Yule - the Winter Solstice

Today and tomorrow form the winter solstice. This is the time of year when the sun is at its lowest and the night is therefore at its shortest. Yule is the traditional ancient winter festival when we celebrate the turning of the year. From now on the days will get progressively longer and life will return to the earth in the form of new buds and new growth. If we want to live in harmony with the cycles of nature, Yule marks a clear change from darkness into light which will continue until the summer solstice in June when the days will be at their longest.

Let us take a moment to consider that what has gone before is dying away to be replaced by the rebirth of life. From now on the conditions for growth are increasing. We can reflect this in our own lives by using Yule to bid farewell to that which has past and welcoming that which is to come. We may mark these celebrations by bringing into our homes that which is flourishing such as the holly and the ivy and the mistletoe. All of these are symbols of this time of change. Also by bringing light into our homes with candles and wood fires we are symbolising the new dawn that awaits us. And we may use this time of year to think about what changes we would like to make in our own lives; what we want to discard and what we want to embrace. Join with me in celebrating Yule.

Love Bruv