list of clues about "Karma" include the exact word being written on a wall in graffiti in the music video for "The Man" in 2019, which was three years ago, right? If you are questioning if Swift really have been plotting this song for that long, let us rewind to her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in November 2021, in which she said, "Can I hint at something three years in advance?"

Well, as she sang in "Look What You Made Me Do," which was about her feud with West: "The world moves on, another day, another drama, drama. But not for me, not for me, all I think about is karma."

Swift revealed that Midnights' first track was inspired by Mad Men, explaining she heard the phrase "Lavender Haze" in an episode of the AMC series. (It was said in season two's "The Mountain King," by the way.)

"I looked it up because I thought it sounded cool," Swift said. "And it turns out that it was a common phrase that was used in the '50s where they would just describe being in love." Or, as Swift put it, having this "all-encompassing love glow."

So, yes, we anticipate this track to be all about her now six-year romance with actor Joe Alwyn. "I guess, theoretically, when you're in the 'Lavender Haze,' you will do anything to stay there and not let people bring you down off of that cloud," she continued. "I think a lot of people have to deal with this now, not just 'public figures,' because we live in the era of social media and if the world finds out that you're in love with somebody, they're going to weigh in on it."

But she and Alywn have dealt with more than just casual onlookers. "We've had to dodge weird rumors, tabloid stuff, and we just ignore it. And so this song is sort of about the act of ignoring that stuff to protect the real stuff."

Okay, but is this the song in which Swift finally reveals the couple secretly got married?!

While revealing that track three's title is "Anti-Hero," Swift held the Midnights phone upside down, marking one of two times she did so. (The other one was "Vigilante Shit.") Obviously, as with anything Swift does, this faux pas was intentional, but what does it signify? Our best guess is that Swift, who cast Stranger Things star Sadie Sink in her music video for her "All Too Well" short film, wrote these in some kind of parallel universe a la the Netflix series' Upside Down, where she is a villainous figure. Hide your straws 'cause we're grasping at 'em! (One fan did theorize that this could be a clue that these will be the songs that get music videos.)

Anyway, Swift later revealed that "Anti-Hero" is one of her favorite tracks she's ever written.

"I struggle a lot with the idea that my life has become unmanageably sized. Not to sound too dark, but I struggle with the idea of not feeling like a person," she explained. "Don't feel bad for me, you don't need to. This song is a real guided tour throughout all the things I tend to hate about myself. We all hate things about ourselves, and it's all of those aspects of the things we dislike and like about ourselves that we have to come to terms with if we're going to be this person."

Given that Swift was wearing a strikingly similar sweater to the one Sadie Sink wore in the short film and the iconic "Red" ring while announcing the name of track nine, many fans are speculating that "Bejeweled" is connected to "All Too Well" in some way. Fortifying that theory is the fact that verse four of the 10-minute version includes the following lyric: "A never-needy, ever-lovely jewel whose shine reflects on you."

Swift's only collaboration on the album is track four, which finds her partnering up with Lana Del Rey for the first time.

"'Snow on the Beach' is about falling in love with someone at the same time they're falling in love with you," Swift explained on Instagram. "Sort of in this sort of cataclysmic, fated moment where you realize someone feels exactly the same way that you feel."

Swift and Del Rey's team-up is likely due to their respective relationships with producer Jack Antonoff and fans are speculating the Bleachers singer produced "Snow on the Beach."

We think we can all agree Niceboy Ed, the artist behind the song "Life You Lead," which is featured in the making-of-Midnights TikTok video, is definitely a pseudonym. But for who?

One candidate is Joe Alwyn, who was credited as William Bowery for the songs he helped pen on Folklore and Evermore and was one of the first people Niceboy Ed followed on social media.

The other suspect is Ed Sheeran, one of Swift's closest friends and collaborators. Like, his name is Ed and he seems nice!

In a high-concept theory that truly made us wish we had paid more attention in our Greek mythology class in college, one Swiftie shared their belief that track ten, "Labyrinth" is the "evil twin" to "Invisible String" on 2020's Folklore.

Invisible String is based on the Chinese folktale The Red String of Fate - basically destined lovers. And in Greek Mythology, Ariadne gave Theseus a ball of red string," the fan wrote. "so that he could find his way back out of the Labyrinth after slaying the Minotaur. But when he came out, he betrayed her, resulting in either (the legend diverges) her death or abandonment and then rescue and marriage to the god Dionysus."

