S4 E8: The Ultimate Guide to the Winter Solstice

The Empowered Modern Witches Show

In this episode, we are talking all about the meaning of the winter solstice, also known as Yule! This is the Norse and Germanic pagan precursor to our modern Christmas. The winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year, when the sun is at its lowest point in the sky. This is the darkest part of the year, a time considered sacred by cultures all over the world from Europe to South America to Africa.

Many secular Christmas traditions are actually pagan in origin, such as decorating trees and evergreen garlands, drying orange slices, cooking with spices, hanging up lights and singing songs. All of these festivities have a common theme of bringing light to the darkness - metaphorically or literally.

In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice always occurs when the sun reaches 0 degrees of Capricorn. It also occurs within a few weeks of the new moon in Capricorn and full moon in Cancer, activating this axis of structure and support. At the opposite end of the year, the summer solstice occurs at the start of Cancer season in June. In the southern hemisphere, these are reversed, but the solstices always activate this Cancer-Capricorn axis.

Listen to learn all about the history, themes and symbolism, and astrology of this festival and how to celebrate the winter solstice.

Free Resources on Yule:

6 Simple and Meaningful Ways to Add More Light to Your Yule Season

Grandma's Yuletide Gingerbread Cookies

How to Maintain Your Spiritual Practice During the Busy Holiday Season

Click here to register for the free on-demand masterclass on working with the moon phases in your real, daily life!

Wheel of the Year Episodes:

The Ultimate Guide to the Spring Equinox

The Ultimate Guide to Beltane

The Ultimate Guide to the Summer Solstice

The Ultimate Guide to Lammas

The Ultimate Guide to the Autumn Equinox

The Ultimate Guide to Samhain

The Ultimate Guide to Imbolc (coming soon!)

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