The Nature of Yule and Looking Back to Move Forward

For the sake of this blog, we are going to generalize Yule as a seasonal turn of the wheel, signaling the official start of winter with the solstice. The winter solstice is marked by the longest night of the year, but also symbolizes the return of the sun and the beginning of days to grow longer in the northern hemisphere. 

I like to think that we are feeling the natural effects of the season of Yule during the months of November through January, however you wouldn’t know it by our actions. 

By the end of October we have typically had our first frost and there is rarely anything left to harvest. Of Course there are always exceptions to this, some growth seasons last longer than others and there are a handful of crops that aren’t heavily impacted by the first frosts. However, most of us have completed the harvest season that is marked by the celebration of Samhain. 

November ushers in some of the darkest nights of the year, especially for those of us who adjust our clocks twice a year in such a way to make the most of daylight hours. The days grow shorter, the nights colder, as we begin varying traditions of lighting our way through and counting down to the sun’s triumphant return.

December is spent gazing at the night’s bright lights, a never ending list of things to do, celebrate, and other commitments. This time of the year is marked in excess, we often work more, buy more, eat more, and gather more than any other time of the year. It’s kind of confusing because nothing is growing, we have less time to be physically active, the nights grow longer, and we should be reserving our energy for whatever the winter season may have in store. 

Instead, it is almost as if we do everything in our power to distract ourselves from the natural world, do the opposite of what nature is calling us to, and then wonder why we get sick with such ease. We jump right into a new year, new starts, new goals, new us, and rush into more out of alignment actions. We don’t take the time to honor this slowing down and time of renewal that is essential for reflection. 

Some people have the privilege of taking the last couple weeks of the calendar year off to be with family, but even that time is often spent rushing around with a list of shoulds and events. Then a week or so later we let loose and have yet another night of indulgence with the plan to start all over again the very next morning. Then it’s business as usual, but instead of feeling refreshed, we often feel more exhausted. Ever heard the saying I need a vacation from my vacation, that is how we treat life from the end of November through the end of December. Many of us feel stuck in repetitive cycles that aren’t moving us forward. I believe this disconnect  with the natural world and the imbalance it causes is part of the reason we get stuck. 

It is not always comfortable to sit with the darkness, but it is where imagination thrives. It is important to experience fear, it helps strengthen our survival instincts. If you look at what we do during these dark months, it is almost as if we are trying to distract ourselves from the darkness that surrounds us and what maybe dwells within. 

While I think lighting the night and focusing on gratitude and gifting during this in-between time serves a purpose, it’s important to remember the gifts darkness gives way too as well. The legend and lore often shared during the season of Yule remind us of what happens when we don’t work hard on our harvest or give gratitude and kindness to others. In all things there must be duality, a natural balance or the consequences of those tipped scales will find their way creeping in sooner or later. 

Restoring the natural rhythm of this season is something we should all embrace, before we know it the cycle of growth is restored with the arrival of Imbolc and the days growing longer bit by bit. 

Are there some things that you can say no to in order to provide you with a more stable foundation into the next turn of the wheel? 

What are some ways in which you could slow down to be more in alignment with the natural world? 

Have you taken time to energetically and physically prepare your home for being in it more?

The season of Yule is often associated with wisdom, the kind of wisdom gained from slowing down and looking within. I encourage you to reflect on these questions and then from the insight gained, set your intentions for the next cycle. 

• What do I need to remember?
• What do I need to let myself feel?
• What lesson is my fear teaching me?

Sitting with ourselves, our stories, and then looking to the future is a part of the beauty and gift the season of Yule brings to us all when we choose to embrace it fully.

Next week we will talk intentions and some festive activities to welcome in the season of Yule for a little balance!