Lisa Brown

Magical Season

We can all relate to the magic that December brings. Magic in the eyes of children and grandparents and the excitement of the impending visit from Father Christmas. It is a time for families to gather.  For me, December has brought new meaning as it is the time of year when grown children, away at school,  come home for the holiday season.  My son has made his Christmas pilgrimage annually since moving across the vast country of Canada to go to school in 2018. You only need to visit the airport during the holidays and watch all the love as loved ones walk through the arrivals gate. It is the month that brought me the most wonderful and never-to-be-surpassed Christmas Gift. My son made his way into the physical world 6 weeks early in 1998.  We have always said that he just didn’t want to miss out on the holiday magic. 

Although Mother Earth has gone quiet, it is in that quiet solitude we can still hear her heartbeat.  December is a time to sit in this stillness and contemplate what will be soon rebirthed.  The days have been growing shorter and shorter as the shadows lengthen.  The nights become longer and on Winter Solstice night we see the shortest day of the year where the dark reigns.  As we settle in and prepare for the Celebration of Yule, Christmas, and all the different celebrations that take place during this time of year, it’s hard not to feel our ancestors, the ancients who lived according to ever-shifting rhythms of the wheel and at this junction of the wheel they would comfortably “winter in”. Today, however, many have forgotten how to “winter in’.  We find ourselves with the same routines all year round.  Instead of inviting in winter’s place in the great wheel.  We often grumble and groan about winter being long and cold instead of feeling the slow vibration of Mother Earth and syncing ourselves to it, resting and rejuvenating in preparation for the new birth of spring.

December brings us the space to begin readying ourselves for the new year coming. As December 31 approaches we begin to take stalk of what didn’t work the previous year, what no longer serves us in positive energy, and what we don’t want to bring into the new year. A great time to make a vision board to start the new year manifesting all the juicy goodness of the year to come.

Yule is here!

December 21 – January 1

Yule, the celebration of Winter Solstice, holds a special place in the hearts of people around the world. It is a time-honored tradition that marks the shortest day of the year, the arrival of midwinter, and the rebirth of the Sun God. As the Holy King relinquishes his reign and passes on, the Oak King or Sun God emerges anew, embodying the spirit of rebirth.

Yule signifies a pivotal moment when the Sun begins its gentle return, even though its brilliance may not be immediately apparent. It is a time of hope, as the days gradually lengthen, reminding us that light will prevail over darkness. This season invites us to celebrate and reflect, enveloping us in warmth as the outside world lies in its deepest slumber.

During this enchanting time, we are encouraged to embrace our inner realms, allowing them to expand and flourish. It is a moment to cultivate new visions and ideas, to set resolutions for the year ahead, and to dare to dream audacious dreams.

In preparation for the holiday season, I find solace in the cozy embrace of my favorite sweater, while savoring the comforting flavors of a London Fog. Lost in the pages of a captivating book, I create a haven where the spirit of Yule thrives. The ambiance of my home transforms, adorned with symbols of renewal. Our resplendent evergreen tree, adorned with twinkling fairy lights, symbolizes the rebirth of the Sun God. Each ornament exudes abundance and serves as a gentle reminder that summer will once again grace us with its presence. A wreath adorning the door represents the sacredness of life’s eternal cycle, with no true beginning or end. Vibrant hues of red, green, gold, and silver dance joyfully throughout, casting a spell of festive enchantment.

A new altar, dedicated to the celebration of Yule, takes its place as a focal point of reverence. As Yule simmer pots gently infuse the air with their aromatic scents, we are transported to a realm of sensory delight. And as loved ones gather, we indulge in the bountiful harvest of the year’s growing season, sharing in the joy and merriment that Yule brings.

This cherished time of year allows us to embrace the magic of rebirth and the boundless potential that lies within us all. It is a season of celebration, reflection, and the nurturing of our spirits, as we eagerly anticipate the return of light and the promises of a new year.