It's a Messy Life

editorial

by Thea

I find Yule to be a contrary time of year. We celebrate the light in the midst of darkness. The Sun (what's left of it, anyway) slips from one of the most freewheeling signs around (Sagittarius) into rule-bound Capricorn. We honor the great American tradition of conspicuous consumption by buying lots of stuff we don't need, but we are also urged to think about others and contribute money or time to charity. We party furiously -- almost desperately -- before the year turns and the cold dark of January sets in. Someone, somewhere, decided that this is supposed to be a happy, festive time, yet for many of us it is often tinged with sadness and depression.

Contrary, however, is not bad. Without the darkness to contrast it, the light doesn't shine as brightly. Somewhere between the eggnog, parties, aunt Gretta's nervous breakdown and the millionth Muzak rendition of "Frosty the Snowman," the truth comes out: Life is complicated -- full of joy and sorrow, peace and strife, love and loss -- and at Yule we get to experience it all in its wondrously messy glory. Every cheesy holiday movie tells us that this is a magickal time of year, and although most of them are pure "lowest common denominator" trash, they are right about the magick. Ebeneezer Scrooge gets his redemption, the Bumble gets a job putting the star on the Christmas tree, and Ralphie gets his Red Rider BB gun. The rest of us get a chance to stop, assess our lives, clean out the old, open up to the new and find a way to let our light shine in the upcoming year. If that isn't magick, I don't know what is.

Some of these themes are echoed in this issue's articles. Erika has given us food for thought about using white or gold light for protection and magick. C. Cheek presents us with some magickal and mundane end-of-year cleaning projects. John Palmer treats us to a moving tale of his self-initiation. Janice Van Cleeve tells us about going inward to find her guardian spirit. Anita tells us what's ahead in the stars and Genevieve Williams provides another guide to pagan-friendly music (just in time for last-minute Yule shopping, I might add). We also have two actual letters to the editor!

Since at this time of year we mark endings and beginnings, we're delighted to include a piece by the staff of the Aquarian Tabernacle Church about the organization's 25th anniversary. This is a phenomenal achievement, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to them, along with our appreciation for all they have done for the pagan community, both locally and worldwide.

May your Yule be filled with light and your New Year with magick.