Goldentree Wands Newsletter

http://www.goldentreewands.com

info@goldentreewands.com

Issue: 17

Date: November 11, 2006

   
Happy Veterans Day!  A Pentacle to honor our fallen soldiers.

MERRY MEET!

         Welcome to the New and Improved Goldentree Wands Newsletter!  After guidance from our forum members, we've decided to start something new this issue and hope to make it bigger and better every upcoming newsletter.  It seems that in the past we may have been boring with notices and updates.  This issue will have incense and food recipes for the upcoming Sabbat, Yule, along with wood and stone-of-the-Sabbat sections, a quick blurb about Yule, and gift ideas for the Pagan family.  So, grab a cup of your favorite tea or coffee, sit back, relax and enjoy our Yule time Newsletter.  

IMPORTANT NOTICE: ORDERING TIMELINE FOR YULE!

          Before we get started we have an important announcement about our Yule Schedule.  To prepare for the upcoming holiday season and to keep up with all of our orders, Goldentree Wands has established an ordering timeline. 

TO RECEIVE YOUR ITEMS BEFORE YULE (12/21), PLEASE FOLLOW OUR TIMELINE BELOW:

NEW CONTEST!

          Congratulations to our Win a Free Witchstone Kit contest winner!  Thank you to all who participated in the contest.  There will be 8 contests per year, one for each holiday of the Wiccan calendar.  Our next contest is for a free Zebrawood Pendulum a $17.98 value!  This contest ends the day after Yule, December 22.  Don’t pass up your chance to win!  Remember, you must check back at http://www.goldentreewands.com/ after December 22, to see if you are our winner and claim your prize.  Go to http://www.goldentreewands.com/contest.htm to enter.

YULE~

"My favorite thing about Yule
there is always a brighter tomorrow!"
~ unknown author

Yule, the Winter Solstice, which occurs on December 21, is a time when the Sun God is reborn unto the Virgin Goddess to bring back the warmer times of the year.  Many ancient cultures tell the same story of the Sun God's birth, from Ra of the Egyptians, to Mithras of Rome.  A prominent story on Yule is of the battle of the Holly King and the Oak King, a Celtic tradition in which the Oak King kills the Holly King and reigns supreme until Litha, or Midsummer.  A very popular cross-over between the ancient Pagan holiday and today's Christmas is the Christmas, or as we like to call it, Yule Tree.  Bringing a tree into your home during December is an invitation to the Faeries to join in your winter celebratory rituals.  Adorn your Yule tree with a Pentacle to keep your Pagan traditions alive.  To read more on the subject of Yule, please visit this forum post discussing the Pagan New Year:  Yule

WOOD-OF-THE-SABBAT:

To honor the Holly King that is laid to rest this time of year, our Sabbat Wood is:

STONE-OF-THE-SABBAT:

To complement Holly and to honor the Great Goddess in her Crone phase, Moonstone is our Sabbat Stone:

GIFT IDEAS FOR THE PAGAN FAMILY:

For Every member of your family:  

As many of you know, Wands are our specialty here at Goldentree Wands.  A perfect gift for that perfect someone would be a wand made entirely for them.  They can choose their perfect wood, stones, and even a totem if they feel drawn to that aspect of their spirituality.  Remember to order early as it can take between 2-4 weeks to complete a perfect wand for a specific person: Custom Wands

For the girls:

Children's and adult size Faerie Wings are perfect for the ladies in your life.  Everyone wants to be a Faerie!

For the boys:

Something to keep the men in your life nice and warm this holiday season.

YULE TIME INCENSE:

 1 Part Frankincense & Myrrh

1 Part Pine Sap or 1 Part Pine needles (can substitute Juniper)

2 Part Sandalwood

1 Part Sage (can substitute Mistletoe)

Mix all ingredients in your Mortar and Pestle and burn on a charcoal disk to celebrate Yule and drive any negative energies from your home.  All above ingredients and charcoal, with the exception of Pine, can be purchased from Willow's Herb Cellar.  

QUICK YULE DINNER:

Enough Steak for the family

Prepared to your liking

Side of Cranberry Sauce

Side of Green Beans

Microwave a bag of frozen green beans on high for 6 minutes.  Add a small can of Cream of Mushroom Soup and butter to taste.  Return to microwave and heat until cooked through.  Top with a sprinkling of almond shavings.

Colcannon~ Old Irish Mashed Potato Dish with a little extra
(Serves eight)

4 cups Mashed Potatoes
2 1/2 cups cabbage, chopped fine and boiled
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup evaporated milk or cream
3/4 cup onion, chopped very fine and sautéed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper

Sauté onions in butter (not the 1/2 cup listed above). Boil the potatoes and mash them (do not use boxed potatoes). In a large pan place all of the ingredients except the cabbage and cook over low heat while blending them together. Turn the heat to medium and add the chopped-cooked cabbage. Keep stirring occasionally until the mixture is warm enough to eat.  Add a clean coin to the mixture just before serving.  Whomever has the coin on their plate at the end of the meal will be blessed with prosperity for the year to come.  Please be sure to warn your guests to not choke on this coin.

REINDEER CANDIES:

1 package dark chocolate Baker's Squares

1 package white chocolate Baker's Squares

Candy Canes or Mint Life Savers- crushed (take out your frustrations with a hammer!)

Melt dark chocolate according to package directions and pour into Jell-O pan.  Put in fridge and allow to harden.  In a separate sauce pan, melt the white chocolate according to package directions.  Pour on top of hardened dark chocolate.  Immediately put a thin layer of crushed mints on top of white chocolate and gently push into chocolate.  Place pan back in fridge until hard.  Enjoy!

COMING SOON TO GOLDENTREE WANDS:

Keep your eyes open for some new ideas from Goldentree Wands.  Flat and Round Scrying Mirrors, Candle Holders, and Altar Chalices will soon be available for purchase without the wait.  After careful considerations we will be offering these products ready made to be shipped the Tuesday after payment has been received.  So, if you're the type of person who doesn't like to wait- we're answering your call.

BRIGHT BLESSINGS!

We hope you enjoy your Yule and all the joy that comes with the season.  We would like to extend a warm thank you to our forums members who gave input on this newsletter: Anglea, MoonGazer, Wolfsong, Angelion, and Fyrecreek.

Bright Blessings, Happy Tidings and May the Goddess Bless you all,

Glen, Willow, Pandora, Bandit, and Ashtoreth Goldentree

)O( ~An’ Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will~ )O(