The winter solstice, also known as Yule, is a significant occasion in pagan tradition. It is a time to honor the changing of seasons and the rebirth of the sun. This celebration typically takes place around December 21st, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year. One way to honor the winter solstice is by lighting candles. Candles represent light and warmth, symbolizing the return of the sun. Many pagans light a special candle on solstice eve and keep it burning throughout the night.
In return for their help, Freya presses a glimmering golden mark to their necks. This is the Witch’s Compass, a main quest indicator for the player throughout the game.
The turtle has a massive tree growing out of its shell, one that extends hundreds of feet above the ground and consists of bright red leaves as well. When Atreus is up there, wait for him to jump onto the blocks you just slid across to the right, then slide it back over to the left and throw your axe at the wooden planks blocking him jumping off.
Many pagans light a special candle on solstice eve and keep it burning throughout the night. This act signifies the hope for the sun's return and the lengthening of days. Another common tradition is to create a Yule log.
Sanctuary by VV James
The small Connecticut town of Sanctuary is rocked by the death of its star quarterback. Daniel’s death looked like an accident, but everyone knows his ex-girlfriend Harper is the daughter of a witch – and she was there when he died. Then the rumours start. When Harper insists Dan was guilty of a terrible act, the town turns on her. So was his death an accident, revenge - or something even darker? As accusations fly and secrets are revealed, paranoia grips the town, culminating in a trial that the whole world is watching…
CW – Please be aware that this novel does look at how society deals with rape and sexual assault. Its not gratuitous but it is also unflinching in its review of how society tends to approach this subject.
Community is an interesting concept. It’s a place where we live, visit or inhabit where a group of us agree to live, study or work together in a form of harmony. We are increasingly getting more diverse and accepting of people that no longer form the cis white norm and barriers are breaking…but…communities are also fragile things. Unwritten codes and conventions exist; some may be more powerful than others (weirdly this still often turns out to be cis white people) and if someone is felt to be running against that hegemony then they can soon find themselves on the outside and a group of people suddenly see you as the Other and you’re no longer welcome. In VV James’ supernatural thriller Sanctuary a seemingly idyllic community explodes via rumour and magic to create something quite terrifying in how it shows that people can very soon cast aside their better natures if they think it’s the right thing to do for themselves or their own loved ones.
Sanctuary is a small US town in the 21st century where the President is a right-wing tweeter, the town is comfortable with its school principle being in a happy gay marriage and where witchcraft has long been acceptable. Sarah Fenn is Sanctuary’s only witch offering actual magical cures for a variety of metal and physical ailments. She even has a coven of three women Abigail, Bridget and Julia who lend power to Sarah to make her magic more effective. The coven regularly meets up; share each other’s lives and are debating how Sarah’s daughter Harper and Abigail’s son Daniel have broken up. Its very middle class and liberal and then at a party of teenagers Daniel falls off a balcony just as a mysterious fire starts. He breaks his neck and the police are called to investigate what on the face of it looks like an unfortunate accident. And then the local police chief’s son claims Harper was seen to be using magic at the event. Despite Sarah knowing Harper failed the routine test for magical ability that all witch families practise on their offspring. The rumours however go into overdrive as a popular teenager lies dead and then Harper announces that Daniel raped her. The coven shatters as the four women take sides and one outsider the Detective Maggie Knight has the unenviable job of trying to investigate what really happened before the quite people of Sanctuary decide to take the law into their own hands. A witch-hunt is about to begin…
Sanctuary I think I can safely say turned out to be one of the best thrillers I’ve read in ages. This is achieved by three main components. Firstly, the world building manages to be incredibly subtle with this being recognisably our world but one where we all accept magic exists via witchcraft. James gives us a world that feels amazingly plausible just one strange new element. Witches on the one hand are prized they can help people deal with physical or mental health issues, relationships and many more uses but t the same time knowing that your neighbour is powerful and can use magic for darker purposes such as injury or even murder which has resulted into an uneasy truce. Witchcraft is tightly legislated for and although persecution of witches is now a hate crime the unlawful use of magic still carries significant penalties including when used to kill the death sentence. Witches are a minority and can be viewed as second class be it their unconventional child rearing skills or approach to relationships. James has nicely set up how people see witchcraft as having both uses and dangers which means when people feel threatened the balance is quickly gone.
