See, that’s how I figured it. Thanks, dear heart!
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My Challenge Entry
I would like to share my Yule/Winter Solstice Altar.
This started out as an annoyance. Most of the crystals are my husband’s that he loves to show to guests. They do not have a home and were occupying the space I wanted to set a lamp.
I decided to embrace the chaos and put together an altar. I added a bell to the east for air, my new Yule candle to the south (on an evergreen Juniper wood stand) for fire, our hydro crystals to the west (they have ancient water trapped in the Crystal) for water, and pinecones to the North for earth. The gold bow on the bell represents the sun and the laborites are my moon representatives.
(Jingles, our Elf on the Shelf, decided to meditate on my altar this morning.)
I baked a Yule Log last night, so I decided to have cake for breakfast and enjoy some time at my altar. I am glad I embraced the chaos and made some seasonal beauty.
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@tracyS Thank you it was especially the cookies they are so nice to have with some coffee 
@veronica1 Awwww thank you and a wonderful Litha to you too 
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You’re welcome! 
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@Phoenix_Fire I was interested to see that you are doing a virtual Rovaniemi challenge. I’m doing a similar one, at Conqueror Challenges. I only have 2.3 miles to go – I need to get to it!!
The challenges have worked really well to motivate me to be more active. Since I retired all I was doing was sitting at my computer, or in the recliner reading, or at my easel painting.
Since I started the virtual challenges in January of 2024, I’ve cycled over 1000 miles on my exercise bike.
Good luck with your house- and pet-sitting and I hope you enjoy having a chance to get out and connect with the earth. I love puttering in my garden when I can, and plan to have a witchy herb garden in 2025.
@crystal5 Your Yule altar is wonderful and those sunrise photos are just gorgeous! I have purchased several crystals from New Moon Beginnings, and more recently got some of her ritual candles too – Full Moon, New Moon and New Beginnings. I love her store.
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I haven’t decided what I’m going to do yet, but I have loved looking at everyone’s entries so far!
I think I may do something with my new planner when it gets here on Friday 
not sure yet, but I’m currently cuddled in my house because it’s still snowing outside – 5 inches and counting 
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One week to go!
A big thank you to everyone who has already shared their light and fun festive plans through the solstice and into the final days of 2024. It’s inspirational to see you lighting the way! 
For those still pondering what to share, no fear - plenty of time remains on the challenge clock. There is one more week until this challenge closes.
Looking forward to seeing how you blaze your trail into 2025!
Blessed be 
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CHALLENGE ENTRY
I just recently started going through all of my old journals to kind of compile everything through the 12 days of Yule and just reflect back on each one of those months. As I was doing that I realized I didn’t have a very good system in place for honoring my path and my journey. So I got some ideas from some friends and then kind of put my own tweek in there and came up with an all in one place little book to keep things in.
This first page is an envelope of my cards I pulled and I’m going to open at the new moon every month.
The second page is the question I want to ponder on for the cards in the envelope & then just a calendar.
Then under the question page there is a vision (a friend got me to start calling it a becoming) board & a place to write my intentions with the new moon and releasing with the full moon.
On the following 2 pages is space to record glimmers & achievements
And finally the last 2 pages I left space to record quotes, poems, books and songs that touched me that month.
Along with this little Glimmer Year at a Glance book. I’ve created 2 5 subject and 1 3 subject notebook to use a section for each month to journal in. Thats where I’ll pull the most important parts from every month to keep in the smaller one. I also started making the base pages of my Scrapbook pages for each month to record the “Became” journey of what I did experience that month.
My idea is to be very intentional this year in recording my journey because I am starting into my path of becoming a healer and teacher on Insight Timer. I know that will take up a lot of my energy and I dont want to miss recording how wonderful it is going to be.
Also thank you to Spells8 for the simplified dividers and book of shadow pages I will be able to create a more organized space for all of that information. I hope everyone is having a blessed Yule season and thank you all for so many wonderful rituals etc shared to make mine absolutely amazing.
