It’s that time of year again. Winter solstice. Yule. The birth of a new spiritual year. Many (most?) Wiccans and eclectic-style pagans feel Samhain is the spiritual new year, and in Celtic tradition, it is. But it’s just never felt right to me. I feel much more spiritually connected and grounded on the solstice, where at last, darkness will once again turn toward light. It’s a time of light and renewal, and what better way to begin a new year?

Bucking my own tradition, I did not have a huge ritual this year, but instead, kept things simple. A sunrise. A cup of cinnamon apple rooibos tea. A fuzzy blanket and some cats. And Tarot.

It was nice. Comfortable. Warming. Not too stressing. I found a new tarot spread for Yule, called the Sacred Days of Yule Spread. It’s meant to be performed over 12 days, one card drawn each day. I’m a day late, so I drew two today. This sort of thing stresses me out - being ‘behind’, that is - so I’m trying to take it in stride.

Tsuki has been laying under the tree there for hours and hours and hours. She likes it. A lot. Silly kitty thinks she’s a present! Speaking of presents, I opened a gift from TJ, who sent wonderful things from Washington - like smoked salmon and MarketSpice Tea (cinnamon-orange flavor!) along with some other goodies. All my other gifts will, of course, be opened on Christmas Eve with the family. I don’t think they’d buy the whole “But my holiday comes two days early!” bit. Heh.

I also opened the kitties’ Secret Paw packages, because they’re Yulecats. Felony was quite excited. For her, anyway. They recieved some fun toys - like feathers and pompoms (okay, I stole these for my tree, but only momentarily… honest…) and catnip and a feather boa, which Felony likes very much… and this cute little birdie with a bell on a stick. At first, they were freaked out by it, and Sebastian actually meowed and ran away. But I got him and Felony to play with it eventually. Tsuki just wanted to curl up in the now-vacant spot under the tree to sleep. She even refused the treats their Secret Paw sent!

“Hey, gimme more treats! Those cheese ones were great!”

5 Comments »

1. We are so glad you guys like (most of) our prezzies. I don’t like any regular treats myself, but I love Hills Science Diet dry kibble, so The Big Thing saves those to be MY treats. Skeeter wil eat ANYTHING, so he gets all the rest. On the other paw, he doesn’t haf the “catnip gene” an I do.

   BTW, we all here celebrate the Solstice, too!

   LC

   Comment by Skeeter and LC — December 22, 2007 @ 2:35 pm

2. Thanks Skeeter & LC! So much! You’re great Secret Paws!!

   Comment by Katia — December 22, 2007 @ 7:03 pm

3. Happy Solstice! Looks like you and the kitties had a wonderful Yule.

   Can I just say? I ADORE your sweet Tsuki. =) My Moose is the same way about the Yule tree, he’s been under there practically since the day we set it up.

   Comment by Turtleheart — December 23, 2007 @ 11:34 am

4. That girl in that first photo is pretty lucky…:) Happy yule. Love you, & your yulecats.

   Comment by amber — December 24, 2007 @ 9:13 am

5. Uh… So I know I am in big trouble because it’s the 26th and I am already back in Billings.
   I would love to explain what happened to Christmas and WHY THE !$#&% I didn’t make it to your house to visit.
   I would also love to tell you why your chistmas present is still in my purse.
   But alas it’s definately a phone call kind of conversation. So…when can I call?

   Comment by Janna — December 26, 2007 @ 1:04 pm

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