Celebrating the Winter Solstice

The winter solstice is upon us once again.  With its blurry edges and obscure visions, we plunge headlong into the darkness for one last time, remembering that this is the longest night we will see this year. The darkness can bring solace for some, sadness (to put it lightly) for others. However you are feeling, remember that the light is on its way back and that the days will only lengthen from here on out. Look to our sources of light at this time; feel inspired by the sun’s radiance and the moon’s glow and allow them to take you by the hand and remind you that you contain within you, all of that light too. Even on the darkest of nights, there is some light; even if we can’t see it, we can feel it.

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About the Winter Solstice

Known as Yule in pre-Christian times, the Winter Solstice is the time when the darkness of the night stretches to its longest of the year.  It’s a time of fire and celebration; a time when we can rejoice the returning light, however slowly it comes.  The depth of winter has still not passed so it’s about snuggling in with loved ones, present, past and future, welcoming in nature and the creatures of the etheric realm. 

In times past, but still very much a part of celebrations nowadays, people would invite nature into their homes, decorating rooms with evergreens like yew, holly, ivy and mistletoe, all of which have spiritual significance at this time.  Below is some information about the three most popular plants of the season below, their symbolism and the things that are so easy to miss!

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Holly

Symbolising the solar year past and the Holly King (a precursor to the figure we now know as Santa Claus), in pre-Christian times holly would be placed in the house as a protection from unwanted, malevolent spirits and to provide the family with safety and good luck for the coming year.  

To prepare for Yule, gather holly from your garden or somewhere in your local area, and place a sprig in a bowl of water and put this out in the light of the full moon to create holly water.  You could then syphon this into a spray bottle and add a small piece of a protective crystal like tourmaline along with a drop of an ethically- and sustainably-sourced essential oil like juniper, clary sage, clove or frankincense.  This can be used as a space or aura spray for when you feel you need a bit of energetic protection.  This can be adapted for any of the plants below.

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Ivy  

As holly has a masculine energy, so ivy is its feminine counterpart - where holly is static, ivy is dynamic.  Ivy represents cycles, that everything has a beginning and ending.  It is also, in the Celtic tree ogham, said to represent the search for the Self.  Ivy has the freedom to go where it wishes to, climbing and enveloping trees, fences, even houses, and reminding us that our search for Self is our own, and cannot be determined by anyone else.

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Mistletoe

Mistletoe is known as the ‘kissing plant’ in our times and this comes from its place as a plant of not just fertility but of peace-making and healing.  Norsemen meeting under a mistletoe bushel would lay down their arms for a time - perhaps similar to the family meals of this festive time?!  It asks us to focus on what needs healing and to work towards healing it.  

Perhaps, then, this time is about combining these meanings and changing your very blueprint - resetting the system, as it were - to finally release what needs to go and move into a lighter, more peaceful way of being in the world.

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Celebrating Yule

This Winter Solstice, spend time with your loved ones, wander in nature, meditate, dream and create.  I’ve put below a couple of specific ideas for your celebrations - and as I often say, take what you want, leave what you don’t!

Solstice Tarot/Oracle Spread

This is a practice I do every Solstice to get ready for the six months ahead.  I love it because it’s depth is in its simplicity.  All you need is your journal, a pen, an oracle or tarot deck (if you don’t have one, you can go here for an online tarot spread, or here for an oracle deck spread), and some time.  I have to say I do sometimes struggle to fit in the time to do this but it’s well worth it if you can manage it!

What to do:

• Spend some time in meditation visualising the next six months

• Say each month January-June to yourself, holding each month in your mind’s eye for a minute or so each (start to shuffle your deck as you do this). 

• Start to select each card.  You could do them all in one go, saying each month as you shuffle the deck each time; or you could do one at a time, selecting a card and then journalling on it. 
  Follow your intuition on what each card could signify, using the descriptions if you have them for extra guidance.  

• Free write on each one if you have the time, or just write a few words for each month.  The fun part for me happens when I reflect on each month once each has past and see how pertinent they really were!

Whatever you do to mark this time, I hope you can find some strength, softness and stillness in it all.

Solstice blessings,

Helen x