Happy Winter Solstice in the Northern hemisphere and the Summer Solstice in the southern world on December 21at 09.20 UTC, (see www.timeanddate.com for the precise time in your location) respectively the shortest and longest days of the Year. 

At the Winter Solstice in the old traditions in the Northern world the Midwife or the three Grandmothers who will birth the new sun, ask us to walk into the darkness with them and through uncertainty to trust in the rebirth of the light. Even at the height of the Summer Solstice the challenge is the same. We cannot hold on to the sun who will begin her annual decline in the Southern hemisphere, a reminder to treasure every moment of joy and blessing. For this is the dual sunshine festival of Michael, Archangel of the Sun who blesses both Midwinter and the height of summer., two parts of one whole occurring simultaneously though season wise seemingly a world apart. 

Even so we are reminded that as our new inner sun is reborn, we can see the glimmer and shimmer of those longer days and shorter nights just over the horizon. And as the height of summer blazes in the south, we absorb the power of the light to illuminate the darker days to come, until the wheel turns upwards once again with light renewed. 

Focus now on what you want more than anything and make that leap of faith. Do not be held back by what if it goes wrong? Renew those discarded dreams and make them come true by faith, hard work and persistence and the light within and around you until the high and low solar points unite once more in that single moment of fusion six months hence. 

It is a special month for it heralds in the Northern hemisphere the rebirth of the light at Midwinter and in the Southern World. Midsummer, both Michael Archangel of the Sun times, promising new beginnings, renewed hope and light even in the darkest hours, actual or emotional. 

December is named after Decem, the tenth month after New Year in the old Roman calendar .Ten is traditionally the number of unity first given significance by the Ancient Egyptian wife and husband pairing, Isis and Osiris, deities who promised to ordinary people love and hope that could never be lost. What really matters at this time of the year in the run up to Christmas is communicating love and enjoying the company of family and friends or trying to heal breaches caused by others’ coldness or misplaced anger or jealousy. Some people will never lose their acid drop tongues, but this is the time of year to make a final loving gesture-and if refused, to accept that extra love willingly offered never hurt in the world and we can close a door, knowing we did all we could and move forward. 

Time to let the children overload the tree with multi -coloured baubles and reams of tinsel, to take unwanted and sometime unused toys before Christmas to the toy bank, so stockings can be filled, to give to the food bank an item or two of the Christmas food mountain we have bought in anticipation of five hundred folks knocking at the door; drop a Secret Santa gift and maybe an invite to the neighbour who looks sour because they never see anyone. 

Spend Christmas talking and playing board games instead of scowling in a kitchen hotter than hell’s mouth to serve the perfect spread that will adorn the food bin. If you can’t afford expensive presents, be ingenious and buy what people really want with care and love and not the overpriced tribute that will be returned to the store on Boxing Day. 

Any night from the beginning of December, in the traditional custom of Scandinavia, Northern Europe and those lands where settlers came from the Old World, light a red candle surrounded by greenery and burn myrrh incense or oil for gentleness of words and kindness of deeds, even towards unloving folks. 

Symbols of December include evergreen boughs especially pine or fir, small logs of wood especially oak, pine and ash, holly and ivy, gold coins and jewellery, silver and gold ribbons and baubles, tiny wrapped presents or messages offered spontaneously during the month to say I appreciate you when people are getting fraught over the ever-burgeoning commercialization and unattainable media images of perfection. 

December’s incenses, trees, flowers and herbs include bay, cedar, feverfew, frankincense and myrrh mixed, mistletoe, juniper, pine, rosemary, sage and all spices, poinsettias, scarlet and white flowers and rosemary, 

December crystals are amazonite, malachite, garnet, snow quartz, snowflake obsidian and opal aura. Happy, Happy December.

Debi and I continue to work on a range of new online courses. We are creating a 13 Part course A Year and a Day in Druidry(the first module available very soon which includes a Treasury on Celtic animals, deities and magical meanings.

We are planning fun courses for Christmas round the fireside too, including ones on Playing Cards, Dice and Dominoes inspired by raiding the grandchildren’s games cupboard.

On the site Cassandra posts monthly information on the full moons and seasonal celebrations and other updates where possible

Debi and Cassandra will answer emails on all matters magical and spiritual., but we do receive many so be patient with us. 

Detailed psychic readings, all carried out personally by Cassandra, are always available, as are spells for any positive purpose There are also step-by-step courses on a variety of subjects, everything from Angels to Mediumship, to Crystal healing, aura reading, Tarot and Runes and psychic development and a 25 part magick course for Wiccans who can’t or don’t want to join a coven, but share the seasonal celebrations with friends and family.

There are many ways of combining separate course modules from different courses, no tests, no time constraints so you can mix and match to learn precisely what you want.