A Card Spread for the Winter Solstice
The winter solstice, or Yule, is the year's shortest day and longest night. Yule is a sabbat on the Wheel of the Year that marks midwinter, and even though it’s the darkest time of the whole year, it represents a time of death and rebirth. Here is a card spread to help identify, grieve, and release what’s ready to be shed and reborn within yourself this season.
The winter solstice, or Yule, is the shortest day and longest night of the year. Yule is a sabbat on the Wheel of the Year that marks midwinter, and even though it’s the darkest time of the whole year, it represents a sacred portal of death and rebirth. If you're new to The Wheel of the Year, you can find more about it here.
After Yule, each day begins to get a little more light and a little less dark. It’s a time to celebrate the return of the light.
Yule is associated with evergreen, holly, ivy, mistletoe, red, white, green, gold, and fire. Sounds a little bit like Christmas, right? The pagan holiday of Yule predates Christmas, and when Christianity swept through Europe, Yule's traditions were woven into the Christian holiday of Christmas.
Like many of us witches, pagans, and/or spiritual folks, you may honor both Yule and Christmas.
Keep scrolling to find a tarot or oracle card spread for this Winter Solstice and Yule and other ways you might like to honor this sabbat.
A CARD SPREAD FOR YULE
Take some time to create a ritual space before you pull your cards. Gather a few candles, light some incense or other herbs, and ground yourself before dropping in with your cards. Set an intention for your intuition, your highest self, and/or your spirit guides to communicate with you through the cards.
When you feel ready, shuffle your cards and pull one card for each of the following questions:
What themes are surfacing most prevalently, within and outside of me?
How can I tend to and grieve what wants to surface?
What's ready to pour into the cauldron of the earth this Solstice?
How can I care for myself during this tender time of shedding?
What wants to be reborn, within and outside of me?
Image copyright Cassie Uhl 2023.
Consider sitting with your cards, journaling, and meditating for a while to help you process their medicine and really move the messages through your body.
Some other sweet ways to honor the Winter Solstice and Yule:
Light candles
Gather around a fire with loved ones
Connect with local evergreen trees
Burn pine incense
Meditate on a candle flame or fire
Honor the wisdom of darkness by spending time inside or outside with the darkness of the season.
Create a Yule altar with holly sprigs, pinecones, evergreen branches, and red, green, or white candles and crystals
Find more ideas here
