Yule Practices

tysmiha-witchnotes-info:

Yule is about celebrating the Sun’s long journey back towards the Earth. During the time leading up to Yule, it’s a good idea to do some deep cleaning and de-cluttering, followed by a cleansing ritual so you have a fresh space to celebrate.

Before Yule – A time for preparation

• Knit or sew new clothes
• Prepare for winter
• Store food and herbs for winter use
• Take in potted plants and harvest the last of your herbs

Arts & Crafts

• Make stove top potpourri
• Make witch balls and hang them around your home or on a tree
• Use birch branches to craft a besom

Cleaning & Cleansing

• As you do any cleaning, visualize removing all of the negative energy from your life
• Clean your bathroom – scrub toilets, wipe down counters, clean out the bathtub
• Clean your mirrors
• Clean your windows
• Finish all your cleaning with a good smoke cleanse using sage, sweetgrass, pine needles or mistletoe, along with your other favorite herbs. Start at the front door and move the incense around the doors and windows of every room, following the lines of the walls.
• Get rid of all the extra clutter in your house
• Replace your home’s air filter
• Sprinkle carpets and rugs with baking soda and vacuum, making sure you move all your furniture to get underneath. Vacuum walls, baseboards, ceiling fans and all the other hard-to-reach places
• Use a broom to sweep up dirt

Cooking

• Bake and cook with family and friends, blessing the food with intent of prosperity and happiness
• Brew cider infused with herbs and fruit that correspond with prosperity and happiness
• Cook a feast of wintery foods

Decorating

• Add comfy white pillows filled with herbs to your sofa for a sacred space to meditate
• Decorate your tree and bless all of your ornaments
• Hang golden suns around your house to welcome back the sun
• Hang mistletoe for love and protection
• Hang a sprig of holly in the house for good luck and safety
• Leave out birdseed ornaments
• Light lots of candles to symbolize bringing light back into your life

Spell-casting & Divination

• Cast spells for peace, introspection, wishes and new beginnings.
• Do a winter solstice tarot spread for yourself
• Cast spells for light, purification, renewal and rebirth
• Divination centered around messages and omens

Other Activities

• Burn a Yule log in honor of the sun, and toss in a sprig of holly to burn away the troubles of the past year. note: use only a small amount of holly if burning indoors, as the fumes are toxic
• Give gifts
• Go carolling
• Make holly water by soaking the leaves overnight in spring water under the full moon
• Play in the snow and collect some to use in spells
• Take a walk under the full moon and record any important thoughts or visions you receive
• Tie up any loose ends in your life
• Volunteer in your community or donate old belongings
• Write about your reflections of the past year and what your goals are that you’d like to achieve by the end of the coming year. Bless the page with motivation and love.

After Yule – A time for resting

• Do not make new plans

• Sleep as much as possible
• Take care of your body
• Take hot baths and moisturize your skin