Yule Sabbat is a significant celebration in witchcraft that marks the winter solstice. It is a time when witches and pagans come together to honor the rebirth of the sun and the return of light. The word "Yule" is derived from the Norse word meaning "wheel" and refers to the turning of the year. The Yule Sabbat is often observed on December 21st or 22nd, depending on the exact timing of the solstice. During this time, the days are shortest and the nights are longest, symbolizing the darkest time of the year. However, it is also a time of hope and renewal, as the sun begins its ascent and the days slowly start to lengthen.
Ian Lipke became a teacher of primary children in 1958, transferring to secondary schools in 1964. He has taught in schools in remote and metropolitan areas of Queensland, Australia. He left school teaching in 1977 to lecture at the University of Queensland and at Queensland University of Technology. Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, he was a deputy principal at several high schools, before retiring to manage his own tutoring business. In 2006, he returned to postgraduate studies through research at the University of Queensland. His whole life has been devoted to academic studies, which he very much enjoys. He is the author of NARGUN.
The Dreaming refers to an aborigine s awareness and knowledge of the Dreamtime, and is a metaphor suggesting that this awareness is enhanced by dreamy, quiet, vague and visionary fantasy or trance states. In the two-part premiere, Willie Jack takes it upon herself to lift the curse, with the help of Cheese s kooky, weed-addled Uncle Brownie Gary Farmer, uproarious as always and his longtime rival Bucky the legendary Wes Studi , a years-long feud quashed along with some ancient Navajo rituals and a full-tilt rendition of Freefallin by the river.
However, it is also a time of hope and renewal, as the sun begins its ascent and the days slowly start to lengthen. This transition from darkness to light is celebrated and honored during the Yule Sabbat. One of the key rituals performed during the Yule Sabbat is the lighting of the Yule log.
Indigenous pups curse
Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi’s FX series “Reservation Dogs” was easily one of 2021’s biggest, most welcome surprises. In a year that saw an explosion of Native-led stories on film and television—including Peacock’s “Rutherford Falls,” among others—it was “Reservation Dogs” that made the biggest critical impression, right down to winning a Peabody for its heartfelt, authentic portrayals of the everyday lives of Native Americans, stripped of poverty porn or undue exoticism. Season Two continues that tradition, even as it follows the well-worn FX tradition of shifting its comedies into more overt drama in their sophomore outing.
AdvertisementWhen we last left the titular “Reservation Dogs,” the tight-knit quartet of Indigenous kids getting by in Oklahoma’s Indian Territory, the group was scattered to the four winds in the wake of a devastating tornado. After saving up money all season to move to California (and hopefully escaping the fate of the group’s fifth member, Daniel [Dalton Cramer], who died by suicide), Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis) and Cheese (Lane Factor) chose to stay after all. Elora (Devery Jacobs) decided to ditch the gang to travel west with Jackie (Elva Guerra), a sympathetic member of a rival crew. Meanwhile, the group’s de facto leader Bear (D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai) is left holding the bag, wandering around the rez on his own looking for work and another way out. Ask Willie Jack, and she’ll tell you there’s bad medicine involved, a curse that only they can lift.
The curse, moreso than the glimmers of magical realism that pervades “Reservation Dogs,” is the effect of Daniel’s death, one whose ripples are still cascading across our characters’ psychological ponds. Bear resents the gang, Elora especially, for abandoning him on their quest to California in the hopes of escaping their friend’s fate. Now, with the gang split up and their former clubhouse about to be razed for a megachurch, Bear sees the specter of manhood approaching and is terrified to meet it.
Elora, the only one actually making good on their plans to run from their problems to California, hits the challenges of the world headfirst. She and Jackie are accosted by shifty samaritans, MAGA hat-wearing good old boys who chase them down with shotguns in their pickup, and Megan Mullally as a well-meaning but deeply strange divorcee who serves them a tray of ‘spaghetti taco casserole’ (“You don’t wanna see what happens when I run out of ranch dressing,” she warns). By the time she returns to town, hat in hand, it feels like a defeat.
AdvertisementFor all its downbeat notes, “Reservation Dogs” feels as committed as ever to demonstrating its characters’ resilience in the face of hardship. In the two-part premiere, Willie Jack takes it upon herself to lift the curse, with the help of Cheese’s kooky, weed-addled Uncle Brownie (Gary Farmer, uproarious as always) and his longtime rival Bucky (the legendary Wes Studi), a years-long feud quashed along with some ancient Navajo rituals and a full-tilt rendition of “Freefallin’” by the river.
Bear’s last-ditch attempt to get a job has him spending the day with a pair of construction workers who team him the ropes of roofing and manhood. One’s played by viral TikTok sensation Doggface (best known for skating down the road, chugging Ocean Spray and lip-syncing to Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams”), which is a neat enough cameo on its own. But the other is Daniel’s father, giving the pair a long-overdue chance to jointly grieve the loved one they’ve lost, and wonder what they could have done differently.
More than overcoming the systemic hardships of poverty, marginalization, and anti-Native racism that so often pervades shows like these, “Reservation Dogs” is most interested in examining what its characters are going to do about their hardships. Sometimes, that means trying to escape for better weather. But Season Two seems to want to show the virtue of staying to be part of your community, to improve it from within instead of running away from your problems.