They continued, "While invisible string is about fated love, Labyrinth could be about the deepest betrayal after running through the most complex obstacles for a person who never loved you."

One fan on Twitter posited a compelling theory about "Maroon" detailing about Swift's disappointment when Red didn't win Album of the Year at the 2014 Grammys.

Because when Swift announced "Midnights," she explained the songs were "the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life." So, shared the Swiftie, "Is Maroon about the sleepless night we know she had after Red didn't win the Grammy?" Forget Seattle, Swift is totally Sleepless in Sadness. We will see ourselves out now.

In a TikTok video, one fan theorized that the four special edition vinyl records Swift is releasing for Midnights—that come together to form a clock—feature different colors that could correspond with various eras of her career.

One simple, straightforward and strong theory is that Midnights will be Swift's first pop-rock album.

"You know what rhymes with clock. Rock," a fan wrote on Twitter. "Rock rhymes with clock. Midnights is a rock album."

After all of the track names for "Midnights" were released, Swift's official fan account tweeted about the buying the album, writing, "For the very first time, you can pre-order and know exactly what you're getting… we think."

Of course, the tacked on "we think" caused a wave of mayhem, with one fan on TikTok predicting Swift will drop another album at the same time, one that also includes 13 songs. Why? Because the wedding cake in the "I Bet You Think About Me" music video had a "26" written on it.

Rumble’s “editor picks” list features a video pushing a conspiracy theory that Taylor Swift is a “psyop” and “a fed”

Rumble, an extreme right-wing video-sharing platform that has been the official streaming partner of the 2024 Republican presidential primary debates, listed a video promoting the conspiracy theory that pop star Taylor Swift is a “psyop” and “a fed” as one of its January 10 “editor picks.”

The video titled “T-Swift is a PSY-OP!! + Illegal Immigrants Are Coming For Our HOMES. ” is from conservative podcast host Graham Allen, whose show Dear America is exclusively on Rumble. It features Swift in its thumbnail image alongside the text “T Swift a fed??” and the video description says, “Are the FEDS using Taylor Swift as a Psy-op agent? We Will discuss the possibility today.”

Citation Screenshot of Rumble's "editor picks" section taken on January 10, 2024

During the video itself, Allen claimed that Swift — who has become a regular target of right-wing attacks — could be “a psyop devil for the government,” adding that she is “almost omnipresent, like a demon would be.”

Citation From the January 10, 2024, edition of Graham Allen’s Dear America , streamed on Rumble

GRAHAM ALLEN (HOST): First and foremost, it’s time to get to the bottom of the real issues. Is Taylor Swift a psyop devil for the government? We’re going to get to the bottom of this, because it’s not just me anymore, OK? This is making mainstream news. Even Forbes this morning had an article that’s like, “right-wing — why right-wing conspiracy theorists are obsessed with Taylor Swift.” I’m not obsessed with Taylor Swift. She’s everywhere, because she’s almost omnipresent, like a demon would be.

Allen later said it was a “fact that Taylor Swift is a demonic witch” and featured a misleading clip from Fox News host Jesse Watters, who suggested that the Department of Defense was using Swift as an “asset” for “combatting online misinformation.” (Clips of Watters’ segment have been repeatedly posted on Rumble.) Allen said that Watters’ segment “makes a lot of truth,” and baselessly suggested that the government and Pfizer were somehow involved with how Swift became famous and her current relationship.

Citation From the January 10, 2024, edition of Graham Allen’s Dear America, streamed on Rumble

GRAHAM ALLEN (HOST): So, you know, we're moving on to the fact that Taylor Swift is a demonic witch. Here we go. All right, this is Jesse Waters last night, broke a thing about ol’ T Swift. We showed you yesterday some demonic images of her with her snake-worshiping fangs in the middle of her things here. This is a 50/50 serious thing. I think this is hilarious, but it also makes a lot of truth.

ALLEN: So those of us that don’t agree with the narrative, we’re national terrorists, we’re extremists, we’re conspiracy [theorists]. And the fact that literally the next day — I’m serious, just Google “Taylor Swift” right now, “Taylor Swift psyop,” and you’ve got all these major articles talking about “right-wing conspiracy theorists are obsessed with Taylor Swift.” Why? Why would all of these people — why does Forbes care about Jesse Watters talking about that they briefed this thing about Taylor Swift being this narrative guider to combat misinformation, mind you?

