On the longest night of the year, the cycle of light is suspended in time and the darkness offers a new beginning as we mark the beginning of the solar year.
Although we may experience a long sense of winter to come, the Solstice is a time of celebration of light returning and the rebirth of the Sun. In old Europe the Solstice was known as Yule, from the Norse, Jul, which means wheel and is marked with celebration and reverence.
This is the season of rebirth where ideas, dreams and visions can grow in power and strength. The Sun is waxing and warming as it begins its journey toward the Summer Solstice.
In Wiccan lore, the power of the winter Holly King is at its maximum now, but the summer Oak King has been born. He will gain in ascendancy from this point on, showing that the Wheel of the Year always turns.
Welcome the Sun
Many customs surrounding the Winter Solstice involve honouring the return of the Sun and celebrating the birth of the Sun King – or Oak King, in Celtic circles. As a change of pace from the usual rush of social activity, parties and festivities surrounding this time of year, we may wish to find a moment of solitude to welcome back the Sun.
Reflect on all the things that you hope for the New Year, and visualise the Sun rising up out of darkness to a position high above the Earth. Light a candle and welcome back the life-giving light of the Sun.
‘The ability to listen clearly at this time of year is sharpest… not only listening through conversation, but listening to your own body and comprehending its needs, as well as having a deeper understanding of yourself and your interactions with others’
Alex Tan – “Straight Bamboo”.com
Alex Tan, a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, shares that “Winter is the season of retreat and rest, when the Yin (night, female, cold) is now dominant and Yang (day, male, hot) energy moves inward. The trees have lost their leaves; the animals hibernate through the long, dark winter days. Winter is a time of stillness and quiet, amplifying any sound there is”.
He continues. “Winter is a time of gentle celebration where nutritious and warming food and family connection is promoted. Hence, many cultures have their biggest family/food festival of the year in this season – cozy gatherings promoting interaction with friends and family with plenty of warming, comforting foods and moderate amounts of warming liqueur.”
I’ve always loved this time of the year. Loved that, on these dim days when the earth is bare, we take time to string up twinkle lights and bake cookies and find ways to be generous with one another. That on the darkest nights of the year, we court magic, find magic, allow magic to find us.
Asia Sular
The Days of Omen – “The Days Out of Time”
As we embrace the return of the light, we enter into a period that makes space for a portal of possibility. There is stillness and we can turn inward during this time of the year and take a moment to rest. Just like the sun that is reborn at the Winter Solstice – when time stands still – we don’t need resolutions but instead we can be open to an unfolding of the magic to come in the next twelve months.
We can celebrate the Omen Days.
In the medieval liturgical calendar, the festival of Christmas stood alone by itself as a supreme day and marked the beginning of the festival season. Counting of twelve days began from 26 December which is the 1st day of Christmas until 6 January which is Twelfth Night, or the 12th day of Christmas – the Epiphany celebration.
In Brittany and in Wales, the Twelve Days of Christmas, mark the intercalary days of the year. The solar year isn’t quite 365 days. Over the last few thousand years, there have been many methods to keep the calendar lined up with the seasons. With leap years and other methods, many cultures added days and these ‘Intercalary days’ are the days left over from reckoning up the solar year.
They are special because they are considered to be ‘the days out of time.’
Within these twelve days lies a wonderful secret and each of the twelve days is assigned to a month of the coming year, with the first day of Christmas, the 26th December, as symbolic of January, the second day or 27th December representing February and so on, right through to 6th January which represents the December yet to come.
It was the custom of many to go out on each day of the Christmas festival season to observe the signs in nature and divine from them the state of the year to come. The insights experienced on each of the Omen Days show us glimmers of themes for each month in the coming year.
It is recommended to focus outward on each of the twelve days. If on a walk, close your eyes, spin around on the spot and then use all of your senses to become aware and attentive to the messages. This is a time for First Thought- Right Thought.
Later, light a candle inside and as it burns throughout the day, jot down the things that come to you in a journal or twelve special papers. Some pull a tarot or oracle card for further guidance on the upcoming monthly themes. Some do art or link a musical song that can act as an anchor for the months ahead. Be open and allow your creativity and intuition to guide these twelve days that are ‘out of time’.
Wishing you a magical season in the portal of possibility.
The Power of Story 