Winter Solstice Yule Ritual

A ritual and playlist for celebrating the Winter Solstice, which I wrote for my own Yule gathering of magical ladies. May you shine in Divine Darkness and welcome the return of the Light!

I’ve always imagined myself celebrating the Celtic Wheel of the Year with a sacred circle of women dancing ‘round the bonfire.

After eight years of dancing and visioning this prayer into reality, my husband and I bought our dream house in the wilds of Québec in 2023. I finally had the space to invite my magical friends into a space of seasonal celebration and sacred sharing.

In my heart, I pictured returning to the old ways—lighting a roaring bonfire, re-membering ancient rituals, returning to our roots of connection to the land and our Selves.

But it’s not so simple.

As modern humans, we must learn again how to celebrate the seasons.

The Celtic Wheel of the Year based on the Earth cycles that inspired ancient pagan festivals. The primary Celtic fire festivals were the cross-quarter days of Beltaine, Lughnasadh, Samhain, and Imbolc.

I’ve had a steep learning curve in my own practice.

Those who came to my first events remember how simple and genuine they were, but as the celebrations grew without evolving for each season, they began to feel flat and shallow. My sacred sisters whose practices run deep felt the gap between that which our souls needed and that which I knew how to offer.

I searched for solutions—better rituals… curated guest lists… stricter schedules…

Until at last…

I re-membered my sacred duty.

These rituals are not for me. They are not about what I want to celebrate. They are not about getting the forms right. They are not even about having that feeling of sacredness that I love.

They’re about honoring what’s true and real in the world. They’re about Seeing the world as it is—in all it’s many seasons and changes. They’re about honoring this moment in time… which will all ways be, but which will never come again.

This Friday, I’m hosting a sacred gathering to honor the Winter Solstice… also known as Yule.

Since Samhain, I’ve been allowing the rituals for these Wheel of the Year celebrations to rise inside of me—to be created in the moment, beyond attachment.

Instead of imposing my ideas of what they should be, I’m allowing the sacred thread to lead me to where we need to be.

As we descend into this winter season, the Divine Feminine Darkness has been whispering to me in the Silence—urging me to share her secrets. This is Her ritual.

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Do Try This At Home…

Instead of writing out instructions for how to perform this ritual, which can be dry and removed from the energy of the practice, I have written this ritual as a narrative description of the gathering I will be hosting on the Solstice. My hope is that writing it in this way will give you a deeper sense of the feeling and intention behind the ritual and allow you to adapt it in any way you like.

You do not have to follow the exact format of this rite—instead, the intention to connect with the Darkness and the Truth of the season before welcoming the return of the Light is what matters most.

For this ritual, you will need:

• Candle & flame

• Scrap of blank paper

• Hearth / fireplace (notes at the bottom for what to do if you don’t have one)

• Yule log

• Speaker & Yule playlist

➡️ Detailed instructions for creating your own ritual will follow the narrative description.

And even if you choose not to participate in your own ritual… you can still enjoy the Winter Solstice Yule Playlist!

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Winter Solstice Yule Ritual

PART 1 — ADVENT (ARRIVING)

Please enter without knocking. A single candle glows in the hearth, beckoning you forward. Strong music plays in the Darkness.

Lay down your burdens as you enter the room. Remove your shoes. Set down your bags.

Come forward empty-handed but for a small scrap of blank paper, a token to show that you bring No-Thing to this space.

It can be hard for many of us to come as we are, without bringing gifts to bolster our value. Here, you are invited to come naked, empty-handed, bearing only that which you are and a blank scrap of paper representing the No-Thing you bring.

Be welcome… Empty-handed, be well come.

Take a deep breath.
Allow yourself to notice where you are.
Allow yourself to arrive fully.

The Divine Darkness is waiting for you.

Carrying only your scrap of blank paper, approach the hearth where a small flame burns in the Darkness, the last Light of a dying summer.

This scrap of paper represents the blank slate that you are… the tabula rasa that exists beneath all the trappings of this world which you wear to shield your Self as you move through this world.

Tonight, we bring no hopes. No prayers. No dreams. No intentions. No defenses. No effort. No trying. No Thing.

Offer your scrap of paper to the candle’s flame and watch as the Light devours it, accepting the gift of your raw and naked Self—exactly as you are.

Tonight, we come exactly as we are. Naked in the darkness, to disappear among the stars… before once again returning to the Light.

When Leonard Cohen’s “You Want it Darker” plays on the playlist, I will extinguish the candle.

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PART 2 — DARKNESS

Once your offering has been given and received, it is time to join the gathering.

Scattered around the room, you’ll find yoga mats, pillows, and blankets, as well as space to move and dance as you feel called.

We now embark on a journey into Divine Darkness.

A Winter Solstice Yule playlist will guide you and hold you on this journey.

You are invited to move, breath, dance, rest, express, and do whatever you are called to do. Whether you dance, sing, scream, cry, stretch, lie down, fall asleep, laugh, weep, pray, writhe, play, the only request is that you keep yourself and others safe and that you do not speak or write.

During this time, we are disconnecting from our habitual, left-brained ways of interacting with the world, so we will not be engaging with speaking and writing.

As the music plays, your only task is to invite, allow, and embrace the Divine Darkness. To welcome Her into your body and your life.

During this ritual, you are the offering.
Exactly as you are.

As a human, some discomfort may arise during this process. This is normal! We all avoid moving into the Darkness, but don’t worry—out beyond your fears, She is waiting for you.

• Facing the Darkness brings up fear—

  Invite yourself to face it.

• Your monkey mind is ever-present—

  Invite yourself to show up however you are.

