What is Yule
The Winter Solstice is upon us! In Pagan traditions the Winter Solstice is also known and celebrated as Yule. Yule marks the darkest night of the year, and the return and birth of the light. We aren’t completely off the hook yet (in terms of being in the dark half of the year)… at the Solstice it is as if the Sun stands still for a few days, and then gradually… day by day… the light slowly starts to grow as we move closer to the light half of the year.
Release at Yule
This long, dark night is a day to reflect on what has come up for us (in our lives, our emotions, our thoughts and bodies) during the last few months. We talk a lot about release during the dark half of the year, and for good reason. The darkness forces us to turn inward, confront our shadows and decide what we want to shed and let go of, as well as integrate all our lessons. What are you ready to heal and release before we fully step back into the growing light?
The Return of the Light
Speaking of the light, Yule has traditionally been a celebration of light- a birth of light and the return of the Sun (slowly) starting to rule the sky once again. With the return of light comes a rebirth (and we will fully experience this energy at Spring) but it really does begin at Yule. So I always feel a great Yule ritual involves release and letting go of the old, so we can step back into the light renewed, fresh and cleansed ready to welcome all the goodness to come.
What is a Pomander?
Traditionally a pomander was a ball made to hold herbs, spices and perfumes to ward off bad smells and illness… and maybe just to smell nice too. Today pomanders are usually clove studded oranges that can be hung in closets, places in drawers or even hung on a Christmas (Yule) tree. They’re a fun, easy craft and smell lovely! We’re going to add a bit of magic into our pomanders as part of a Yule ritual.
A Yule Ritual
In this ritual we will focus on releasing what no longer serves us into the long, dark night, and then make a magical, abundant Pomander to invite light, fertility and abundance back into our homes and hearts as the Sun slowly makes its return.
You Will Need:
paper and pen
fire proof bowl
2 candles (one for release, one for invitation)- but if you only have one that’s fine too
an orange
a bunch of cloves
ribbon or string (optional)
Build Your Yule Altar:
To build your Yule altar or sacred space, decorate with anything that captures the beauty of the season. Evergreen boughs, pinecones, holly, a bowl of melted snow, birch branches, poinsettias, amaryllis etc.
Cleanse Your Space
You can smudge with herbs, some woody incense, diffuse essential oils of clove, orange and fir. Lighting beeswax candles does a lovely job at cleansing the air, as do bells or chimes. When you’re done, come to sit in your freshly cleansed space.
Breathe and Connect
Always start by slowing your breath to come into the present, get connect and to ground yourself. Bring your awareness to your heart centre as you breathe.
Meditate
Meditate upon what has come up for you since the Fall Equinox. Where are you feeling imbalance, disharmony or friction. (Remember- these feelings come up for us an opportunity to grow beyond them. Don’t hold on to them or linger in them- when they’re ready to be healed, let them go). As you focus on these areas, begin to breathe love into them; send them healing, send them light, send them gratitude, and then let them go.
Release
Write down what you are willing to release and let go into the dark night. (It could be something like, “On this Solstice night, I, [your name], release the anger and jealousy that no longer serve me.”) Light your first candle, and with that flame burn your piece of paper in your fire proof dish. Watch is burn and with every exhale release… let go… surrender… And don’t forget to give thanks and gratitude for these lessons as they are what help us grow and move forward!
Invitation
Now consider what kind of joy, fertility (creation) and abundance you would like to invite in with the growing light. Hold your orange and cloves at your heart and focus, dream and conjure images, thoughts or feelings of what you wish to create or call in as we move into the New Year with the light.
Write down your invitation or intention (ie, “On this Solstice night as we move into the Light, I [your name] call in 5 more clients a month”, or “By February my new online course will be created”, or “I invite daily love and patience toward my children as we get back into the school routine”.)
Light your Intention Candle
Light your intention candle and place your written intention underneath its vase.
Make Your Pomander
Oranges represent life, fertility, energy, joy, vitality; they are a representation of the Sun. As so by making this craft we are inviting that energy into our home. Cloves in magical folklore represent prosperity and good luck. They are also aligned with the planet Jupiter (our wonderful benevolent, expansive and abundant planet). So with each clove you stick into your orange, come back to your intention. You are deepening your invitation with each clove and bringing that energy into a physical item.
Hang your Pomander
There are a few things you can do with your, now, magical pomander that is holding the energy of your intention! You can place it somewhere special in your home- your altar, your sacred space, etc. You can tie a ribbon or string around it and hang it somewhere (even on your Christmas tree if you have one). If your invitation is on a small enough piece of paper you can pin it or attach it to your pomander.
(Keep your pomander for a full moon cycle. On the next full moon, bury it- along with your written intention- somewhere out in nature, and leave some organic apples or seeds out as an offering.)
Give Thanks
Before you close your ceremony, take a moment to have deep gratitude and give thanks for all your blessings, for all your lessons and for all that is to come. Let both candles burn down if you can (always place in a tall, fire proof vase).
Wishing you so much love, joy health and mirth this Yule season!