Yule: Honouring the Return of the Light

It is time, dear friend, to speak of Yule. The wheel of the year turns to its darkest night, and yet in that darkness, a spark waits. On Sunday 21st December 2025, the solstice will arrive — the longest night, the shortest day — and with it, the promise that the sun will rise again.

For centuries, families gathered close to the hearth at this time. The Oak King and the Holly King were said to battle for rule of the seasons — and with Yule, the Oak King triumphed, bringing back the light. Fires were lit, evergreen boughs were laid across thresholds, and the Yule log was carved with runes of protection. Its flame was a beacon, a prayer, and a reminder that even in the coldest winter, life endures.

Did you know, dear reader, that the Yule log’s ashes were once kept to protect homes from lightning and misfortune? Or that evergreens were not just decoration, but promises — of endurance, of vitality, of spirit that does not fade? These were not empty traditions. They were woven prayers, binding people to the land, to the seasons, to each other.

And you, too, can weave sanctuary into your own life with the simplest of gestures. Perhaps it is a salt lamp glowing softly by your bed, a candle infused with herbs and crystals, or sage smoke curling through the air as you breathe. These small acts become great magic when done with intention.

A Gentle Calendar for Yule

Let me tell you how our ancestors might have prepared in the days leading to the solstice:

14th December — Gather the Greens. Go outside and bring home sprigs of pine, ivy, or holly. Place them where you will see them often, so your spirit remembers that life always endures.

15th December — Create a Corner of Peace. Choose a spot in your home, however small. Lay a cloth, place a stone, light a candle. Call it your sanctuary.

16th December — Light of Intention. As the sun sets, light a flame. Whisper your hopes for the year to come and watch the smoke carry them skyward.

17th December — The Gift of Giving. Not in extravagance, but in intention. A crystal given to shield, a tea chosen to comfort, a note written to say, “I see you.”

18th December — Sound as Prayer. Strike a singing bowl, play Tingsha cymbals, or hum a note. Let vibration move through you until the noise of the world falls away.

19th December — Herbs of Purification. Burn sage, cedar, or frankincense. Imagine the smoke lifting all that is heavy, leaving your spirit lighter.

20th December — Bless the Flame. Choose a log or a candle. Carve a symbol of protection, anoint it with oil, and set the intention that it will be your light on Yule night.

21st December — Yule Night. Gather with loved ones or alone in stillness. Light your flame. Speak gratitude for what has been, release what no longer serves, and welcome the light as it returns.

The Scents and Spices of Yule

The air of Yule has always been heavy with fragrance. Cinnamon, clove, and orange simmering on the fire. Pine and cedar carried in from the woods. Even now, dear friend, you can brew this magic into your own days. A spiced tea blend steeped in a crystal tea bottle. An oil burner filling the room with cedarwood and sweet orange. Each scent shifts the air, reminding body and spirit alike that winter is not an ending, but a time of renewal.

The Spirit of Giving

And then, there is the act of giving. Not of endless parcels and hurried purchases, but of something more sacred. A candle that carries peace. A bracelet etched with words of encouragement. A stone that whispers protection. Did you know that when you give with intention, the energy of that act ripples outward, circling back brighter than before? At Yule, this is the true gift: to share light when the nights are darkest.

Closing Blessing

So as Yule approaches, remember this, dear one: sanctuary does not need grandeur. It can live in the soft glow of a lamp, the chime of a bowl, the scent of spice rising from a simple cup of tea. The universe does not ask for more than your presence.

Whisper this as Yule night turns to dawn:
“In the stillness, I find peace. In the flame, I find hope. In the turning, I am renewed.”

Until next time, may love and light guide you, always.