The shortest sunlit day of the year, the Winter Solstice, is the day when the sun is farthest away and light is most remote. Celebrated the world over, and most profoundly in areas where the winter is very dark, and very long, the longest night and the shortest day of the year is when the sun who seems to be weakening and dying, is reborn, and begins to grow in radiance and renewal. Rebirth is the essence of this celebration.

At the time of the solstice on or near December 2lst seasonal plants are brought into the home to assure the woodland Spirits that they will find safe refuge during this period of darkness and cold. In many parts of the world this celebration included lighting giant bonfires to lure the sun back to earth keeping the fires burning through the night or through the dark times. Considered a sacred rite, the Yule Log is still burned in fireplaces today honoring the spirit of rebirth and regeneration.

To honor the ancient tradition in your own home try placing holly, ivy, rosemary, evergreen boughs and pine cones in areas where socializing takes place. Hang a sprig of mistletoe above a major threshold as a charm for good luck.

An ancient magical herb known for it’s life-giving powers the Mistletoe grew from the sky on the limbs of sacred oaks. Known as all-heal to the Druids, its green leaves represented the fertility of the Mother Goddess and its white berries symbolize the seed of the Forest God.

Historically Druids harvested mistletoe with golden scythes. Maidens would gather beneath the trees with bolts of white linen stretched out between them. The cloth prevented the falling mistletoe from falling to the ground. If by chance the mistletoe should touch the earth all sacred energy from the plant would pour back into the ground.

The symbolism of holly and ivy together represents the struggle for balance between the waning and the waxing Sun. Often thought a representation of the Holly King reverence for the Holly tree is much older. It was not lost on early societies that to enjoy the beauty of the lush red berries one needs both a male and female tree, only the female yields the lush fruit. The tree itself became associated with the Mother Goddess and with fertility rites.

Wreaths of holly and ivy were originally used during Yuletide – Saxon geol, meaning wheel, their circular shape symbolizing the Wheel of the Year with its completion and continuity. Holly was regarded as the resting place for elves and fairies who would lodge within the leaves and keep the house goblins from doing mischief. In a similar way, planting holly outside the home brought protection for the inhabitants. Ivy in turn was especially used for the protection of flocks and domestic animals. Wreaths or magic hoops of ivy with rowan and woodbine, were woven and placed near milk containers to protect the contents from invading sprits. Rosemary was spread on floors at Christmas as people walked over the herb releasing the fragrant scent filling the home with blessings and protection. The name rosemary is associated with the Virgin Mary, as is the Rose.

Evergreens were known for their supernatural powers as they remained green and alive during the dead of winter. Pine was used in abundance during the solstice season, and still is. The pine cone represents the continuation of life in its spiraling form, the basis for the divine mean, the essential matrix for all Life and assurance of rebirth and regeneration.

This holiday season take some time to remember the ancient traditions as you collect your seasonal plants from nature. Remember too, when you cut a live plant you are transmuting its life force. Do this with reverence. Whenever possible offer something in return by sprinkling tabacco, cornmeal, sage, or sweetgrass as an offering of your gratitude.

A very cool site about Winter Solstice.. School of the Seasons

Have you ever wondered the role of the Wolf in the Balance of Nature? The Creator placed everything on this planet for a reason. There are important roles to be played out by each and every creature from the tiniest microbe and insect, to the largest mammal. As intelligent beings on this Living planet, it is our responsibility to learn and understand how to nurture this Balance in Nature, and not destroy it. The Wolf has an important role and is Sacred to the Creator. My love for wolves has led me down many paths. Most recently I found an interesting article about the relation between Wolves and Trees, and I would like to share this with you. Please note that this is simply one small example of how the Wolf fits into the ecosystem.

‘Wolves linked to tree recovery’
By MIKE STARK

Reintroduced wolves appear to be playing a major role in the resurgence of streamside trees and shrubs in certain portions of in Yellowstone National Park, according to two new studies by scientists at Oregon State University.

When wolves were absent from the park, from the 1920s until the mid-1990s, elk grazed heavily and repeatedly on young cottonwoods, aspen and willows. Since wolves have returned, the elk have been forced to be more mobile, which has meant easing up on certain feeding spots.

“Wolves are the top of the food chain,” Bill Ripple, an OSU forestry professor who has been studying aspen and other species in Yellowstone since 1997, said Tuesday. “Wolves affect elk and elk affect species like aspen.”

In recent years, young cottonwoods and willows have been especially robust in areas where elk may have once browsed but now feel the threat of wolves, including places where they have few ways to escape, Ripple said.

