Winter pagan ritual A winter pagan ritual is a religious practice that dates back centuries and is celebrated during the winter solstice. It is a time to honor the darkness and the return of light, as well as to connect with nature and the cycles of life. During a winter pagan ritual, participants often gather in nature, such as in a forest or around a bonfire, to symbolize the warmth and light that is brought forth during this time of year. It is a time of transformation and renewal, as the days begin to grow longer and the darkness recedes. One of the central themes of a winter pagan ritual is the celebration of the rebirth of the sun, which represents hope and new beginnings. Participants may engage in various activities such as singing, dancing, and chanting to honor this rebirth.
Participants may engage in various activities such as singing, dancing, and chanting to honor this rebirth. Candles are also commonly used in winter pagan rituals to symbolize light and warmth. Participants may light candles as a way to invite the light into their lives and symbolize their own personal transformation.
Creature types in Magic - Faerie lore
Faeries are present in several tales, and are also part of the folklore and mythology of some countries.
This is Ari and today I will continue this series about creature types featured in Magic. Today I will talk about faeries.
Fairies are present in several tales we know, and also present in the folklore and mythology of some countries. The word fairy originated from the Latin word "fatum", which means destiny. This is due to the stories and popular tales where the fairies rule the destiny of men with their magic wands.
In Magic, we use the archaic spelling, faerie. These creatures are usually represented with a light and small appearance, on top of having wings. They are only a foot tall (sometimes, even smaller) and are known to have a taste for mischief.
Although they generally use their small forms and illusion spells to get rid of their enemies, they can still fight extraordinarily well when needed.
The first faeries that appeared in Magic were associated with the green color and varied in appearance. Scryb Sprites was the first card to bear this type and was introduced in the Alpha edition.
Still representing the green color, Faerie Noble was the first lord of the faeries, launched in 1995 in the Homelands expansion.
Eventually, Noble and Pixie-Queen subtypes were incorporated into the Faerie type (although this is no longer true for Noble). The Ouphe subtype is used instead when we're talking about creatures that aren't small and do not have wings. For instance, Shelkin Brownie used to be a Faerie, while Fyndhorn Brownie used to be Brownie, and now both are considered Ouphes.
Nowadays, faeries are represented mainly by the blue and black colors. More recently, though, Throne of Eldraine introduced us to white faeries. But before we talk about that, let's get to know a little more about faeries in the other planes of the Multiverse.
In Dominaria we have Fire Sprites, who are faeries that are able to cast fire spells, as well as being enveloped in a fire aura.
It is unknown from which plane came the legendary faerie Rubinia Soulsinger, but her great ability to influence others to join her cause needs no introduction, as even the most powerful warrior readily surrenders to her.
Faeries from the plane of Ravnica are known for their malicious pranks and the inhabitants of the plane have become accustomed to their antics. There, they are also famous for hunting trolls.
In Alara, faeries were found most often in the Esper shard. These faeries had metallic wings and feet similar to their hands, which make them excellent mechanists.
So far, the most relevant plane for this type had been Lorwyn, which was introduced to us way back in 2007.
Faeries are everywhere in Lorwyn. Like bees collecting pollen, they are capricious, malicious, and often seen as a nuisance for most of the races in this plane. Their antics are generally harmless, but always irritating and embarrassing. Their lives are extremely short, but they live them to the fullest, constantly looking for new tricks to alleviate their boredom.
The faeries of this plane live in small groups called cliques. The notorious Vendilion Clique is formed by siblings Veesa, Endry and Iliona. Iliona is slightly older, and also their leader.
Although these little creatures seem to be unpredictable, they obey their queen's wishes. They are instructed to invade and steal dreams for the benefit of Oona, Queen of the Fae.
It is said that Oona's magic is responsible for keeping Lorwyn in eternal midsummer. All the faeries on the plane originated from her. The queen and mother of the fae lives in isolation and sees the world through the dreams that her faeries bring her. Oona was one of the few creatures capable of maintaining her memories even after the Great Aurora.
The Great Aurora was an event that transformed Lorwyn's plan into Shadowmoor, a dark and distorted version of the old plane.
In Shadowmoor, faeries were the only race that did not undergo changes in their characteristics. By keeping her memory, Oona became even more powerful.