• You’ll probably try to do this right—

  Let go of trying and invite curiosity.

There is no right way and no wrong way to perform this ritual.
Simply allow yourself to be the offering.

As we descend into Darkness together, notice what’s present.
Notice the expansiveness of the space.
Notice the unique qualities of the Divine Dark.
Notice this night.

As you allow yourself to be overtaken by the Sweet Darkness, notice that your Light burns even brighter in the Darkness.

Feel the way you shine.

The Light that you are is exalted in the Divine Darkness.

Tonight, we honor the true magic of the Longest Night.

⚠️ IMPORTANT: Our descent into Darkness lasts the duration of the Winter Solstice Yule playlist. The final song of this in-turning will be the penultimate track “I Allow, I Surrender” by Karen Drucker. After this song plays, we will perform the last part of the ritual to welcome the Light back to the world. Ambient Celtic Yule music will accompany us from here on.

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PART 3 — LIGHT

When we have given all of ourselves in offering, and Sweet Divine Darkness is fully present…

We prepare for the return of the Light.

This is the true meaning of Christmas, Yule, and all the celebrations of High Winter.

This Winter Solstice night is the Longest Night of the year—from here the days will grow longer. Light and hope will return to the world.

You will know this turn is coming because I will begin to tidy up any blankets, mats, and pillows that are not in use. Please do not help me, but allow yourself to stay in sacred space. I will guide you through everything you need to do.

Our Yule log waits silently by the hearth. The fireplace is already prepared with tinder and twigs, ready for the return of the Light.

When the moment is ripe, I will present the Yule log to the group Elder—the oldest person at the gathering. The Elder holds the Yule log high, as we re-member the ancestors through time who have carried and shared sacred Wisdom through the ages to lead us on the journey from Darkness to Light.

THIS IS THE MOMENT WHEN OUR QUIET DESCENT INTO DARKNESS TURNS A CORNER TO BECOME THE ASCENT INTO LIGHT...

Following the Yule log, we begin a procession of hope. We welcome, coax, encourage, call, and dance the Light back to the world, circling three times ‘round the room. With each turn, our celebration grows more triumphant, representing the journey from Darkness to Light.

Our procession ends at the hearth, which has been prepared with kindling and the coals from last year’s Yule fire.

We all gather ‘round as the firekeeper lights the Yule fire.

Sharing a moment of Silence, we feel the moment when Light returns… marveling at how brightly shines the Light in the Darkness.

Breathe and allow yourself to feel this moment fully.
You are welcoming Light and hope into this world.
Re-member what the Light must have meant to our ancestors.

When the kindling catches and the fire is ready, the firekeeper adds the Yule log.

Now, we welcome the Light into our hearts and our lives.

We allow our own Light to join with the Light of the fire… the Light of the world in One Great Light, shining brightly in the Darkness.

We give thanks to both the Darkness and the Light for the gifts they have bestowed upon us this holy night.

As we close our sacred circle, we are present to the gifts of the Light and the gifts of the Darkness.

After the ritual, my magical ladies are invited to stay for sweet treats and sacred sharing.

Instead of using a talking stick, this evening we’ll be engaging with the powerful practice of yarning—sharing stories in a supportive environment that builds upon each person’s wisdom to gain greater collective insight.

Yarning is a traditional practice that invites us to deep sharing of story and personal experience, going back and forth in a dynamic conversation that’s familiar and informal, held in a space of safety and sacred inquiry.

Tea, eggnog, cookies, and treats will be served.

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Creating Your Own Winter Solstice Yule Ritual

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:

• You can create a simple, sacred space by simply asking the Divine, your Team or Guides to clear and bless the space you will be working in. Then light your candle with intention that the space be optimally prepared for this ritual. If you already have a practice for opening a sacred space, you can use that here.

• Take the time to set the space ahead of time and enter in ritual fashion. Allow yourself to feel welcomed to your own sacred space.

• Make sure that your space is illuminated enough to be safe for you to move in. You can leave your candle lit if needed and extinguish it at the end right before lighting the Yule fire.

• Prepare space to dance, sit, or lie down comfortably. You don’t know what will support you most once the ritual begins.

• Be sure to set up your paper and kindling ahead of time so it will be ready to light when you’ve finished the Yule log procession.

• For the Yule log, dedicate a particular log for the ritual. I simply choose the biggest log I can find that will fit in my fireplace.

• If you don’t have a fireplace, you can use the candle for the return of the Light. Just be sure you extinguish it first as part of the ritual, so that you experience the Darkness fully before the return of the Light.

• The music should be loud and strong, not blaring, but invasive enough to disrupt habitual thoughts and patterns.

• Feel free to adapt this ritual in any way that feels correct for you.

• If you have any questions, you’re welcome to message me!

Notes for Doing this Ritual Alone:

I’ve done many solo rituals in my life. When correctly prepared, they’re different but can be just as powerful as group rituals.

The main thing is to allow yourself to embrace the ritual as fully as you would if others were present. It’s easy to lose the thread of the sacred by the (very natural) feeling that you are doing something strange. Being with others can neutralize and normalize these feelings, but the joy of being alone is that no one can see you. So let yourself go!

Be immersed in the Sweet Darkness. Give yourself to the powers of Night and Light. The deeper you allow yourself to sink into this ritual, the more powerful it will be.

Blessings for embracing Divine Darkness this Longest Night and celebrating the return of the Light!

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If you’re looking for other ways to welcome the Beauty of the Darkness into your heart and your life, check out this powerful Energy Magic transmission:

Wishing you all a blessèd Winter Solstice!