Day 9 of AishaOaktree's 21 days of YULE blog party

Each day for the next 12 days, I will be sharing  either some legends, myths, devotions, my own thoughts perhaps a recipe or 2 on my blog for Aisha's YULE Blog Party at By The Broomstick.

Please visit the other blogs that are participating(above)

I am still a newb, learning. Therefore any legend, myth, devotion etc. will be coming from someplace I read it, and I will be giving credit to the right people.

ADDITIONALLY, I have a small gift tree that has a some ornaments on it, but it also has 21 little gift bags or envelopes that are numbered 1-21.  Each day I will pick a winner from the comments for that day.  These giveaways are priced from $1-$5, and there are a few are like booby prizes...I am doing this FOR FUN!!

EASY RULES:

*be a follower
*tell me something about that day's post that means something to you, or touches you etc.
*list your name
*pick a number from 1-21*  (*each day obviously there will be numbers listed as OUT, it will be your responsibility to pay attention to each day's posts, to see the number that is no longer available)

Picture of gift tree not ready, will add asap, so sorry for this, i want to do it outside on my little table, but it has been too windy.
You can't see the gifts anyway, they are wrapped and in bags, or just there#s are in the bags or envelopes.   NO ONE from DAY ONE picked a #, so I asked hubby to pick one and I could take it out of the running...that # is the #11....so pick a number between 1-21 except for 11, 5, 7, 9, 21, 20,4 & 16.

yesterday's winner...Wendy, who picked #16.

I only allow 24 hours per post for picking numbers, comments always accepted :), but picking a # must be in the first 24 hours after I post each day! additionally only 1 win per person during the 21 days. Thank you.
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I am still feeling pretty darn crappy, and for all of you who are in the same boat of 'feeling crappy" I am still sending out positive energy.  Can any of you tell me what candle I should be burning to banish illness?

anyway some more YULE info:

Family  and  Friends

From Patti Wigington, your Guide to Paganism / Wicca

Take time at Yule to enjoy family and friends.
© Getty Images

Even though Yule is a time to celebrate the return of the sun, for many Pagan and Wiccan families, it's also a time of gift-giving. Let's look at some ideas for sharing the season with family and friends -- we'll talk about ten great gifts you can give your Pagan and Wiccan friends, ways to celebrate Yule with children, and books that any Pagan family will want to have on hand at the winter solstice.

Okay, so you have a friend or family member who is Pagan or Wiccan. You want to get them a special gift related to their spiritual path, but let's face it, sometimes it's hard to come up with something. Here's a list of gift ideas nearly any Pagan or Wiccan will appreciate--10 ideas:

CANDLES:

 "Image" © Patti Wigington 2008

Wiccans love candles. Colored ones are best, because they can be used in spell work. Plain white ones are nice, too, because a white candle can be substituted for any other color in magical workings. Taper-style or votive candles are the most practical -- save the giant twelve-pound three-wick for another time. Be sure to select unscented candles, so your friend can anoint them with magical oils if needed.

BOOKS:

 

"Image" (c) Patti Wigington 2007

You can never read too much. Books are always a great gift, and there are a few that are always timeless. Check for the newest releases about Wicca and Paganism, and these might be a good bet. Classics such as Drawing Down the Moon and The Spiral Dance are popular choices as well. If your friend is just beginning to study Wicca and Paganism, you can't go wrong with a title from the Beginner's Reading List.


DECORATIVE BOXES:

 

"Image" © Patti Wigington 2007

Wiccans love pretty boxes. We use them to put our Tarot cards in, our herbs, gemstones, and other little trinkets. Chances are if you find one that's decorated, we'll appreciate it. Some are available with specifically Pagan designs, such as a pentacle, a goddess symbol, or Celtic knot work. An even better idea is to find a plain box, and decorate it yourself with beads, fabric, or other goodies.


Annual Almanacs:

 

"Image" © PriceGrabber 2008

If you're not sure about a specific book, consider an annual almanac such as Llewellyn's Magical Almanac or the Witches' Almanac, which all contain useful information about lunar phases, plants, and astrological shifts.

BLANK JOURNALS:

 

"Image" © Patti Wigington 2008

Wiccans and Pagans write lots of things down, and it's not uncommon to see us scribbling away when something strikes our fancy. Many practicing Wiccans and Pagans keep a Book of Shadows, which is where we keep information on spellwork, rituals, our gods, and other important topics. Pick up a nice, blank journal. If your friend has a particular interest, try to find a related journal, whether it's Harry Potter or Hello Kitty.

MUSIC:

 

"Image"courtesy PriceGrabber 2008

Because a lot of Wiccans and Pagans practice meditation, it's great to have music to meditate by. There is an endless list of music available on CD for meditation, and a huge selection to choose from.

STONES or CRYSTALS:

 

Image (c) 2007 BK Tigner

Many Pagans and Wiccans work with stones and crystals. A pretty chunk of quartz, a selection of gemstones, or even a rock tumbler make a great gift. Different stones have different associations, too -- someone who needs love in their life might benefit from a rose quartz, while a person that's been feeling down could use the pick-me-up found in amber.

TAROT CARDS:

 

Image public domain.

There are Tarot cards out there for just about every interest, and if you know your gift recipient has a certain hobby or passion, why not get them cards to symbolize that? Whether they're a fan of Tolkien's novels or Celtic artwork, there's a Tarot deck out there for everyone.

 FRESH HERBS:

 

Image © Sean Gallup/Getty Images 2007

A lot of Wiccan and Pagan people are into herbs, and we like them even better when they're fresh. If you've got a garden, bring us a clipping of some of your most aromatic goodies -- in fact, if you've got too many of something, we'd be happy to take some seedlings off your hands to plant in our own yards! Many magical herbs are also culinary -- rosemary is a wonderful seasoning for food, and it's also known as an herb of protection.


STATUARY:

 

Image © PriceGrabber 2008

Many Wiccans and Pagans keep statuary on their altar or in places of honor in their homes. If you know which pantheon they follow that makes it all the more easy -- someone who follows an Egyptian path might appreciate a statue of Isis while someone who practices a more eclectic tradition might like a figure of a lunar goddess.