When it comes to holiday decorations, many people are familiar with the traditional symbols of Christmas such as Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and wreaths. However, in Nordic pagan traditions, there are also unique symbols and decorations associated with the Yule season. One of the main symbols of Nordic pagan Yule is the Yule Goat. The Yule Goat, also known as the Julbock, is a traditional Swedish and Scandinavian symbol that dates back to pagan times. It is believed to have origins in Norse mythology, where it was associated with the god Thor and his goats. The Yule Goat is often depicted as a straw figure in the shape of a goat and is traditionally placed on the Christmas tree or used as a decoration in the home.
Mme. Blavatsky claimed that the recognition of people and places not known before are not necessarily a proof of the "soul's memory" but the ability to read these things on the astral light:
Blavatsky claimed that the recognition of people and places not known before are not necessarily a proof of the soul s memory but the ability to read these things on the astral light. The constant reversion of images and ideas in the astral light, and the pranks of the elementals there, unknown to us as such and only seen in effects, still again add to the confusion.
The Yule Goat is often depicted as a straw figure in the shape of a goat and is traditionally placed on the Christmas tree or used as a decoration in the home. In modern times, there are also Yule Goat ornaments and figurines that can be used for decorating. Another common decoration in Nordic pagan Yule is the Yule Nisse or Tomte.
ink review : Colorverse Quasar
Colorverse is a South Korean company that produces inks that are well-known for their iconic bottles and for their astronomy-related names. The Quasar in this review is from their season 2 inks that were released under the theme “Astrophysics”. The package comes with a big 65 ml bottle and a cute 15 ml small one. Fellow Fountain Pen Network member Lgsoltek graciously gifted me a bunch of samples when leaving Paris, giving me the opportunity to try out a range of new inks. This Colorverse Quasar was one of them.
Quasar is a richly saturated purple-leaning blue. The ink writes really well in all nib sizes with excellent lubrication. It’s also an ink with a serious golden sheen, especially when using wet nibs. On the other hand, no shading to speak of (probably due to the high level of saturation). Personally, this is not my type of colour and the ink is too saturated for my taste. But that’s just me, you can make your own judgement using the information below.
Quasar has a very limited dynamic range, with almost no contrast between light and dark parts. To illustrate this, I did a swab where I really saturated portions of the Tomoe River paper with ink, pooling it on. This lack of contrast explains why you get little shading in your writing (especially in finer nibs — the blow-up below with a B-nib is a bit misleading in this respect). You can also see that Quasar is well-saturated. As a result, the ink works great with EF nibs, where it produces a very readable and contrast-rich line.
On the smudge test — rubbing text with a moist Q-tip cotton swab — there is a huge amount of smearing, but the text itself remains crisp and clear. Water resistance is completely lacking. The still water test (letting drops of water sit on the page for 15 minutes) produces a colourful mess. With the running water test, all ink simply disappears, leaving next to nothing on the page (see water test at the end of the review).
I’ve tested the ink on a wide variety of paper – from crappy Moleskine to high-end Tomoe River. On each scrap of paper I show you:
- An ink swab, made with a cotton Q-tip
- 1-2-3 pass swab, to show increasing saturation
- An ink scribble made with a Lamy Safari M-nib fountain pen
- The name of the paper used, written with a Lamy Safari B-nib
- A small text sample, written with the M-nib
- The source of the quote, written with the B-nib
- Drying times of the ink on the paper (with the M-nib)
Colorverse Quasar has a slight tendency to feather on the lower quality papers in my test set, most obvious when using a wet pen. I noticed no issues with better quality paper or when using finer nibs (M-nib or below). A bummer for me was that I also got some feathering on the Paperblanks paper, which is what I use for daily journaling. This is probable due to some inconsistencies during paper production. I’ve noticed that from time to time you get a bundle of paper of lesser quality. Happened a handful of times — I did a quick calculation: 12 notebooks (of 144 pages), a handful of bad bundles (5x 12 pages): that translates to about 3% suboptimal paper. A bummer when it happens, but I can live with a 97% success rate.
The ink writes smoothly with good lubrication, and provides excellent contrast with the page. Writing looks good on both white and more yellow paper, but I do prefer the ink’s look on the cream paper. Drying times are fairly low — in the 5 to 10 second range with my Lamy Safari M-nib.
At the end of the review, I also show the back-side of the different paper types, in the same order. A small amount of bleed-through is present on some lower-quality papers, but nothing too bad.
Since scans alone are not always enough to give you a complete picture of the ink, I also provide you with a few photos for an alternative look at Quasar blue.
The Yule Nisse is a mythical creature similar to a gnome or a dwarf, and it is believed to be a guardian of the home and farm. The Yule Nisse is often depicted with a red hat and clothing and is said to bring good luck and protect the home during the Yule season. It is common to see Yule Nisse figurines or ornaments placed in homes during the holiday season, and some people even leave out a small bowl of porridge or other treats for the Nisse as a sign of goodwill. In addition to these specific symbols, many of the traditional Yule decorations in Nordic pagan traditions are similar to those found in other cultures. Evergreen trees, wreaths, and candles are all commonly used to decorate homes during the Yule season. These items symbolize the continuation of life and light during the dark winter months. Overall, Nordic pagan Yule decorations are rich in symbolism and tradition. Whether it's the Yule Goat, Yule Nisse, or other traditional decorations, they all contribute to the festive and magical atmosphere of the holiday season. So, if you're looking to add a touch of Nordic pagan tradition to your holiday decor, consider incorporating some of these unique and meaningful decorations..
Reviews for "Nordic Pagan Yule Decorations: Celebrating the Winter Solstice in Style"
1) Ethan - 1 star
I was really disappointed with the Nordic pagan yule decorations I ordered. The quality was subpar, with flimsy materials that easily broke and poorly made designs. The pieces didn't resemble the ones shown in the picture at all. It was a waste of money and I would not recommend them to anyone looking for authentic pagan yule decorations.
2) Olivia - 2 stars
The Nordic pagan yule decorations I received were a major letdown. The colors were faded and the overall appearance looked cheap and mass-produced. I had hoped for a more authentic and unique feel, but these decorations just didn't deliver. The customer service was also unhelpful when I reached out with my concerns. I will be looking elsewhere for my yule decorations next year.
3) Jacob - 2 stars
I was excited to receive the Nordic pagan yule decorations, but unfortunately, they did not meet my expectations. The craftsmanship was lacking, with sloppy stitching and loose threads. Some of the pieces even arrived damaged. The overall look was underwhelming, and I was hoping for more intricate and detailed designs. I ended up returning them and finding better quality decorations elsewhere.