Dec 27th – The 8th Day of Yule

Ullr

Skadi & Ullr

In Norse mythology, Skadi is a jötunn and goddess associated with bowhunting, skiing, winter, and mountains.

Ullr is a god associated with archery, the winter wilderness, and linked with snowshoes, hunting, combat, and vows.

Both gods are associated with the wilds of the forest, and therefore today’s offering is also an offering to the wild birds, animals, and spirits of the woods.

Skaldi

Offerings to Flora & Fauna

A fun activity to give back to nature is to make an edible garland for the birds and other backyard critters, unseen and seen. This activity uses popcorn, cranberries, and other safe for wildlife edibles. Another fun craft is spreading peanut butter on pinecones and covering them in birdseed as edible ornaments. It can be a great time to walk through winter’s landscape and find a Yule Tree in nature to decorate with your edible garland and ornaments. Make sure not to leave anything that could be harmful to animals or isn’t biodegradable, as such an offering wouldn’t be well received by Skadi or Ullr.

Protecting the Home (Outside)

Finish cleaning up the outside of your home, buttoning up the hatches if you will. Winterize the house outwardly as possible. Make a mixture of herbs and ash, blessing it with protection and goodwill. Go out and walk your property’s edge sprinkling the mixture, landing down a line of safety around your home. Draw runes under your outdoor welcome mats, and bless the wreath on your front door. Hang mistletoe and mint swags around the outside of the house.

Warding for Winter

Disclaimer: I’m not a health care provider, trained herbalist, nor homeopath. I’m just a person who has used and researched these integrated therapies for close to two decades and I use them on myself and have had excellent results. Please read the safety precautions of each herb before ingesting or consulting a health care provider.

Cold & Flu Remedies

• Teas – A hot drink made by infusing the dried crushed leaves of the tea plant in boiling water.
  • Herbal Tea Blends: 5 Cold-Busting Herbal Tea Blends | Wholefully
• Tincture – A tincture is typically an extract of plant or animal material dissolved in alcohol.
  • Cold & Flu Tincture: Cold & Flu Tincture: Boneset, Elderberry, Chaga and Echinacea (yumqueen.com)
• Tonic  – A medicinal substance taken to give a feeling of vigor or well-being.
  • Turmeric Tonic: Healing 3-Ingredient Turmeric Tea Tonic | Minimalist Baker Recipes
• Herbal Glycerite – Glycerites are herbal mixtures that use vegetable glycerin to extract the active constituents and flavor from an herb.
  • Cool Down Glycerite – A Fever Remedy: How to Make an Herbal Glycerite, Plus a Fever Remedy – Rustic Farm Life
• Herbal Syrup – A syrup is a thick, viscous liquid consisting primarily of a solution of sugar in water, boiled down with herbs, fruits, spices. Could made with different sugars, even honey.
  • Elderberry Syrup: How to Make Elderberry Syrup (Potent Cold + Flu Remedy) (wellnessmama.com)
• Bone Broth – Bone broth, sometimes called stock, is a liquid made from boiling animal bones and connective tissue. Chefs use stock as a base for soups, sauces, and gravies. Some people drink it on their own.
  People have been making bone broth since the beginning of humankind. Anthropologists think people drank liquid infused with bones and other animal parts as early as prehistoric times.
  • Health benefits of bone broth include:
    • Weight Management
      • Broth and broth-based soups can help you feel full despite their low-calorie content, making it an excellent choice for people following a weight loss diet plan.
    • Better Hydration
      • The high-water content in bone broth helps you stay hydrated. Water makes up 70 percent of the body and impacts virtually every bodily function.
    • Improved Sleep
      • Bone broth contains small amounts of the amino acid glycine, which may promote relaxation and deeper, more restorative sleep.
    • Nutrition
      • Bone broth is easy to make and a flavorful part of many complex, delicious recipes. It’s also a great way to use otherwise inedible animal bones and tissues.
  • Here’s a good recipe: How to Make Bone Broth: Instant Pot, Crockpot & Stove | Wholefully