“If they’re boxed in against a canyon wall or a cutbank on a river — those seemed to be the places which are showing more growth,” Ripple said.

Meanwhile, low-risk sites for elk are still being consumed and show little growth, according to the studies.

The findings of the studies were recently published in the journals Ecological Applications and Forest Ecology and Management.

The idea behind the studies is to examine the effect that wolves are having in the Yellowstone ecosystem beyond simple predation on elk and other prey.

“With the restoration of wolves in Yellowstone, for the first time we have the full suite of top carnivores,” Ripple said. “That is a grand experiment for us to take notice of what the connections are between different animals and plants.”

Ripple acknowledged that the results of the studies are still “somewhat preliminary” because wolves have only been back in Yellowstone since 1995. Still, researchers say it’s hard to ignore the hypothesis that there’s a strong connection between the return of wolves and the revival of certain plants and trees.

“The data show a clear and remarkable linkage between the presence of wolves and the health of an entire streamside ecosystem,” said an announcement from OSU about the studies.

In some areas on wintering range for elk, researchers found hundreds of short cottonwood seedlings among cottonwoods that were 70 years old or older, but very few trees that had not been chewed off before they passed the seedling stage.

“Long-term elk browsing has been preventing any seedling from getting taller,” Robert Beschta, a forestry professor emeritus at OSU, said about one area along the Lamar River.

Scientists said they were able to see a clear connection between the removal of wolves in late 1800s and early 1900s and a decline in species such as cottonwoods and aspen.

“I considered a variety of potential reasons that might explain the historical decline of cottonwoods that began in the 1920s and have continued up to the last couple of years,” Beschta said in a statement Tuesday. “I looked at climate change, lack of floods, fire suppression, natural stand dynamics, and numbers of elk. But none of those factors really explained the problem. Ultimately, it became clear that wolves were the answer.”

Without fear of wolves, the elk were allowed to browse anywhere they liked for decades, the scientists said. Killing off cottonwoods, willows and other streamside shrubs allowed for increased erosion and effects on birds, insects and other wildlife, they said.

“Before the wolves came back, it was pretty clear that in some areas we were heading toward an outright extinction of cottonwoods,” Beschta said.

Streamside shrubs and cottonwoods in places such as the Lamar Valley have rebounded since the reintroduction of wolves, growing taller and becoming more prevalent, the scientists said.

“There’s this domino effect from wolves to elk to trees,” Ripple said.

The OSU researchers caution that their studies aren’t an encompassing look at Yellowstone and the effects of wolves, but it is an indication that the wolves appear to have stopped a major decline in the survival rates of cottonwoods and willows.

“One point that should not be missed is this is actually great news for the potential recovery of cottonwood trees and mature willows in Yellowstone National Park,” Ripple said. “We now have a pretty good idea why they were in decline and the return of wolves should help pave the way for their recovery. Even though it may take a very long time, for a change it looks
like we’re headed in the right direction.”

Please Visit Defenders of Wildlife to learn more facts about the Wolf and how you can help

It’s no surprise that the use of soy candles is becoming increasingly popular across the nation. Candle aficionados now know that selecting soy candles to decorate and liven their home environment is not only a more financially and environmentally conscientious decision, but is a much healthier option as well.

Many of us know about the traditional benefits of candles. They are often used for relaxation, stress relief, decoration and even romance. They come in all shapes and sizes, colors and scents. We all have our favorite preferences, and many people even stick to just one brand. But what many do not realize is that it’s now become imperative to make sure that the candles you’re burning in your home aren’t putting your health at risk. How can you be sure?

This is where soy candles come in.

Soy candles are made of soy wax, a mixture of hydrogenated soybean oil. This means that they burn clean into the air, as opposed to common paraffin wax candles, which have been known to produce soot and other inhaleable toxins such as formaldehyde, acrolein, benzine and acetaldehyde. It’s important to realize that these toxins have been known to clog and damage the lungs, and can sometimes even lead to emphysema—not unlike the effects of second-hand nicotine smoke. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), some of the chemicals found in paraffin candles are not only toxic, but are carcinogenic and neurotoxic as well, and could cause issues with not only the lungs but also the heart, circulatory system and nervous system.

Sound a bit scary? Well, recent research has shown that the use of soy candles in the home increases the surrounding air quality by a staggering 90% as compared with traditionally produced paraffin or petrochemical based candles.

