I found a great list of Yule correspondences from plentifulearth.com and then I wanted to know why these correspondences were chosen. My first resource for correspondence research is the Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard. The most useful lesson for me was found in Beast Mastery, The Natural Bestiary. While the content was not particularly useful for this paper, it did lead me on to study sacredwicca.com/animal-correspondences. Next, I found Yule color correspondences on the www.thoughtco.com website. And then, I went back to the Grimoire for inspiration and found it in abundance in the Table of Magickal Correspondences Elements. What was left was a remnant of herbal, incense, and oil correspondences in which I needed to research. I was lead to Sacred Plants of Yule by Selena Fox on the www.earthwitchery.com website. I only found one thing that would help me, so I decided to broaden my search parameters. Yule correspondence seemed to be to narrow of a topic. Instead I searched for herbal correspondences and rediscovered www.themagickalcat.com.
The recurring theme among these correspondences are representing the duality between light and dark, and red and green. I also recognize the necessity of utilizing the warning effect that these herbal, incense, and oils offer us in the winter months. Furthermore, I appreciate the colors red and green in contrast to the stark, bleak backdrop of the white winter snow.
Yule Animal Correspondences
Bears - Hibernation cycle is in rhythm with the winter. (*1) Bears in general teach us to slow down and reserve our energies.
Deers - (*1) The deer serves as a bridge between the wild and the tame.This is because the deer will often be seen on the edges of the wilderness it calls home. This reflects the symbolism of being on the cusp of darkness and light.
Owls - Nocturnal (*1) Owl's medicine includes seeing behind masks, silent and swift movement, keen sight, messenger of secrets and omens, shape-shifting, the link between the dark, unseen world and the world of light.
Phoenix - Symbolizes the cycle of birth and death.
Reindeers - Associated with the North and the cold. (* 1) Journeying, strength, endurance, guidance, knowledge
Snow Geese- Arctic They breed in the arctic and spend the winter in the south. Symbolises the duality between the seasons.
Squirrels (*1) Energy, play, prudence, balance, socializing, preparedness, resourcefulness. When a squirrel is sighted it may mean that we need to take life a little less seriously, or it may be a reminder to balance work and play. The ballance aspect of the squirrel in this description resonates with the theme of being on the cusp of light and darkness.
Wrens + Ravens - (*1) They are very magickal creatures, their feathers are black as night and they are able to move between the worlds of the living and the dead. Once again we see the theme of an animal symbolising the cusp, this time of living and dead.
Yule Color Correspondences
Gold - (*2) Since winter solstice is the season of the sun, gold is often associated with solar power and energy.
Green- (*2) There's a wonderful legend of the winter solstice, about why evergreen trees remain green when everything else has died.
Red- (*2) Red is the color of poinsettias, of holly berries, and even Santa Claus' suit.
White - (*2) Snow, often white is associated with goodness and light.
Yule Crystal Correspondences
Bloodstone- (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green)(Red)
Clear Quartz- (*3) Elemental Earth / Jewels
Diamond- (*3) Elemental Earth / Playing Cards / Color White, Ice
Emerald- (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green)
Garnet- (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green)(Red)
Ruby-(*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Red)
Yule Herb Correspondences
Bay Laurel -(*5) Place in a dream pillow for sound sleep and to induce prophetic dreams. A bit of a stretch but I see sleeping and dreaming as a winter activity.
Blessed Thistle- (*5) Magickal uses of Blessed Thistle include purification, protection against negativity & evil, and hex breaking. Its name is born of the belief that it is a powerful cure all that stems from the Medieval period of Europe. Indeed, it was often hailed as a powerful cure for the plague, possessing much magic and was even viewed as being an herb of Mars, under the sign of Aries. Blessed Thistle is also used in purification baths. Correspondence: Color (Green)(Red)
Chamomile-(*5) Chamomile actually gets its name from the Greek words kamai, which means on the ground, and melon, which is the word for an apple. When trod upon, it frequently produces a strong, pleasant aroma that wafts around those who step upon it, and reminds many of apples. For this purpose it was often put to use in the medieval periods for use in green garden paths, so that as one strolled from one place to another one would be accompanied by a lovely, sweet smell. Correspondence: Color (Green) in apperence, (Red) because it reminds me of Apples.
Cinnamon- (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Red) , warming effect.
Evergreen Trees- (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green)
Holly (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green)(Red)
Ivy -( *3) Elemental Earth / Plants
Juniper (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green)(Red)
Mistletoe (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green)(Red)
Oak Leaves- (*3) Elemental Earth / Trees
Pine- (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green)
Pinecones - Extension of Pine
Poinsettias (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green)(Red)
Rosemary (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green), warming scent.
Sage (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green), warming scent.
Wintergreen (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green)
Yule Incense Correspondences
Cedar (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green) (Red),warming scent.
Cinnamon (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Red), warming effect.
Clove (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green) (Red), warming effect.
Frankincense (*4) Symbolizing: Sun, Purification, Consecration, Protection, Spiritual Illumination
Juniper (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green)(Red)
Myrrh (*4) Symbolizing: Healing, Death and Afterlife, Purification, Inner Peace. I recognized the duality symbolism, warming scent.
Orange (*3) Loaded with vitamin C, orange being similar in color to red, possibly associated to winter out of necessity.
Pine (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green)
Yule Oil Correspondences
Cinnamon (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Red), warming effect.
Ginger (*3) Ginger is a very warming spice. On a very cold day, eating a piece of ginger will actually keep you warm.
Orange (*3) Loaded with vitamin C, orange being similar in color to red, possibly associated to winter out of necessity.
Pine(*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green)
Wintergreen (*3) Elemental Earth / Color (Green)
Work Cited:
http://plentifulearth.com/yule-magickal-correspondences/
http://sacredwicca.com/animal-correspondences (*1)
https://www.thoughtco.com/magical-colors-of-the-yule-season-2562957 (*2)
Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon Grimoire For The Apprentice Wizard 2004 (*3)
Fox, Selena, http://www.earthwitchery.com/yule-plants.html (*4)