I like to have a quiet day on the Solstice. This year I’ve been contemplating Nordic / Viking / Pagan / Anglo-Saxon /proto-european-tribal / pre-Christian roots.
What might be in my bones or ancestral wisdom lost that can be reclaimed?
Winter Solstice is one of those clear times we can all sense the shortest days of the year in the Northern hemisphere. The longest nights. We reckon with the withdrawing of the energy of the sun. A time for rest and reflection. Contemplation. Yule held at this time has ancient roots. It was about survival. We can imagine our ancestors having prepared for the long winter and facing the realities for their survival-as defiance against the harshness.
I’ve worked out this framework for a modern Yule ritual.
1. The Long Night
Container of Darkness
- Create the setting for this, your personal sacred night observance.
- No music. No screens.
- One candle or fire source only.
- Sit alone or with a small trusted group.
- Have something to write with, pen and paper.
Prompt:
Ask yourself “What has died or failed this year? (that I keep pretending didn’t?)”
“What energy/effort/baggage will I leave behind?”
Write it. Speak it. Do not resolve it.
This reflects the original confrontation with winter as threat component of Yule.
2. The Burn and Keep
Fire with consequence
- Write one sentence naming what must end.
- Burn it.
- Save the ashes in a small container.
Ashes are not symbolic trash. They are residue of transformation.
3. Evergreen Claim
Life that persists
- Bring one evergreen branch inside.
- Place it where you will see it daily.
Each morning until New Year, ask:
“What part of me stays alive even now?”
No affirmations. Just noticing.
4. The Oath
(This is the core)
Instead of vague intentions, make one bounded vow:
- Specific
- Slightly uncomfortable
- Reviewable in spring
Example:
“By the spring equinox, I will have shipped one imperfect but real artifact of my work.”
Say it aloud. Write it. Date it.
Historically, oaths mattered because breaking them had social cost.
Modern version: share it with one witness who will ask you about it later.
5. The Return of Light
Delayed gratification
At sunrise or the next morning:
- Light multiple candles.
- Eat something warm and nourishing.
- Re-read the vow only after the night has passed.
This sequencing matters. Light comes after darkness, not alongside it.
A Final Thought
If this feels heavy, ask yourself why?
Yule was not designed to make people feel good. It was designed to help them endure reality without lying to themselves.
I’m wishing you a Yule of clarity that reveals what is most important as you move forward in your life.
Matt