Yule: Celebrate the Winter Solstice

This spell helps you embrace new beginnings and set intentions for the coming year.

Ingredients:

• White candle
• Bay leaf
• Paper and pen
• Small bowl of water

Instructions:

1. Prepare Your Space: Cleanse your space with sage or another cleansing herb.
2. Light the White Candle: White symbolizes purity and new beginnings. Focus on the flame.
3. Write Your Intentions: Write down your intentions or goals for the new year on a piece of paper.
4. Burn the Bay Leaf: Light the bay leaf from the candle and let it burn in the bowl of water as you visualize your intentions manifesting.
5. Recite the Spell:"With this flame, I set my goal, New beginnings, take control. By water and fire, earth and air, Manifest my wish, hear my prayer."
6. Close the Ritual: Thank the elements and extinguish the candle.

This spell invites prosperity and abundance into your life for the coming year.

Ingredients:

• Green candle
• Gold coin (or any coin)
• Cinnamon stick
• Green ribbon

Instructions:

1. Set Your Intention: Clearly state your intention for prosperity and abundance.
2. Light the Green Candle: Green represents growth and wealth. Focus on your intention.
3. Create the Charm: Wrap the cinnamon stick with the green ribbon, attaching the coin securely.
4. Empower the Charm: Hold the charm in your hands and visualize it glowing with golden light.
5. Recite the Spell:"Gold and green, wealth unseen, Prosperity flows, like a river’s stream. By candle’s light and cinnamon’s spice, Abundance comes, thrice times thrice."
6. Carry the Charm: Keep the charm in your wallet or a place where you keep money.

This spell is designed to safeguard you and your home from negative energies.

Ingredients:

• Black candle
• Protective herbs (rosemary, juniper, pine needles)
• Salt
• Protection oil (optional)

Instructions:

1. Prepare Your Space: Cleanse your space with rosemary or juniper.
2. Create a Sacred Circle: Cast a circle using salt to define your sacred space.
3. Anoint the Candle: If you have protection oil, anoint the black candle from wick to base.
4. Light the Candle: Light the black candle and focus on the flame.
5. Recite the Spell:"By the light of this flame, I banish all harm, Protective herbs, shield and charm. Negative energies, be gone from this place, Only love and light shall fill this space."
6. Burn the Herbs: Sprinkle the protective herbs around the candle and let them burn (safely) in a fireproof dish.
7. Close the Circle: Once the candle has burned down, thank the elements and spirits, and close the circle by sweeping the salt away.

Wassail is a traditional Yule drink made with spiced cider or ale. It’s perfect for toasting to health and prosperity.

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon apple cider (or ale)
• 2 oranges (sliced)
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon allspice berries
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• Optional: brandy or rum for a spiked version

Instructions:

1. Combine Ingredients: In a large pot, combine the apple cider (or ale), orange slices, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, ground nutmeg, and brown sugar.
2. Simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer for 30-45 minutes.
3. Strain: Strain the wassail to remove the spices and orange slices.
4. Serve: Serve hot, garnished with a cinnamon stick or orange slice. For a spiked version, add a splash of brandy or rum to each cup.

A Yule log cake, or Bûche de Noël, is a traditional dessert symbolizing the Yule log. It’s a delicious way to end your Yule feast.

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Whipped cream or buttercream frosting
• Chocolate ganache for topping

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
2. Beat Eggs and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until thick and pale.
3. Mix Dry Ingredients: Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Gradually fold into the egg mixture.
4. Add Vanilla: Stir in the vanilla extract.
5. Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cake springs back when touched.
6. Roll the Cake: While the cake is still warm, roll it up in a clean kitchen towel dusted with powdered sugar. Let it cool completely.
7. Fill and Frost: Unroll the cooled cake and spread with whipped cream or buttercream frosting. Roll it back up and cover with chocolate ganache.
8. Decorate: Decorate with sugared cranberries, rosemary sprigs, or powdered sugar to resemble a snowy log.

Roast root vegetables are a hearty and warming dish perfect for a Yule feast.

Ingredients:

• 2 carrots (chopped)
• 2 parsnips (chopped)
• 1 sweet potato (chopped)
• 1 beet (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Fresh thyme for garnish

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Prepare Vegetables: Chop the vegetables into even-sized pieces.
3. Toss with Oil and Honey: In a large bowl, toss the vegetables with olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper.
4. Roast: Spread the vegetables on a baking sheet and roast for 30-40 minutes, or until tender and caramelized.
5. Serve: Garnish with fresh thyme and serve hot.