If you’re a candle lover, you’ve probably noticed the effects of paraffin or petrochemical based candles in your home. When you light it, you may notice that there is black smoke that emits from the wick. It stains the jar or candle holder and, after using for long periods of time, can even stain your walls, air vents, ceiling and other areas of your home. If you sit too close to burning paraffin candles, you may even notice a bit of soot accumulating on your skin or clothes, or in particle-collecting areas of your body such as your nostrils. And if you think that’s bad, just think of how it must look in your lungs.

Take charge of your health by burning soy candles instead.

By purchasing soy candles, you’re also making a stand in promoting the health of the nation’s farming community. Nearly 60 kilograms of soybeans are used to create just 10 kilograms of soybean oil, and the soy candle industry has the potential of using nearly 110 million bushels of soybeans annually, or one-quarter of the nation’s soybean crop. This is opposed to paraffin based candles, the chemicals for which are most often produced with foreign oil sources. In fact, the recent rise in popularity of non-food based uses for soy, such as in candles, has contributed to a significant rise in the economies of soy-producing areas across the U.S.—including Iowa, the home of more than 110 soy candle manufacturers and the self-proclaimed “Soybean Capital of the United States.”

But personal health and environmental sustainability aren’t the only reasons why consumers across the nation are making the change toward the use of soy candles. Another selling point, it seems, is the value.

See, one of the key reasons as to why soy candles burn so cleanly and safely is that soy wax has a lower melting point than the paraffin wax that is used in traditional candles. This means that soy candles burn cooler, as well as up to 50% longer. Cooler burning translates into quicker scent dispersion, for an even more amazing scented candle experience. And, it brings up yet another side benefit of soy candles: a longer burning time means more bang for your buck.

Soy candles are also much easier to care for, as they are completely water-soluble. Gone are the days of attempting to scrape off paraffin wax from the carpet or furniture; if a soy candle were to spill, all it takes to clean up the mess is a bit of soap and hot water.

Purchasing soy candles just makes sense. By making the change from traditional paraffin wax or petrochemical based candles to soy based candles, you’re making a solid commitment to your environment, your wallet and, above all else, your health.

Whilst searching for a great place to replenish my candle supplies, I was quite impressed with a certain company. Here is what they have to offer…

Our fresh soy candles are 99% SOOT FREE because there is NO PETROLEUM WAX in our fresh soy candles. We use fresh USA grown 100% soy wax in all our fresh soy wax candles.

Most high End gift stores or companies will use a SOY BLEND, soy wax plus Petroleum based paraffin wax in their candles… just so they can say the word SOY on their candles. Any paraffin wax will pollute your home with soot and pollute your homes air.

Naturally clean SOY WAX,

• 99% SOOT FREE
• Burns to the bottom
• No wick loss
• No tunneling
• HTP natural wicks

So Relax & look through our 100% all natural fresh soy candle collections and give someone special, or treat yourself, to a superior quality fresh soy candle like no other.

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“If you try a travel lodge instead of the usual hotels you stay at, you can save much more than you would by going on cheap flights. Anything saving measure is using car rental. Even for cruises, similar methods can be employed.”

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Today I have been reminded of all I have learned as I follow the Path of the Lakota. All living things are Sacred, and we are responsible for passing along this Wisdom to our Children, so they may in turn teach their Children. As I give these teachings to my daughter and my grandchildren, I feel in my heart such Joy in knowing I am giving them a Sacred gift.

 So much has been lost, and this leaves many people lost as well. There are certain guidelines in which the Earth Nations should follow to live as good human beings in Balance with each other and Nature. There is no need to complicate matters with gazillions of Laws, when the Creator instilled a perfect set of Laws long, long ago. The people on Canku Luta (The Red Road) were also gifted the Sacred Canunpa (pipe) through White Buffalo Calf Woman, to help the people in a great time of need. Those who carry this Sacred pipe have a responsibility to the people and their families, and give of themselves to help through prayers and Ceremony. In this way, we have been given the guidelines and tools to live Life on this Sacred Mother Earth in a good way. 

So without further ado, I would like to outline the Virtues as taught to me by my Elders.

7 Laws or Virtues on Canku Luta

* Carry the welfare of the people in your heart… Share, Give and be Generous.

* Have Pity and Compassion for all living and moving things.

* Have Respect and show this respect by Honoring the moving and living.

* Have a good mind and use it to learn Patience, Tolerence and Self-discipline.

* Seek Humility and be humble at all times.

* Be Brave, Courageous and have Fortitude. Have Spiritual Principals and live them at all times.

* To Grow in Wisdom and so understand and live these laws at all times and places.