Following on from our 12 Days of Yule which was full of blessings, gratitude, ancestor honouring and more.

It feels nice to carry on for a few more days to see us step into January with a good positive attitude.

Celebrating Light: The core theme is the symbolic rebirth of the sun. Fires, candles, and bonfires were lit to “coax” the sun back and banish evil spirits.
The Yule Log: A central practice involved burning a large log (or an entire tree trunk) continuously for the twelve days to conquer the darkness. A piece of the charred log was saved to light the fire the following year, ensuring continuity of luck.
Decorating with Evergreens: Bringing plants like holly, ivy, pine, and mistletoe indoors symbolized enduring life and the promise of spring.
Feasting and Community: Families and communities gathered for large feasts, sharing food, telling stories, and exchanging gifts.
Honoring Ancestors and Deities: Specific nights were dedicated to honoring female ancestors (Mother’s Night), Norse gods like Odin and Thor, and nature spirits (landvaettir).

Introspection: This day is set aside for minimal talking or complete silence to encourage deep introspection.
Inner Wisdom: It is a time to connect with your intuition and inner wisdom without external distractions.
Preparation: The quiet helps in reflecting on the past year and preparing mentally and spiritually for the new year ahead

Meditate in a forest or beside a Yule tree to draw inspiration from the evergreen’s resilience.
Make offerings to local wildlife.
Reflect on humanity’s relationship with the environment and consider ways to live more sustainably in the new year.

Date: The Church set Epiphany (Jan 6th) on the 12th day after Christmas to absorb existing pagan festivities, ending the winter revelry before returning to work (Plough Monday).
Decorations: Removing evergreens by Twelfth Night prevents bad luck and mischievous spirits.
Feasting: The final big feast with special cakes and merriment, including the bean/pea game to select the King/Queen.
Wassailing: Singing and drinking from a communal bowl in orchards for a good harvest.

Meditate: Feel a balance between the chaos and the quiet that we’ve had over this time. Journal: and see your growth over the last year. See how you can continue to grow. Connect: light candles and connect your spirit to the elements around you.

Sanctifying the Space: Cleansing and blessing the home’s energetic center, possibly with salt or smoke, to remove negativity and invite positive energy.
Daily Rituals: Incorporating mindful, heart-centered activities into everyday chores like cooking and cleaning.
Morning Intentions: Lighting a candle and setting positive intentions for the day ahead.
Evening Reflection: Using the end of the day to practice gratitude and release worries, perhaps by the glow of a candle or fire.
Honoring Spirits/Deities: Creating an altar and making offerings to the specific spirit or angel of the home, or to hearth goddesses like Hestia (Greek) or Vesta (Roman).
Storytelling and Connection: Continuing the tradition of sharing stories and strengthening family bonds around a gathering spot.