Yuletide, T'is the Season to be jolly

I know that this entry is kinda late since Yule already passed, but I wanna share my experience with Arcana as we celebrate the first "formal" Yuletide celebration. Arcana is a relatively small group and the core group is the only one doing the lectures/studies and the Sabbat celebrations. This Yule is not any different.

We went to Kamonsilan Resort in Bansalan. It's a 2-hour bus travel to this place and it's kinda difficult for me to go there since I was from work. After arriving home, I immediately went to the bus station and since it was the long weekend going Christmas, it was very difficult to ride a bus straight to Bansalan. We were just lucky that there happen to be a Digos bus. Digos is an hour and a half away from Davao and one of the "big"  cities near Bansalan.

We arrived in Digos and quickly rode a jeepney to Bansalan. The road is still very rough and dark, but after  30 minutes, we arrived. We quickly took a motorcycle and went to Kamonsilan. After grueling an almost 3-hour trip, we arrived at the place.

Kamonsilan is quite a small resort. It has a pool which served as the bathing area for people who wished to swim. The only thing that really attracted me to the place was the great cottages and the trees.

We started the ritual after midnight since the goal for the Yule ritual is to salute the Sun. We literally were in the dark when the ritual started. We sat around the dimmed room only illuminated by a single candle. As the story telling and discussion ended, we lit all the candles in the room forming a path leading to the circle. Music was played and as we impatiently waited for the sunrise, we talked about the things that we are letting go.

We greeted the newborn sun with a personal salutation and as we are doing it, I tried making a wreath out of the things I saw in the place. We also exchanged gifts to celebrate Yule with food and an apple cider.

Present during the Sabbat:

Erebus, Discipulus Tertius
Windstorm, Adeptus Secundus
Laire, Novus Sodalis
Jasher, Discipulus Tertius
 Bane, Adeptus Primus