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This is amazing @MistyW Thank you for sharing
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Cool idea! I’d like to try something like that… I often get distracted or want to write so much more than I left myself space for. Moderation is a virtue.
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I love your board how do you shine 
so bright even the darkest times? I know stars take meteor showers! Lol 
I did a couple things today I cooked dinner and did some yoga and did some creative writing 
What does it feel like to be a star?
To feel like a star feels balanced, centered and grounded. To be a star means people congratulate your success and you radiate light, Means to glow wherever you go wherever you are and shine. for me, it’s following my heart’s desire and rising up like a phoenix, spreading my wings and flying without looking back. Not looking to the past just being in the now I have both feet on the ground and stepping into my next best excitement. For me it’s exercising and reading so I am ready for my physical agility test. Staying sober doing what makes me feel good so I can be my own star doing spells to help my psyche and loving my family the best way I can.
I did a meditation and lite the Yule log! Manifesting becoming *NSYNC with who I want to be!
Happy Soltice and holiday cheers
and Merry Christmas 
to all
Jeannie
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Cute!
Sometimes it means shining in the dark even when people don’t see or say anything. Other times, it means sticking to your values against the crowd.
A 14 year old boy was given a bb gun for Christmas. His initial reaction was to shove it away. I was pleased with that reaction. However the gift was from an authority figure who might try to force him to change his values. In the middle of the night, I wrote a note to the boy in hopes of teaching him about values in general, supporting his initial reaction, and helping him create his own boundaries. Haven’t sent the note yet because I know it will wake him and his grandmother, but I want his family in on the conversation. The gift may have been a test of the boy’s approaching adulthood or a temptation to follow his emotions. He has some big choices to make right now. I hope he’s ready.
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Challenge entry
I am not all that creative however I did do my alter and added some extra special candles and I did a prayer to Loki because I have a lot of chaos in my life. This is the second Christmas without my mother-in-law and it was incredibly hard because we couldn’t share all the presents that we got which was incredibly hard and with my husband suffering from addiction he has been struggling too both of our mental healths have been so bad that the chaos in our life has literally taken over. I am hoping that my prayer to Loki he will guide me and offer assistance and help me bring back the light from the darkness.
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I did not write this so credit goes to another user, but I thought the writting that they had done was beautiful. first time writing a prayer : r/lokean
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I love this so much! What a wonderful idea. Thank you so much for sharing your plan for recording your journey. It’s really inspiring 
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Would it help to share some here? We have a thread for such treasures. You are welcome to join in.
https://forum.spells8.com/t/witchy-goodies-part-3/52854
Your altar is beautiful, btw. I like the witch kitten and your use of cards.
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Perfect, thank you. I’ve just added some pictures of all my Witchy goodies feel free to take a look. I couldn’t be any more happier than what I was given. Dragons blood sticks are my favourite ones. I absolutely love the smell of dragons blood.
Thank you for this. It feels so good to be able to share.
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I know the feeling. This forum is a treasure for those of us who have no one else at the moment. I’m glad it helps you, too.
I like using Dragon’s Blood, too. When I first heard of it, I was leery, but it has become one of my favorites.
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Yeah, sometimes I feel that I am on my own a lot and since joining the coven, I don’t feel as alone. I feel even though we’re not seeing each other but I feel part of our family and I absolutely love it. )0(
Especially with the fact I suffer from really bad anxiety and trying to help my husband overcome addiction and raise our daughter and work plus housework. I feel a lot of the time I’m overwhelmed and sometimes I feel I’m not good enough and I get really down and depressed and it does help that I am able to talk to you guys because there are no judgement just support.
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It has been difficult. However, you are still alive, so you are good enough! At least this is what I tell myself when I feel this way. It doesn’t always work, but I keep on keeping on. You got this, and we’ve got you.
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