This entire piece is incredible. I'm a spirit worker, but I never really thought about the why behind the holidays causing an uneasiness within me. Once I left Catholicism, I only thought of Christmas as a night to be with my family. I didn't even think of the spirits people are unknowingly welcoming into their homes, even though I work with spirits daily. 😆 Aside from that though, I must show appreciation for the Krampus/Jack Nicholson. That's hysterical 🤌🏻
Thanks for reading! I didn’t get into hearth magick that underlies some of these traditions - that would be fun to explore more from this vantage. Also great to discover your work
The concept of cosmic coziness is brillaint. It perfectly captures that specific feeling of being safe inside while acknowledging the darkness outside. I've always wondered why Christmas Eve felt so charged as a kid, and framing it through apotropaic rituals makes total sense. The idea that we're essentially inviting controlled chaos through one specific portal (the chimny) while sealing everything else is kinda wild when you think about it. Makes me look at holiday decorations completely differently now.
I've been reflecting on the meeting of the ancient and the modern. I feel that we've hit the apex of the disenchantment of the world some time ago, so from here on the mystery only grows and intensifies.
But in that phase of null magic we must have internalized all the spirits and demons. We drove them out of our groves, gardens and houses and into our heads and hearts.
Perhaps now the wisest ritual is to sweep out our bitterness and angst, then place metaphorical pine boughs in the lintels of our eyes and ears, and shut our mouths so that the only entry is our nostrils. This way we breath only peace into our hearts.
Golly, thanks so much for supplementing my holiday anxiety with visions of Perchta (sp?) visiting to rip out my entrails. I believe I met her today in Walmart where she shoved me out of the way with her shopping cart. Namaste, and Merry Frickin' Christmas.
An absolutely delightful read Ryan!!! Thank you for sharing this insightful, apotropaic interpretation of Christmas. I wonder how the Xmas tree and its colorful decor fits into this interpretation though? Is it similarly a symbol of the liminal, a shamanic axis mundis to the spirit realm, or does it befit a more ritualistic form of nature veneration, with adherents acknowledging the gifts of latter day harvests and the potential presents of the oncoming Spring?
I didn't freshly research the xmas tree but it's germanic in origin too, and I believe it was a Unitarian / Congregationalist in Germany in mid 1800s who "first" brought in a tree to call it the Christmas tree. Since most of us don't have actual hearths anymore -- and no Santa Portal -- your suggestion of the tree as axis Mundi works for me! piping hot shamanism delivered via LED lights -- which are much superior to the old incandescent bulbs I've found :)
This entire piece is incredible. I'm a spirit worker, but I never really thought about the why behind the holidays causing an uneasiness within me. Once I left Catholicism, I only thought of Christmas as a night to be with my family. I didn't even think of the spirits people are unknowingly welcoming into their homes, even though I work with spirits daily. 😆 Aside from that though, I must show appreciation for the Krampus/Jack Nicholson. That's hysterical 🤌🏻
Thanks for reading! I didn’t get into hearth magick that underlies some of these traditions - that would be fun to explore more from this vantage. Also great to discover your work
Thank you, same to you! Looking forward to seeing more!
Most of that information I've Heard of except for Odin.. that's awesome
The concept of cosmic coziness is brillaint. It perfectly captures that specific feeling of being safe inside while acknowledging the darkness outside. I've always wondered why Christmas Eve felt so charged as a kid, and framing it through apotropaic rituals makes total sense. The idea that we're essentially inviting controlled chaos through one specific portal (the chimny) while sealing everything else is kinda wild when you think about it. Makes me look at holiday decorations completely differently now.
thanks for reading! It IS wild. I have so much more respect for xmas decorations now
This is stellar. Thank you for the bibliography.
Thank you!
I've been reflecting on the meeting of the ancient and the modern. I feel that we've hit the apex of the disenchantment of the world some time ago, so from here on the mystery only grows and intensifies.
But in that phase of null magic we must have internalized all the spirits and demons. We drove them out of our groves, gardens and houses and into our heads and hearts.
Perhaps now the wisest ritual is to sweep out our bitterness and angst, then place metaphorical pine boughs in the lintels of our eyes and ears, and shut our mouths so that the only entry is our nostrils. This way we breath only peace into our hearts.
Thank you for this wonderful bit of education.
love this idea of sweeping out, and using pine boughs to do it. thanks for reading and reflecting
It goes without saying that I love this.
Thanks for sharing Matt — And a merry scary Christmas to you!
Golly, thanks so much for supplementing my holiday anxiety with visions of Perchta (sp?) visiting to rip out my entrails. I believe I met her today in Walmart where she shoved me out of the way with her shopping cart. Namaste, and Merry Frickin' Christmas.
Ha that sounds about right. Merry Christmas indeed!
An absolutely delightful read Ryan!!! Thank you for sharing this insightful, apotropaic interpretation of Christmas. I wonder how the Xmas tree and its colorful decor fits into this interpretation though? Is it similarly a symbol of the liminal, a shamanic axis mundis to the spirit realm, or does it befit a more ritualistic form of nature veneration, with adherents acknowledging the gifts of latter day harvests and the potential presents of the oncoming Spring?
PS the top of our Christmas tree is where we place not a star or angel but a felt ornament of an amanita muscaria
I didn't freshly research the xmas tree but it's germanic in origin too, and I believe it was a Unitarian / Congregationalist in Germany in mid 1800s who "first" brought in a tree to call it the Christmas tree. Since most of us don't have actual hearths anymore -- and no Santa Portal -- your suggestion of the tree as axis Mundi works for me! piping hot shamanism delivered via LED lights -- which are much superior to the old incandescent bulbs I've found :)