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Get ready to dive into Yule magic with Sara Haydon! Sara is an author and advocate for slow, intentional living. Her debut book, Winter Magic: A Witch’s Yule (Atlantic Books, 2024), explores the intersection of nature, seasonal living and personal spirituality. With a background in Psychology and years of experience in mental health and offender rehabilitation, she now writes and supports others on their journeys of inner transformation. From her cabin in the Finnish woods or while wandering the English countryside with her family, Sara shares moments of everyday magic on her much-beloved Instagram platform, @HawthornHollows

Sara thought about how magic shows up in her everyday life and combined with her Finnish heritage shares it in her book to make her Yule magic accessible to everyone. We delve into Sara’s book: Winter Magic: A Witch’s Yule. She felt inspired to create and foster a celebration for the Winter Solstice. She wanted to create a book that was gentle, grounding and enchanting for readers to navigate this season and sample different Witchcraft aspects while going through the journey of Yule. Since Sara grew up in Finland, she wrote her book from a unique Nordic perspective where the magic and mysticism of Yule mixes with nostalgia, coziness, folklore and a deep relationship with nature.

Yet there is the paradox between the darkness of December, the returning of the light at Winter Solstice as well as reconnecting with spirit(s) and old ways. Yule is very rich in mythology folklore and stories especially with elves, gnomes or “Tonttu” which act as guardian spirits of household and farm and are a huge art of the Nordic folklore. Nordic deities such as Freya and Odin are part of the interplay with darkness of winter. Sara includes rituals, spells, everyday magic with her book. Honoring the deities, archetypes and their symbology honors aspects of ourselves. These traditions are rooted in gratitude, respect, balance and the reciprocity of give and take from spirits. Sara believes this is the kind of quiet, gentle pagan magic doesn't scream Witchcraft. Sara mentions that Yule/Winter Solstice doesn’t need to be ritualistic; it can be comfortable and what feels aligned for you. Honoring nature and weaving your generosity into candles, food, good wishes.

Yule magic is about folding in those moments of intention into the life you are already living in. And it can be as simple as lighting a candle with a quick intention before you start the day or drinking something warm to ground yourself. For creating some Yule magic, you can bring in certain scents and flavors such as pine, citrus or cinnamon which shifts the energy. It’s those tiny pauses and small pockets of seasonal reminders that create magic. The Nordic traditions of Yule/Winter Solstice with the sense of coziness are so beautiful, simple and adaptable for those of us who are city Pagans/Wiccans living in small spaces or places that do not have snow or forests.

Yuletide magic is not tied to any certain landscape, country, culture or aesthetic. The Yule season is a threshold time as we shift from one cycle that is ending as we live through the darkest time of the year and now move towards lighter days which is very magical ritual in itself. Its nature’s enchanted gift to us and brings us hope. Tune in and be enlightened!

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Join us in this captivating episode as we discover sacred singing that celebrates the Divine Feminine with Flora Ware! Flora is a Ceremonialist, Song Priestess, Pagan Songstress, the founder of EarthSong Temple and vocal coach. Flora serves the global community through ceremony, singing circles, and earth magic. As a Ceremonial Priestess, Cyclic Living teacher, and sacred musician, Flora inspires all to awaken to their potential, embody their wisdom, and to celebrate the Goddess by bringing the feminine principle forward. Her newest album: The Center of the Pentacle celebrates Lunar Magick, and Divine Feminine archetypes. Flora believes that our voices are magical instruments for healing, manifestation, and transformation. *Stay tuned to the end when Flora sings us her enchanting “Center of the Pentacle” invocation to the elements!*

Flora grew up in BC, Canada and was introduced to the Divine Feminine in 1993 attending her first Full Moon circle with her mother. She later read StarHawk’s seminal book The Spiral Dance which opened up the idea of the Neo-Pagan Wheel of the Year (the 8 sabbats). This concept and the reclaiming tradition felt right for Flora. She later went to college and studied theater/acting but then turned her focus to music and developing her skills as a singer. She got a diploma in Jazz and Contemporary Voice which was a very rich starting point for her vocal journey. A year after graduating Flora was introduced to Vocal Sound Healing which was another pivotal moment in her musical life and spiritual journey. She understood then that her voice was not just for entertainment but it could be used as a part of her sacred practice.

We delve into the role of Song Priestesses throughout history and what this role entails in contemporary times for Flora. Sound, voice, drums, music from paleolithic times have all been used by shamans and priests/priestesses and later bards for connecting to divine energy, creating sacred space and to foster community. The Song Priestess knows the power of vibrational and the energetic alchemy of sound. It's not entertainment, it's using our voices in sacred ritual through voice and sound healing to elevate our connection to the divine. Flora tells us that sound is vibrational healing and an attunement to harmonious frequencies.

We chat about Flora’s newest album: “The Center of the Pentacle” and how it focuses on Lunar Magick, New Moon, Full Moon song spells/chants and invocations to Goddesses designed to integrate with a group or personal ritual. This is a counterpoint to her previous album: “Songs for the Wheel of the Year” which were about the solar 8 sabbats. Her songs, music and song circles empower the Divine Feminine within and bring the feminine principle forward.Flora’s mission is to bring the sacred feminine back into balance with the sacred masculine. Flora continues to challenge herself musically and she is passionate about taking her voice and song priestessing to new edges whether it be online or in person ceremonies, EarthSong Temple rituals, song circles or album recordings. Flora ends our episode by singing her enchanting invocation to the elements. Tune in and be enlightened! Flora’s website: https://floraware.ca

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