ALLEN: Look, look, look, I want to see the chat blow up. Simply comment below. Do you believe that Taylor Swift simply is the biggest star in the world because of her talent? Pause there for a moment. Or do you think that she sold some kind of soul to some kind of body? Maybe it’s the devil. Maybe it’s the government. But I personally believe that she signed the dotted line somewhere, and that’s how she got there. But go down the conspiracy hour for a minute. I completely agree with all of it.

ALLEN: Around World War II, OK — this is some Alex Jones stuff, but it’s absolutely true, I’ve written about it in my book, all the above — around World War II, they realized, just like Todd said, that they can start making the general population docile. They can start, you know, putting fear on the general population, all this stuff, by getting select super famous people to push the narratives that the governments want them to push. I wonder if Taylor Swift was pro-COVID shot.

ALLEN: So around the same time that Travis Kelce gets $20 million to be the spokesathlete for Pfizer, him and Taylor Swift, within literally 10 days of all that, all of a sudden are this power couple?

Rumble has previously featured videos as “editor picks” that were dedicated to a conspiracy theory about supposed “lizard people” controlling the world, the QAnon conspiracy theory, 9/11 trutherism, and a claim that an August 2023 mass shooting in Jacksonville, Florida, was a false flag.

Taylor Swift Promotes Witchcraft On Tour in ‘Willow’ Performance

In Taylor Swift’s “Willow” music video, she includes occult worship, a troubling practice being normalized in culture across numerous forms of media.

The “Willow” music video follows Swift as she tries to connect with her lover. Something always stands in their way, and they are forced to escape to different time periods where they attempt to connect again. The scenes for the first two verses find Swift in a forest and a 1920s bar before the third scene takes place during cult worship around a campfire.

This cult worship scene has no relevance to the song, nor does it tie into the scenes from the previous verses. Swift observes the occult ritual taking it in for a few moments before taking her place and joining the dance for the second half of the verse. After, she leaves to travel through time again and continue looking for her lover, whom she eventually convenes with during the final chorus of the song.

The inclusion of the campfire witchcraft scene is confusing, as it was unnecessarily added onto lyrics it has zero relevance to. Nonetheless, it provides another worrying example of the way witchcraft and pagan worship are being pushed into pop culture and becoming normalized.

Swift has continued to tie witchcraft to this song during her Eras Tour, donning ritualistic garb while performing the song, and having her backup dancers wear capes.

Another example of occultism appearing in pop culture comes from Disney’s TURNING RED from 2022. A portion of Movieguide®’s review reads:

TURNING RED sadly includes references to Chinese ancestor worship. At one point, for example, in Mei’s narration, Mei says that her family doesn’t worship any gods, but they do worship their ancestors, especially the family’s grand matriarch. Also, at another point, Mei says that the family’s grand matriarch prayed to “the gods” during a time of war that the gods imbue her with the power of the red panda so she could defend her family.

Ultimately, therefore, TURNING RED has a mixed worldview with pro-family elements and false religion. TURNING RED also has about two overt references to being Zen-like to help her remain cool and control the red panda within her. These moments are references to the Buddhist sect of Zen Buddhism, where the practitioner seeks to clarify the mind, pacify the mind, unite mind and body, and realize the interconnectedness of all things. As with all major Buddhist sexts, Zen Buddhism’s ultimate goal is to recognize “impurities,” such as greed, anger and ignorance, letting them go, and achieving “enlightenment,” which involves a kind of emptiness, purity of desire and action, calmness of mind, perfect discernment of what is true and false and what is harmful and not harmful, and emotional “balance.” As the most recent of many Rimboches said in terms of another sect of Buddhism: “life is a cesspool, so let go.” As I responded to one of his disciples from Harvard, who came to Jesus Christ, “it is a fallen world, but Jesus is reaching out to you to pull you out of the cesspool so you will have a more abundant eternal life.”

The Inclusion of these themes in animated movies and pop music videos is especially concerning, as the target audiences of these forms of media are on the younger side. Disney’s TURNING RED was created for a child audience, and Swift’s fanbase consists of mainly young, teenage girls.

The ideas pushed in pop culture tend to take root in the younger generation and it should concern parents that witchcraft and occult worship are being normalized in the media their children are consuming.

The Bible takes a strong stance against any practice of witchcraft or sorcery and cautions against taking any interest in them.

