Deck the halls! Yuletide approaches! I love the greenery that adorns our homes and stores at this time of year. The Yule tree is symbolic of the green new life that returns with the light of the sun at the solstice.
The song, Deck the Halls, is actually an old Welsh song that was originally sung at New Year. The falalalala warms my pagan heart. What lovelier practice could there be than hanging some magickal greenery about at Midwinter?
Pine is perhaps the most commonly seen greenery at Yule. It can be protective, as well as attract abundance. It’s fresh scent feels cleansing. When you think about the cold wintry weather and how vulnerable we are at this time to the elements and disease, plants that bring abundance and protection would seem magickally useful.
Holly, with its prickly leaves, seems obviously protective. In sympathetic magick the physical qualities of a plant relate to the magickal properties. Those blood red berries not only hint at a warning , but also attract the health and vitality needed to make it through until spring.
Mistletoe is perhaps best known for its use in kissing balls. It is useful in love magick, but once again, protection is one of its key functions in magick. Kissing under the mistletoe, in fact, is supposed to protect a love relationship. Incidentally, mistletoe is quite toxic, so be careful how you use it in spells.
Lastly, one of my favorite Yule herbs is bayberry…as in a real bayberry candle. Be sure you pay for the real thing and not bayberry scented candles if you want to stir up some magick! If you can find pure bayberry essential oil that could serve for annointing a candle, but I found it easier to find the candles. An old colonial charm states:
A bayberry candle when burned to the socket,
Brings health to the home,
And puts money in the pocket!
On Yule I will light my bayberry candle and allow it to burn down in a safe place (my fireplace 😉).
Abundance and protection: these most appreciated gifts of our Yuletide green allies surround us with their blessings! Do you use any other plants at Yule for their magickal energy? If so, please mention them in the comments below.
Let’s deck the halls and drink a toast to the return of the sunlight at Winter Solstice!
Yuletide Blessings,
Sarina
The Magickal Cottage 