As an honorable mention (still in the plane of Lorwyn), there is a legendary faerie called Wydwen the Biting Gale. Wydwen is mysterious, comes and goes as she wishes and does not live in cliques like other faeries. Much about her is still unknown, as she is not mentioned in any Lorwyn book.
We just lived an adventure in Eldraine, a historic land of castles and magic, filled with treacherous faeries. But, just like the dishonest creatures and attractive spells that hide in the shadows, this world is not all that it seems. Most of Eldraine's faeries are opposed to the five courts, but there are beneficial faeries on that plane (a rare sight, huh?).
Mark Rosewater (head designer for MtG) believes Eldraine has the first beneficial Faeries of Magic.
Throne of Eldraine also introduced decks designed for the Brawl format. There are 4 decks, and lovers of the faerie type can pick the Faerie Schemes deck, led by Alela, Artful Provocateur.
Eldraine also introduces us to Oko, a shapeshifter Planeswalker who appears to be both charismatic and presumptuous, a mysterious, intelligent and conceited figure.
According to Nic Kelman, who is one of the writers responsible for bringing these characters to life, Oko came from a plane ruled by faeries who believed in a unified society. This ruling class of faeries decided that, for the greater good, their beloved pranks should be suppressed in order to create a perfect society - but for Oko, who was born with incredible shapeshifting skills, this new culture was against everything he believed in, and calling himself a speaker of truth, Oko opposed all this hypocrisy.
However, he ended up being subjected to magical procedures to suppress his powers, but these procedures only succeeded in igniting his spark. We can imagine that it was a terrible experience for him and that it would make it almost impossible for him to trust someone again - especially those in positions of authority.
And so, speaking of positions of authority, we can already imagine that Oko would not be at ease in Eldraine, and to disrupt the peace of the courts, Oko planned to eliminate the High King himself.
That's all for today, and if you want to know more about the history of Eldraine, consider buying the official e-book: Throne of Eldraine: The Wildered Quest.
I hope you enjoyed this article!! Let's talk more about faeries in the comments?
You can also leave your suggestions for which type I should cover next!
Thank you very much for reading and until the next time!
“The High Fae are capable of magics that would make even the great Gadwick himself seem little more than a clumsy apprentice.”
—Chulane, Teller of Tales
Another important aspect of a winter pagan ritual is connecting with nature and the natural world. Participants may engage in activities such as meditating, taking nature walks, or leaving offerings for the earth to show gratitude and respect for the cycles of life. Overall, a winter pagan ritual is a time to connect with the natural world and celebrate the cycles of life and the return of light. It is a time of transformation and renewal, as well as a time to honor and appreciate the darkness. By participating in these rituals, individuals can deepen their connection with nature and find a sense of peace and harmony during the winter season..
Reviews for "Winter Pagan Rituals: Honoring the Spirits of Nature"
1. Jane - 2/5 stars - I attended the Winter pagan ritual with high hopes of experiencing something spiritual and meaningful. However, I was sorely disappointed. The event felt more like a disorganized gathering of individuals rather than a structured ritual. There was a lack of clear instructions and guidance from the organizers, which made it difficult to fully engage in the experience. Additionally, the energy of the event felt very low, and there was a general lack of passion and enthusiasm from the participants. Overall, I left feeling unsatisfied and wishing I had spent my time and money elsewhere.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - The Winter pagan ritual was a complete waste of time for me. The event lacked any sense of authenticity or cultural significance. It felt more like a shallow attempt to cash in on the pagan trend rather than a genuine celebration of the winter season. The organizers seemed unprepared and disinterested, and the lack of knowledgeable leaders or instructors made the whole event feel amateurish. I would not recommend attending this ritual if you are looking for a meaningful and fulfilling pagan experience.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - As someone who has attended many pagan rituals in the past, I was excited to participate in the Winter pagan ritual. However, my excitement quickly faded as the event unfolded. The ritual lacked cohesiveness and a clear purpose. It felt like a mishmash of random activities without any deeper meaning or intention. The lack of experienced facilitators was evident, and the overall energy of the event was disengaged. I left feeling disappointed and unsatisfied, wishing I had chosen a different event to celebrate the winter season.