Or how to celebrate what is dormant!

On December 21st, the Northern Hemisphere will welcome a wonderful Winter Solstice or Yule for pagans and magick aficionados. This special time of the year has been celebrated for ages through various traditions, feasts and gatherings. In ancient Rome, they would call this celebration Saturnalia (dedicated to the God Saturn, known as a master teacher of agriculture) and would feast for days, praying to the god and celebrating seed-growing and harvests to come in the future.

The Winter Solstice is probably way less fun than it used to be in ancient Rome; it is nonetheless very meaningful. The ground is cold and most of the trees seem dead however, life is dormant and the seeds are waiting for the right time to grow and bear leaves and fruits. This is a very significant time to think about everything that is going on under the surface despite the appearance of Mother Nature. Philosophically, it can be related to big life projects, deep-rooted wishes or ideas and the concept of timing: great things emerge from the dark, take time, patience and dedication but they’re worthy!

If you feel like incorporating a little bit of magical symbolism to this special moment, here are few ideas! Have a pleasant and meaningful Winter Solstice!

• Burn a log (or a piece of wood) to light up the longest night of the year and keep the last portion as a protective talisman until the Spring Equinox.

• Do a cleansing/releasing ritual: in a quiet place, light a black candle and write on a piece of paper all the things you want to let go of. Burn the paper while visualising all these obstacles vanishing easily. Then think about everything you want to create and achieve for the next three months. What practical steps can you take to start on this journey? You can break this down in your notebook!

• Gather some ivy, holly and yew as they represent respectively loyalty, protection and longevity: you can decorate your place with them and bring their magic to your home!

In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present.

Sir Francis Bacon