Not So Wicked Witch Event - Yuletide Jar Spell By Erin Casey

                                                Winter Solstice/Yuletide Jar Spell
 
Introduction: The Winter Solstice, also known as Yuletide, is a winter celebration with Neolithic and Germanic origins. It’s held on the shortest day of the year with both the least amount of daylight and the longest night. Since Yule is a celebration of the sun, rebirth, and renewal, candlelight and fire are featured in many rituals. One way to welcome in the season is by creating a jar spell to help celebrate and also set your intentions for the coming year. 
 
The ingredients and steps listed below are general guidelines to create the jar spell. However, you are welcome and encouraged to modify them in any way to make the spell hold more meaning to you. When in doubt, do what speaks to you. 
 
Ingredients:

• Bell/Chime
• Glass Jar with Cork
• Incense Stick (choose any scent)
• White Candle
• Matches/Lighter
• Salt
• Cloves
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Rose Petals
• Orange Peel or Essential Oil
• Evergreens
• Cinnamon
• Green Aventurine
• Crystal (choose one that’s important to you)
• Parchment Paper
• Pen
• Green, Red, or Gold Wax (or all three!)
• Wax Seal Stamp (optional)

 
Preparing Your Space & Spell Circle

• Set up your items on an altar or in a safe location where you won’t be disturbed.
• Ring the bell/chime in a circular motion, reciting a protection incantation. “With this bell, I decree that no dark energies will harm me. So mote it be.” This cleanses your space of negative/dark energies.
• Light a white candle for protection, cleansing, and to welcome the light.

Crafting the Jar Spell

• Light your incense stick.
• Open the jar and swirl the incense stick inside to cleanse the jar.
• Pour in salt for protection.
• Add cloves for protection.
• Add thyme for healing, purification, and health.
• Add rosemary for clarity.
• Add rose petals for love and friendship.
• Add orange peel or incense for joy.
• Add evergreens to represent Yule.
• Add cinnamon for prosperity.
• Add green aventurine for luck and abundance
• Add a crystal that’s important to you.
• Take a small piece of parchment and write down your intention for the following year. What do you wish for? What do you hope will happen? Health? Finances? Love? Write it all down on the parchment. Once done, roll the parchment up and place it inside the bottle. You may need to move a few things around to help it fit.
• Cork the bottle.
• Heat up green, red, or gold wax (or all three). Once melted, pour the wax over the top of the bottle to seal it. Depending on how much you use, you may need to do this a couple of times. If you have a wax seal stamp, press it into the wax.
• You may also decorate your bottle with twine, charms, or other items to personalize it.
• Keep the jar in a safe space to remind you of your intention. The darkest days are now behind us.

 
Ending the Ritual

• Once your jar spell is complete, blow out the white candle.
• Ring the bell/chime it in a circular motion, reciting a closing incantation. “With this bell, I decree that no dark energies will follow me. So mote it be.” This ends the ritual and also surrounds you with positive, protective energy.

 

Erin Casey (she/her) is an urban fantasy writer and author of The Purple Door District series. The first completed trilogy follows the stories of parahumans (werebirds, vampires, werewolves, fae, witches, magi, etc.) living in safe havens called Purple Door Districts.
An advocate for mental health, she openly talks about her struggles with depression/anxiety/ADHD/CPTSD/eating disorder on her social media platforms and supports the LGBTQIA+ community. She firmly believes in supporting fellow authors be it through offering writing lessons, literary tips on social media, or providing encouragement to those seeking to find their creative voice. 
And, of course, she’s a devoted bird mom to six feathered kids. 
To learn more about her and her books, visit erincasey.org.