When I retired, my relationship with time suffered. Was it Monday? March? Who could tell? Without the rhythm and routine of capitalism, I was getting lost, so I decided to lean into my woo woo ways to mark time the way my distant ancestors did.
I’ve been acknowledging the moon phases for awhile, and also follow the old Celtic calendar. This has led me to be more aware of what I feel I should be doing as a human – eating seasonally, sorting my clothes to accommodate the changing weather, staying on top of my gardening, and most importantly, having small celebrations roughly every six weeks to mark the passing of the seasons. Who doesn’t love a party, or at the very least, a really nice dinner?
While the Pagans didn’t put a huge emphasis on Yule (it’s a minor sabbat), I am looking forward to it this year as it’s the first time we’ve chosen to celebrate it instead of Christmas. Plans include a real tree, homemade decorations, three nights of feasting, and pared down gifting. As someone who had a habit of going gift mad at Christmas, it’s a big change for me.
Our Yule gifts are limited to three per person, and are not to be extravagant – one consumable thing, one useful thing, and one surprise. Doing it this way has made me stop frivolous purchases and be a lot more considered about what I’m buying for others. Gifting feels more intentional this way, and saved me a little money now that I’m on a fixed income. It’s also nice seeing Christmas ads and knowing I’m not participating in the big, crazy rush anymore.
The major sabbat of Samhain is in a couple of days. I’m making soul cakes and a simple seasonal lunch. Later, we’ll light some candles and acknowledge the darker season. There is a lot to be said for marking time this way.
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