Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice, also known as Yule or Midwinter, is part of the Wheel of the Year which is the annual cycle of seasonal festivals. During this time we honor the coming and going of the light. Days are at their shortest and nights at their longest. In the Northern Hemisphere Winter Solstice happens between December 20-23rd while in the Southern Hemisphere Winter Solstice occurs on the 20-23rd of June.
The reversal of the Sun's presence symbolizes renewal, regeneration and rejuvenation. Just as the animals hibernate and nature rests it is a time for us to nurture our own seeds. To slow down and pause. Be still, find peace, reflect. To connect inwards.
Sabbats
Each festival is referred to as a Sabbat.
The Greater Sabbats include:
Imbolc
Beltane
Lughnasadh
Samhain
The Lesser Sabbats known as the "Quarter Days" include:
Ostara - Spring Equinox
Litha - Summer Solstice
Mabon - Autumn / Fall Equinox
Yule - Winter Solstice
Solstice celebrations can include festive foods and drinks. Food may vary depending on region and culture. Drinks include spiced ciders and meads.
Yule Log Ritual
A Fire Ritual of a Yule Log is an offering filled with your intentions for the next 6 months. To gather your items you can go on a nature walk or simply collect items from around your home. We recently had to cut down a small tree in our yard so I repurposed the wood for our family Yule Logs. We used a combination of flowers we had at home and leaves my kids found on one of our family walks. We used floss as it's a natural firestarter to help secure our decorations and intentions.
Items needed for this ritual:
🪵 Wood to burn
📜 Paper or card tags and a pen to write intentions. String to attach your intentions to your log.
🌹Items to decorate your Yule Log. This can be anything you wish!
Intention Inquiry Prompts:
What are some pivotal experiences you encountered?
What have you achieved in the last 6 months?
What lessons have you learned?
What feels peaceful to you right now?
What are you grateful for?
What do you wish to welcome more of?
When you burn your Yule Log, surrender your intentions to the fire. Ask for release and rebirth for your highest and greatest good. Offer gratitude and acknowledge any feelings you experience. Allow your fire to go out naturally if possible. If that's not possible, make sure the fire is completely out before leaving it unattended.