This Thursday, December 21st marks the winter solstice, and in Pagan tradition, the beginning of the Festival of Yule (December 21st - January 1st). Yule is all about rebirth: of the sun, of nature, and a new year. It is an incredibly potent time for visioning as it marks the beginning of a season for alchemizing. Feminist educator and witch, Rae Beth writes:
The metaphor is clear. While we are withdrawn in the inturned burrowing of the winter season, inner realms expand. The richness of imagination, astral worlds and dream states, where the seeds of the next phase are to be found, are lit for us; they bring illumination and restoration. All this is symbolized by the glamour of Yuletide traditions, and decorations, which predate Christmas, but have been preserved as now what we thought of as Christmas customs. The candles, holly, mistletoe, Yule logs and feasting all come from a much older tradition than that of the celebration of Jesus’ birth, and show both the richness of the inner worlds and also the passage back into life: active, manifest life.
This day [winter solstice] is the Sun’s ‘birthday’. The longest night of all the year will pass and at dawn, when the sun next rises, the year will have turned once again towards longer days. It is this we celebrate, the passage back into light from the darkest point, for this means continuing life, a new cycle.
I like to reflect on the past year in the days leading up to the Winter Solstice. We often brush past our accomplishments, always gunning for the next thing, as our brains are hardwired for novelty. Taking the opportunity to look back and take stock helps foster gratitude when we note all of the things that the year brought to us. It can also bring bouts of grief as we acknowledge change, and the shedding of old skin, I like to do this work on paper so that I have a physical record to look back on. Before I start, I like to make a pot of herbal tea, light some candles or an incense stick, and drop into meditation. You can do one, all or none of these things, but I do think it merits some sort of ritual.
Questions to consider as you reflect:
What moments did I feel most like myself this year?
How has my intuition communicated with me this year?
What were my biggest accomplishments?
In which ways have I grown?
Where were my biggest energy leaks?
What were my biggest challenges?
On the day of the winter solstice, I like to wake up early around 6:00 am for a morning sadhana of Long Ek Ong Kars. I started honouring the cycles and seasons through this meditation in community led by my pal Krista of Golden Chain Forever, and have now adopted it into part of my personal practice. After 36 minutes of chanting, I sit, buzzing in the energy for a while and then do some stream-of-consciousness writing, catching any downloads that might have come through. I go about the rest of my routine for the day, with mantras or healing frequencies playing in the background. Then, I close out the afternoon by sitting for a second meditation before I start my visioning work. I like to keep it broad and visceral by trying to capture the feelings I want to embody for the year ahead, as opposed to actual goals, achievements and tasks (more on that in January 1st newsletter!). When we come down to the core essence of our dreams and desires, sets the stage for a more holistic planning process that is heart and body led, with less reliance on the external or material items.
Questions to consider as you vision:
How do I want my relationship with myself to feel?
How do I want my body to feel?
How do I want my career and work to feel?
How do I want my finances to feel?
How do I want my relationships to feel?
How do I want my spiritual practice to feel?
How do I want my home environment to feel?
How do I want my interests and hobbies to feel?
After I have completed my reflection and visioning pages, I review both lists to find common themes and create a separate paired-down list with two columns: ‘What do I want to Call In’ and ‘What do I want to Release’? Here are mine from last year. This acts as a guiding compass for the intention and goal-setting I get into in January; I also pin it as a note on my phone to come back to when I feel that I need the reminder.
Thank you for joining me at The Kitchen Table this year. I can’t believe we are a community of over 400 people! I am grateful for each and every one of you. Your support means the world to me, and you have all been an integral part of making my dreams of honouring this new path a reality. I have a lot of exciting content planned for 2024 and can’t wait to share it with you. Also, if you ever have ideas on what you would like to see, please reach out to me! I hope you all find moments of peace during this holiday season. I look forward to connecting with you again in 2024.
Lots of love and best wishes,
Madelyne