Movieguide® has previously reported on the dangers of occultism appearing in children’s media, including research from Movieguide®’s founder Dr. Ted Baehr:

In Deut. 18:10-13, for example, Moses clearly says, “Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God.” Also, in Rev. 21:8, Jesus Himself says, “The cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.” Furthermore, in Galatians 5:19-21, the Apostle Paul says, “The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

All of these biblical passages – and more besides – show us, beyond all reasonable doubt, that God wants us to avoid completely witchcraft and sorcery.

Swift’s “Willow” music video and TURNING RED are just a couple of examples of witchcraft and occult worship being pushed toward younger audiences. Another example is Disney’s HOCUS POCUS 2.

Disney released HOCUS POCUS 2, a sequel to the 1993 Halloween movie, updating the movie’s story to normalize the occult, as well as pagan beliefs.

HOCUS POCUS tells the story of children who must fight the Sanderson sisters, a trio of witches who want to sacrifice children for their magic spells. A portion of Movieguide®’s review reads:

HOCUS POCUS takes places in Salem, Massachusetts. A scary house in the town has been abandoned for about three hundred years. It was the home of the infamous Sorenson sisters, who, according to legend, had been hung for their evil witchcraft and sorcery. An iron fence surrounds the grounds, where many believe that hundreds of sacrificed children lie. Max Dennison, a transplanted California teenager, is new to Salem and scoffs at the tales. However, Max soon becomes intrigued with the Salem witches after reading about “A SPELL BOOK given by the Devil himself” that’s bound in human skin. Later, Max conjures up the witches by following the book’s instructions.

HOCUS POCUS goes downhill after Max performs the occult ritual to conjure up the witches. Although it has some humorous, redemptive moments, it’s marred by too many scenes with strong occult content. Thus, it contains positive references to witchcraft, casting spells and occult rituals. Some of the memorable songs, “I will put a spell on you,” and “Children, I Smell Children, Come Out My Children Wherever You Are — Why Don’t You Stay for Supper?,” reveal the movie’s objectionable, abhorrent content.

In Deuteronomy 18:10-12, God warns us to have nothing whatsoever to do with witchcraft, consulting dead people, casting spells, or interpreting omens. “Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD [to Yahweh],” Moses says.

HOCUS POCUS 2 uses these same occult themes, and adds new ones, like references to crystals, herbs, moon spells, and sacred woods.

Parents are already complaining about the movie, with one mother saying the movie “unleashes hell on your kids and in your home. The whole movie is based on witches harvesting children for blood sacrifices.”

Parents should beware of the normalizing of the occult in children’s programming.

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Yule Log Cake: The Yule log is a symbolic representation of the sun's rebirth. This traditional dessert is prepared using a sponge cake rolled and filled with a creamy filling like chocolate ganache or buttercream. The cake is then frosted with chocolate icing and decorated to resemble a log covered in bark, branches, and mushrooms. 3. Roast Meat: In many Pagan traditions, the winter solstice feast includes roast meat, such as pork, lamb, or poultry. The slow-roasted meat is seasoned with herbs and spices, creating a savory dish that represents the sustenance of the earth and the honoring of the animal kingdom. 4. Root Vegetable Stew: Root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and turnips are hearty and abundant during the winter season. A succulent root vegetable stew is commonly prepared during the winter solstice. The vegetables are simmered in a rich broth made from vegetable or bone stock and seasoned with herbs and spices to create a comforting and nourishing dish. 5. Honey-Glazed Ham: Honey symbolizes sweetness, abundance, and prosperity in many Pagan traditions. A honey-glazed ham is a delightful centerpiece for the winter solstice feast. The ham is coated with a mixture of honey, mustard, and spices, then baked to perfection. The sweet and savory flavors combine to create a succulent and indulgent dish. 6. Spiced Cider: Warm spiced cider is a favorite drink during the winter solstice. Apple cider is simmered with cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg, infusing it with a fragrant and cozy flavor. Served hot, spiced cider warms the body and soul, making it an ideal beverage for the cold winter nights. These are just a few of the many recipes Pagans enjoy during the winter solstice. They bring together the flavors of the season, symbolizing rebirth, abundance, and the coming of light. Whether preparing these dishes for a solstice gathering or enjoying them in solitude, these recipes connect individuals to the natural cycles of the Earth and the joyous spirit of the winter season..

Reviews for "Explore the Spiritual Significance of the Winter Solstice through Pagan Cuisine"

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Create a Memorable Winter Solstice Celebration with these Pagan-inspired Recipes