The Fourth Day of Yuletide

Thoughts of the Season from the Asatru Folk Assembly:

By whatever name one celebrates the winter holiday in the West, the giving of gifts is a central part of the season. Sometimes this descends into rank commercialism, but the idea of gift-giving itself is a thoroughly spiritual one. The giver and the one given to are united through the medium of that which is given. We give, and in a spiritual law as true as Newton's physics, we must then receive - even if the reward is not a material one.

"The generous and bold have the best lives," the Havamal tells us - and note that the two traits are listed together. And is not the power of generosity the whole point of Dickens' marvelous tale, A Christmas Carol? Look closer at the story, and you will see a lesson how open-handedness gives a better life…not to mention an exact parallel between the three Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and To Come and the Norns that move behind the action in our own sagas and Eddas. Generosity is one of the tools we use to forge a good orlog, or "fate" for ourselves.

Light then, a candle for Generosity. Give the brightness of the flame to the world around you, and watch it reflect back on you as well.