Into this then are the characters and we get a main set of three-character points of view – Sarah, Abigail and Maggie. Watching how a grieving mother; a terrified parent and an outsider police officer swirl around each other sometimes in alliance and other times in conflict makes for an intense read as we see the coven slowly explode. Each character section has a particular voice that makes you understand how they see the world – it can be one of wonder; one of prestige or one of secrets to be unveiled. This is very much a novel of reveals where blurry hints and pictures of the past are slowly focused on and a tale of people doing what they think is in their (or other people’s) best interests soon erupts into recriminations and a quest for revenge. Often just as you think one character realises, they have gone too gar the faint hope that sanity has returned will instead be ripped away from you. It creates a glorious uncertainty as to how the story can end and the reader continually doubts who may be the real culprit and is this town even actually capable of giving justice?
This leads to the final element the study of how society treats allegations of sexual abuse. Harper is not a straight A student – she cuts classes and is seen to have had the temerity to both date the school’s best player and then break up with him; plus, she’s a witch’s daughter and people are suspicious of her nature. It’s a book that examines how we are not often willing to accept a victim’s side of the story if she doesn’t fit the society view of what a victim should look like. There is an examination of how the privileged are protected; how social media can be used to humiliate and cast rumours leading to reputations that are both quickly built up and destroyed. It’s incredibly uncomfortable and as we never get Harper’s voice, we the reader are being asked who we believe. This is not a comfortable read but it will put a mirror up against your own beliefs and give you food for thought as to how we react against these types of allegations.
Overall I found this a thrilling, thoughtful and provocative novel where unlikeable and sympathetic characters swap places as we get to known them better but it is also a novel that is really getting under the lid of society and our prejudices; in particular when we feel our own positions of power are threatened. It raises important question of motherhood and while very differ in approach and style it reminded me of The Mere Wife as we get two mothers prepared to do anything for their children’s future that could end up destroying where they live. If you enjoy dark character focused thrillers and impressive worldbuilding then I think this is an excellent book for you to catch soon.
Continue forward on the frosty ground, climb up the marked wall, and you'll come face to face with some more enemies - Reavers and big, angry wolves for now. Take them out - but avoid getting to close to the red pots dotted around the area. They'll explode on hit!
The Yule log is a large piece of wood, often decorated with greenery and other natural elements. It is then burned in a ceremonial fire to symbolize the release of the old and welcoming of the new. Families and communities gather around the fire, offering prayers and intentions for the coming year. Feasting is also an important part of celebrating the winter solstice. Pagan traditions often include a grand feast with family and friends. Traditional foods, such as roast meats, root vegetables, and spiced drinks, are enjoyed to commemorate the abundance of the season and to give thanks for the nourishment provided by the earth. In addition to these practices, many pagans use the winter solstice as a time for reflection and introspection. It is seen as an opportunity to let go of what no longer serves us and to set intentions for personal growth and positive change. Meditative practices, such as journaling, are commonly utilized during this time to facilitate self-reflection. Overall, honoring the winter solstice in pagan tradition involves embracing the darkness of the season and celebrating the return of the light. It is a time to connect with nature, express gratitude, and set intentions for the coming year. Whether through candle lighting, Yule log burning, feasting, or personal reflection, pagans find various ways to honor this sacred time of year..
Reviews for "Elevating Spirits: How Pagans Mark the Winter Solstice"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to learn more about honoring the winter solstice in pagan tradition, but this book fell flat for me. The author seemed to be more focused on explaining the history of paganism rather than providing practical tips and rituals. I was hoping for more hands-on guidance on how to celebrate the solstice, but I found myself getting lost in the lengthy explanations and historical context. Overall, I was disappointed with the lack of practicality in this book.
2. Mark - 1 star - As someone who was looking for a step-by-step guide on how to celebrate the winter solstice in pagan tradition, this book did not meet my expectations at all. The instructions provided were vague and not detailed enough for a beginner like myself. Additionally, the author constantly went off on tangents about unrelated topics, which made it difficult to follow the main theme of the book. I would not recommend this book to anyone who is looking for practical advice on honoring the winter solstice in a pagan way.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I found "How to honor the winter solstice in pagan tradition" to be quite disappointing. The author seemed more concerned with promoting their personal beliefs and opinions rather than providing objective information or guidance. It felt more like a manifesto than a practical guide. I was hoping for more concrete rituals and traditions to incorporate into my own solstice celebration, but instead, I found myself wading through pages of philosophical ramblings. Unfortunately, this book did not meet my expectations.