December Pagan Prompts

12/12/2020

Vísdómur Bolt - this is a Gilden holiday where we celebrate the sacrifice it took for us to receive wisdom. Dec 1 - 9th sunup to sundown fasting Vísdómur is the Icelandic word for wisdom. I have chosen this time of year to pause in my own daily life to reflect on the sacrifice of the God Odin.
Research which plants and foods are in season at this point in your local area, try to incorporate these food items into your diet. (Winter / Seasonal Prompt) If nothing is in season, which is extremely common in the cold months north of the equator, please look into how people in your region traditionally survived the winter. This could be pilgrims, native tribes, or your ancestors in other countries. Learning about these things isn't just good for you mentally, but it helps you connect to the land, the ancestors, and gives you a sense of survival. Here and now, things are much easier for us. We can go grocery shopping and get just about any food we might want or desire, but this disconnects us from nature and the past.
Take some time to prepare a list of supplies and ideas for Yule, plan out a dinner or a celebration of light, for the longest night of the year (Pagan Holiday)Use the good old google, library, or your favorite pagan holiday book to research Yule. Research recipes, and traditions. Select one to try out this year and see if it improves your personal holiday traditions by adding a bit of pagan flare to it. Example: Some people decorate their homes with Goats, do you know why? Some people eat Boar for Christmas, or Goose- instead of Turkey or Ham. Others prefer to make a Yule log to burn, why not research why-
How is winter special to me, or alternatively; why do I dislike or dread it? What can I enjoy during that time of year more than any other, what makes it unique compared to the other seasons? (Winter / Seasonal Prompt)
Carve, Craft, or Create a representation of Water for your personal Alter. For the Gilden Kindred, this season is ruled by Air and Water, you should have already created an Air symbol in fall snow now create a new piece for Water. Anoint it, charge it, and set it in the Northern position of your alter. (Pagan Crafting)
Which tarot deck gives you a negative reaction? Like the heebie jeebies, disgust, anger, repulsion? Why do you think it makes you react this way? (tarot prompt)
What is my body telling me right now? Where am I holding pain or weight? Where do I hate looking at myself? Research what the deeper reason for this difficulty with yourself stems from. The way I do this is, "affirmations for- " and type in my issue. I also recommend the books like; 'Heal Your Body, By Louise L. Hay' (the purple one), and "The women's book of Empowerment, by Charlene M. Proctor PHD" While I do not prefer gender-specific books like the second one, it has a lot of cause and effect affirmations which I feel would be good for all regardless of location on the gender spectrum. (Self-Care)
What are your personal Highlights for this year? Sure, this was a particularly hard year, but there were still highlights, maybe if you can't think of many you can start a Highlight Jar. Pick a jar, decorate it yourself, place it somewhere you can see it every day- and any time something wonderful happens to you, write it down, and put it in the jar! (Inner Autumn // Waning Moon Prompts) Dec 7th - 9th
How has my perspective on the element of Air changed? December 21st is the first day of Winter, which surprises many people- so since this is still the season of Air, and you have completed your other elemental work for it, how has your perspective on Air changed? (Elemental Work)
How can you show your application to those in your life, or the Spirit of the world as she slips into wintery slumber? (Seasonal Prompt)
Research an obscure historical witch or an old historical spell. This is my favorite time of year for deep reflective research and study, as the world grows cold, dark, and sleepy- it just seems the best time to curl up with a good book, and just soak in the wisdom of our ancestors. If you can't think of any for yourself why not look into one of these; Gwenc'hlan 6th century, Edward Williams 1800-1893, Philip Nichols 1902-1975. (Research / Activities)
Where are your desires steering you right now? Don't get caught up in what you use to want, just jot down your truth. (Seasonal Prompt)
What is my favorite part of celebrating Yule? How is a Yule celebration special, rather than a Samhain, Beltane, or Lughnasadh celebration? If you haven't celebrated you, then you have at least followed the prompt from Dec 3 has shed insight into traditions and recipes associated with this holiday. Pick your favorite, and compare it to your favorite tradition you normally celebrate in the winter? (Yule / Seasonal Prompt)
What are your needs? What's yours to own, and what isn't? Where do you need to stand firm and set a boundary? (Inner Winter/New Moon Prompts 13th-15th)
What was most beautiful about my day today? Where can I celebrate myself? (self-love prompt)
Research and Study the influences of the Cold / Oak Moon / Long Night / Changed / Deep Moon.
What is your favorite winter or snow day memory from childhood? (Winter / Seasonal Prompt)
What card is stalking you in your deck and what do you think its message is for you? (tarot photo)
What are you ashamed about? Why are you hanging on to this inner guilt and punishment?
How are you reflecting, growing, and tending to yourself during these cold winter days and nights? (Inner Spring // Waxing Moon Prompts 20th-23th)
YULE 21st - The solstice is a very important holiday, this is the day when the sun is reborn and days begin to grow longer once more sweet relief, and soon winters icy grasp will release its on us all. For now, if you have no pagan or Christmas traditions of your own you wish to honor during these nights, then write for yourself how you might honor the sun and it is influence on your life. (Pagan Holiday)
If you could make anything happen in the year ahead, what would it be? (Pagan Prompt)
What Themes & Ideas are you noticing or exploring this Month? What patterns and feelings are you noticing in yourself? What has worked and didn't work in your magic over the last month? (Pagan Prompts)
What tarot card is especially difficult for you to understand or accept? Research its deeper meanings and see if you can come to terms with it. (Tarot Prompt)
What can I do to recommit myself to living a more spiritual life in the next year? This doesn't have to be some overly grand gesture. You don't need to go on a pilgrimage or become a hermit for a year, simply committing to doing one more major spiritual holiday, fast Sundays, or even trying to get better at meditation will help. (Yule / Seasonal Prompt)
What is your favorite witchy place to visit? It can be a pagan shop, a wild place on the mountains, or your own personal witchy space. Maybe it's where your grandma showed you how to bake her famous sugar cookies. Write about it here and explain why it was witchy or magical to you. (Pagan Prompts)
FAST SUNDAY: This day is for you, your craft, and service to your community.
What is your favorite pagan craftwork? "what is pagan craftwork?" you ask, any craft you do with a pagan intent of course! Making dream catchers, knitting, sewing, making candles, painting, stone stacking, and anything else you can think of. (Pagan Prompts)
Research herbs associated with the element of water and document them in your B.O.S. It is officially the season of water, and so we must do all we can to grow closer to this element. Take a polar bear dive, visit a hot spring or sauna. Take some long hot baths, make healing stew with ritual herbs, or make some tinctures / tonics / potions. (Research / Document)
What have you learned from this month's shifting and ever-changing cold moon? What new goals can you set for yourself for the coming months, and the new year? (Inner Summer // Full Moon Prompts DEC 29th-31st)
Svangur Bolt - In old Norse, this word means "Slender, Slim, and Thin" It is meant to mean hungry or starving. To me, this is a time to reflect and show appreciation for all that we have. Our ancestors were never so lucky as us and for the month of January, I do my best to live closer to how they might have. January was an exceptionally lean time when winter had just truly sunk its claws into the world, and springs thaw, and her fresh new growth is a long way off. To honor their struggle, and to bring new appreciation to the life I now have the month of January is dedicated to my ancestors and those who live today with little, or less than what they need. More Details in Jan-