Yule: How to Celebrate the Winter Solstice

Yule is the winter solstice, the day when darkness is at it’s peak. The longest night that we will encounter is here and we may now flip it over, allowing for the sun to gain more power. The days will now become longer as the nights shorten, giving us some much needed sunshine and vitamin D.

In the wheel of the year, yule is a sabbat to honor the returning of the light after the darkest day of the year! We’ve made it through to the peak of winter blues and begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Yule is a sacred time to honor the darkness, not as a source of fear, but as a fertile ground for introspection and growth. It is a time to turn inward, to reflect on the experiences of the past year, to release what no longer serves us, and to shed the weight of negativity. In the stillness of the longest night, we can delve into the depths of our being, unearthing the seeds of new beginnings and the potential for transformation.

It is a celebration of renewal and rebirth as the cycle of the year begins over again, representing the start of the circle of life. A reminder that even in the coldest darkness, the light always returns. What are you wanting to birth this new year? Now is a great time to both release the old and invite in the new.

In this episode, April and I discuss yule, where it came from and what to do with it. Below are the show notes, aspects and rituals. Have fun! We did.

This is only the 2nd podcast episode I ever recorded for Align, Vibe, Flow. We had not yet figured out equipment but I hope you enjoy and don’t judge. 😅

Key aspects of the episode:

• The wheel of the year and what it is
• The history of yule and where it originated
• Christian comparisons
• How our ancestors celebrated
• A theory on seasonal depression and the holidays
• Freya and Fenrir
• More wheel of the year explaining as a whole
• Yule aspects
• Make it personal
• Brief conspiracy
• Gift giving
• Evergreens
• Alters
• In that order – ish

Yule Aspects

• Yule log
• Evergreen tree
• Fire
• Releasing
• Breads
• Wine / Cider
• Cinnamon / spices
• Caroling
• Everlasting life
• Prosperity
• Red
• Green
• Gold
• Silver

Celebrating Yule

• Wear the colors
• Have a bonfire
• Feast!
• Bake
• Plan the new year
• Recognize the abundance around you
• Releasing rituals

Yule Herbs

• Bayberry
• Holly
• Mistletoe
• Milk thistle
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Cardamom

Evergreens

• Pine
• Magnolias
• Holly
• Boxwood
• Noble Fir
• Juniper
• Cedar

Yule Crystals

• Ruby
• Garnet
• Emerald
• Diamond

Releasing Rituals

Releasing rituals can be whatever you want them to be as long as you know what you want to release and have the intention of doing so. You may write it on a piece of paper and safely burn it or you may simply take a shower and imagine it being washed away.

It can be as simple or as complicated as you like. Make it your own and make it special. Those are the only requirements as long as you give it the purpose of releasing.

Yule Journaling

• What do you want to release and leave behind?
• What do you want to bring into the new year?
• What does yule mean to you?
• What do you notice about this time of year?
• Gratitude list for the abundance present in your life.

Yule Affirmations

• Everything is temporary.
• The only constant is change.

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Author

S.S.Blake; Spiritual Life Coach, Yoga + Meditation Teacher and Founder of Earth and Water

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