The season’s fourth episode, set at the home of Elora’s grandmother during her dying days, is a good example of this. We see the entire town gathered in Mabel’s home, the women cooking corn chowder and making coffee, the men whiling away the hours with cold beers in the living room. Jackie admits she’s never made frybread before; the others teach her how to. When Mabel is experiencing her final moments, her bedroom is packed with the tear-filled faces of everyone she loves. She takes her last breath, and her loved ones breathe it into their lungs. It’s an emotional episode, one that pays tribute to the Native women, young and old, who build and maintain these communities. (The credits are a long list of dedications to Native women and artists who’ve died in recent years.)
That’s not to say the first season’s deadpan humor isn’t still here. It’s everywhere from Farmer’s grinning eccentricities to town sheriff Big (Zahn McClarnon; one wonders how his character here would fare paired with his dogged Tribal Police chief from “Dark Winds”) claiming aliens created humankind. Why would they do that? “Sex,” he replies matter-of-factly. Most importantly, season one favorite William “Spirit” Knifeman (series writer Dallas Goldtooth), the spirit of one of Bear’s Lakota ancestors, is a more frequent presence this time around, ambushing Bear in Port-A-Potties and town streets to dispense half-baked Navajo wisdom amongst bites of snacks and the occasional recitation of Kansas’ “Carry On My Wayward Son.”
AdvertisementBut “Reservation Dogs” is overall more solemn and downcast this time around, a move that seems to recognize its impact among Native and non-Native audiences and the need to take the issues facing its community seriously. It’s a mantle Harjo and crew don’t take lightly, even as they pepper this reverent tone with the kind of offbeat humor its characters carry in spades. While the choice to separate the gang futzes with the show's sense of momentum—Lane Farmer’s Cheese is sorely underrepresented in the front half of this season—it makes room for deeper, more personal character stories in each episode. It’s a dramatic shift from the ensemble antics that made “Reservation Dogs” such a standout in its freshman year, and it's proof that the show, like its central characters, is still growing and changing.
The first four episodes were screened for review. Season two of "Reservation Dogs" premieres today on FX on Hulu.
Clint Worthington
Clint Worthington is a Chicago-based film/TV critic and podcaster. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Spool, as well as a Senior Staff Writer for Consequence. He is also a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and Critics Choice Association. You can also find his byline at RogerEbert.com, Vulture, The Companion, FOX Digital, and elsewhere.
The log represents the rebirth of the sun and is traditionally burned throughout the night. The ashes are then collected and used in various ways, such as for protection or fertility spells. Another common tradition is the hanging of evergreen wreaths or boughs, which symbolize the continuity of life even in the midst of winter. The Yule Sabbat is a time for introspection and reflection. Many witches take this opportunity to contemplate their goals and aspirations for the coming year. They may also perform divination or seek guidance from their ancestors and spiritual guides. The energy of the Yule Sabbat is thought to be particularly potent for manifesting desires and setting intentions for the year ahead. In addition to these individual practices, many witches also participate in group rituals or gatherings during the Yule Sabbat. These ceremonies often involve the sharing of food, music, and storytelling, creating a sense of community and connection. The Yule Sabbat is seen as a time of unity, where individuals come together to celebrate the cycles of nature and the interconnectedness of all living beings. Overall, the Yule Sabbat is a time of celebration, reflection, and renewal in witchcraft. It is a time to honor the rebirth of the sun and the return of light, as well as to set intentions for the coming year. Through rituals, ceremonies, and community gatherings, witches and pagans come together to connect with the spiritual energy of this sacred time..
Reviews for "Fairy Magick for Yule: Connecting with the Spirit Realm during the Sabbat"
1. Jessica - 2 stars - As someone who was interested in learning about witchcraft and its connection to Yule, I was disappointed with this book. The information provided was very basic and didn't offer any new insights or unique perspectives. The rituals and spells mentioned were also very simplistic and lackluster. I was hoping for more in-depth explanations and guidance, but this book fell short of my expectations.
2. Mark - 1 star - I found "Yule sabbat in witchcraft" to be incredibly repetitive and poorly organized. The author seemed to repeat the same information over and over again, making it difficult to stay engaged. Additionally, the book lacked clear structure and was a mishmash of random thoughts and ideas. It felt like the author was just rambling on without any clear direction. Overall, I found it frustrating and unhelpful in terms of deepening my understanding of Yule and its significance in witchcraft.
3. Emily - 2.5 stars - While "Yule sabbat in witchcraft" had some interesting concepts and ideas, I feel like it didn't fully explore them or provide enough practical guidance. The book touched on different aspects of Yule and how it relates to witchcraft, but didn't delve deep enough into any one topic. I was hoping for more detailed rituals and spells specific to Yule, but they were limited and didn't offer much substance. Overall, it was an okay read, but it left me wanting more depth and practicality.
4. Michael - 1 star - I found "Yule sabbat in witchcraft" to be overly simplistic and lacking in substance. The information provided was very generic and didn't provide any new insights or wisdom. It felt like a regurgitation of basic knowledge that is widely available in various other sources. Additionally, the book lacked personal anecdotes or experiences, making it feel detached and impersonal. Overall, it was a disappointing read that didn't offer anything unique or valuable to my understanding of Yule in witchcraft.