It’s been a few weeks, but after moving into a new apartment and the craziness of the holiday shopping season, I have returned to continue my column on magical things you can find through Etsy! But due to my Wordpress installation’s failure to preview scheduled posts, I don’t plan on promising you weekly finds. I’ll do my best, but I can’t make any promises.

Just because Yule and the Solstice have come and gone doesn’t mean that magical folk won’t be up to enchanting escapades during the remainder of winter. If you’re the type who feels compelled to dress in accordance with the current season, I highly recommend such a headpiece as pictured at right. SEStudio has many to choose from. This is the “Silvery Icicle Crown”. It’s a bit on the pricier side (compared to items I usually highlight) at $120, but it’s gorgeous and deserves recognition.

If you have any enchanting items found on Etsy that you think deserve some recognition, too, let me know in the comments.

I find these types of things to be relaxing and reflective. This was stolen from my friend Britt from Saskatoon. Enjoy.
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Yesterday was Chris and I’s first major holiday celebrated alone. Last year, my mother and father flew me home from Austin to spend Christmas with them. This year, however, our location of residence made it impossible to go anywhere. Christmas’s date taking place during the week made traveling to New Hampshire or Texas, even by plane, impossible without taking time off of work; and that was something we just couldn’t do. Surprisingly, though, it was a remarkably fun and traditional feeling day! After opening presents I concluded that the only thing that would have made it better were kittens tearing up the discarded wrapping paper.

Neither of us took any pictures, but I did snap a few random videos. I’ll probably use them in Tuesday’s video for Wizrockateers.

Our festivities began on Sunday when we held a ceremony in honor of the winter solstice during which we spiritually cleansed our new apartment and asked for Vesta’s blessings. We then exchanged gifts with one another; something that represented our relationship or love in general. I got her a handmade winter wreath (it smells pine fresh!). Wreaths represent a lot of things, the cycle of death and rebirth especially. That is why I chose it as my gift to her on Solstice Day. She, meanwhile, chose to bestow upon me Amaretto di Amore, a delicious almond liquor complete with cordial glasses for two and an accompanying love story on its label. We each consumed a couple cordials full before bedtime.

I’ve always been a fan of Christmas. When I became pagan I was very pleased to learn about all of the symbolism available to pagans in regard to Christmas practices. I never had the chance to spend the holiday with another pagan and it was especially wonderful to be able to celebrate the solstice with someone. We’ve been referring to Christmas as Saturnalia to each other. Considering our invocation of Vesta, it may be obvious that Chris is a fan of Roman deities. I’ve been attracted to Egyptian symbolism and history for years, but I’m not sure where I stand in regard to the gods. The two of us are slowly establishing a sort of home together. Whether it be filled with Roman gods only or Egyptian ones as well remains to be seen. It will, however, be an awesome house; and one that we’ve always longed for.

Call it what you will; Christmas, Yule, Saturnalia. The winter holiday involving glowing trees and green garlands is called many things. No matter what we end up dubbing it, though, what we’ll be having this year will be the first one we have together. And if that weren’t enough reason to have extra enthusiasm for the season, this Christmas will also be the first that either of us spend with a someone special.

As one may assume, we’ve gone a bit crazy with holiday spirit. Our original plan after moving into our new apartment (oh, wait, did I not mention that we moved a few apartments down the hall?) was to set up Chris’s four foot tree and adorn it in typical fashion. Well, after browsing through circulars and joking about erecting violently pink and purple artificial spruces, the idea of a white tree grew on us. We procured one at Satan’s Mart this past weekend. See how it glows.