Yule, the winter Solstice and the return of the sun. A playlist for meditation, reflection and breathwork.

Hello friends. I have been curating and sharing playlists around the Celtic Pagan Wheel of the Year for some time now. Each time the wheel turns I update my post and playlist from the previous year. This is always a really interesting exercise in observing my own repeating themes and cycles. For an overview of The Wheel of the Year you can check out this post.

Yule is an ancient festival that celebrates the return of the sun after the longest night of the year. It is a time of renewal, rebirth, and the promise of longer days to come. At Samhain we honoured and welcomed in the darkness, and at the Winter Solstice we reach the depths of this darkness with the longest night of the year. The sun pauses and, for a few short days, it rises in the same place and we balance on the precipice between darkness and light. The winter solstice is the precise moment when the sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky, marking the start of the astronomical winter. You’ll find some more information about the foklore of solstice below but, first, I’d like to share some reflections.

Make of yourself a light

As the sun rises today, marking the day after the shortest day of the year, I am reflecting on the energy of the Winter Solstice. The sun, having reached its lowest point in the sky, seemingly stands still for three days. This pause, a liminal space, invites us to look within and bring light into the darkness, whether that is the shadow that exists in each and every one of us, or echoes in the tumultuous currents of the world.

We have a choice, do we make a conscious decision to illuminate what needs to be illuminated or do we exist only in the light, turning our faces away from and bypassing the shadows?

Spirituality is not all love and light. It is a commitment to upholding truth and acknowledging what's in the shadows; both our own and collectively.

How do we navigate self-discovery, ensuring that collective liberation is a core value as we journey through life? As I reflect on this I’m connecting to the principle of Ahisma, which is the current sankalpa or ‘heartfelt intention’ this month in Yoga Class Creator. Ahisma is the principle of non-harm but it can also be understood as ‘love in action’. When we witness injustice it is the easiest thing in the world to centre our own feelings of powerlessness and helplessness. While this may come from a loving place because we are humans who care about other humans, without love in action our energy is wasted and we remain powerless.

Ahisma or love in action

Today, as I celebrate the return of the sun, I am asking how can I make of myself a light and how can my light be fuelled by Ahisma. Reflection is only one step along the path. Practical action becomes a sacred ritual, our way of contributing for the benefit of all beings.

Love in action doesn’t have to involve grand gestures.

We do what we can, when we can, to leave the world a softer place than we found it.

We actively take steps to do no harm and we use our voices to oppose harm where we see it and our resources, if we have them, to support those who need it.

Small act of kindness ripple outward and standing against injustice will never be for nothing.

The Winter Solstice and Alban Arthan

In various Druid traditions, there is rich folklore and symbolism around the return of the sun. This includes stories of King Arthur being symbolically reborn as the Sun Child (The Mabon). The return of the sun for our ancient ancestors would have been a matter of life and death, as the winter was a time of hardship and struggle. Surviving the cold dark months of winter would have been dependant on the harvest yielding enough resources to make it through until the warmer, lighter days of Spring.

Because of this, it makes sense that so many of the Autumn and Winter festivals are centred around fire as a symbolic representation of the sun. Fire is also a symbol of life force and the warmth and energy that sustains us.

The winter solstice is a time when we honour the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. As the sun sets on the longest night of the year, we are reminded of the fragility and impermanence of life. And as the sun rises on the first day of winter, we are reminded of the power of renewal and the promise of new beginnings.

The connection between Yule and Christmas

The ways our ancestors would have celebrated Yule and the Winter Solstice are reflected in the way Christianity based cultures celebrate Christmas. Jesus is celebrated by Christians as ‘the light of the world’ and his birth, which was previously celebrated in Spring, is now celebrated around the Solstice.

Traditions like decorating our homes with evergreen branches are deeply symbolic and connected to past traditions, where evergreen foliage reminds us of the promise of new life and Spring. We also string lights around our homes and Christmas trees as a way of lighting the darkness. This bringing in of light is reflected in other cultural festivals and celebrations such as Hanukkah, Diwali and Loy Krathong.

Exploring your connection to light and darkness at Yule and the Winter Solstice

As we celebrate the Winter Solstice and Yule we can consider exploring our connection to light and darkness during this time of year. Here are some prompts to help you to reflect on your experiences:

What is your personal relationship with light during this season?
How do you embrace darkness in the colder months?
Are there any expectations or beliefs surrounding this time of year that no longer serve you?
What self-care practices do you employ to nurture yourself during the darker and colder months?
How can you make of yourself a light?

You can also explore the above curated Yule and Winter Solstice playlist, which is perfect for journaling, breath work and yoga practices. Yule and the Winter Solstice is steeped in history and rich with symbolism. Embracing the darkness and welcoming the light, these celebrations offer an opportunity to reconnect with the cycles of life, change, and renewal.