…Holy Night,
or Yule Nights, or Rauhnächte.

Preparations for the night when the light is reborn begin on the first day of Advent – four Sundays before the Winter Solstice. Advent means ‘arrival’ and we expect the arrival of the eternal light that is reborn in the darkest night.

The number of Holy nights and the start varies by region. I will start on December 20 with the Winter Solstice.

The descent into darkness ends December 24 at the beginning of the sun sign Sagittarius and although it gets darker in the weeks that follow, the pulse of the fire is rising and active. The birth of light takes place in nature as well as in ourselves.

Out with the old, in with the new

Yule is a celebration of light and we step through the gate from the old to the new year. We are given an opportunity to look back and be grateful. We reconnect with family, meet friends and have fun together to celebrate the light. We reflect and look forward; what do we leave behind and what do we take with us? What do we want to create in the new year and what can we already plan for? We oracle and watch for signs to give us a glimpse into the future.

Mysterious and mystical

The Yule time is a mysterious and mystical time in which all gates to other dimensions are open. Renewal is possible at all levels, this is a cosmic event that repeats itself every year, regardless of trends or spiritual tendencies.

Throughout history, this special time has had many names and has been celebrated in many ways, but the celebration of the returning light has remained the same, The weighing and negotiation, the gate to renewal has remained the same, We live in a time of change and many things are finding their way back to the roots. Circles are closing and there are more possibilities than ever to shape the celebration of this sacred time. Whoever goes through these nights consciously can influence the course for the coming year in a favorable way and thus lead a fulfilled life that is in accordance with the higher nature.

The Norns, the weavers of destiny, weave the invisible threads for the coming year at this time. Everything is now beginning to prepare for the rebirth of the light. A special magic is in the air.

Rough Nights

During these nights, The Wild Hunt travels through the country to restore balance. Injustice that has been done shows itself and asks for settlement. During these nights in various Alpine regions, people still dress in animal fur and pass through the villages to enforce justice, to warn against trickery and deceit and to ask questions of conscience. The truth is revealed. It is the best time to take a look at your own shadows and transform them. The term ‘rough nights’ probably comes from the High German word ‘ruch’ (hairy), which refers to the fur of an animal. During these nights, rituals and ceremonies were held around the cattle in many places and masked processions took place to drive away evil spirits, using animal skins. The name is also associated with the fog that often forms during this season, with the cold wind and the storms that whirl around the houses, and with the smoke of open fire (from ‘Rauch’, smoke). This is the perfect time to conduct smoking rituals to clean the house, keep away demons and destroy pathogens. Back then they mainly used indigenous herbs such as henbane, sage, fly bark or pine resin. Besides burning herbs, it was customary to clean the house physically in preparation for the new light. The traditional nights for smoking rituals are December 21, 24 and 31, as well as January 5.

Murmuring ghosts

The name rough nights is also said to come from the word ‘murmur’ (raunen). During the Rauhnächte, according to tradition, the God Odin, and in other places Vrouw Holle or Lady Perchta, would prepare for the wild ‘hetze’, or hunt. According to popular belief, the realm of the dead is open at this time, so that the souls of the deceased have an exit, as it were. Unsaved souls demand settlement and justice. The light-filled and beloved ancestors come to give good advice and omen. For this reason, this is a good time to hear the murmuring of the spirits, that is, to exorcise and cast out undelivered spirits, and to enter into healing contact with the ancestors. Many oracle techniques are based on the murmured messages of the wandering spirits of today.

The Yule nights are nights ‘outside the years’, dating back a long time as in this part of Europe our religious traditions stem from our Scandinavian, Anglosaxon and Germanic ancestors as they divided the year into moon months of 27 or 28 days. Their solar year was 13 months of 27 days plus 6 hours, which makes 351 days, so 14 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, exactly the time between the new moon and full moon or vice versa, so this time can be seen as the time outside the years (hence also 13 being tagged as bad luck but again the truth is often altered, for here it is holy). This is a time to return to where we rest before birth and after death, to check the balance, and to reflect on and re-direct our lives. We can turn to the great mystery at this stage and try to see the direction of the new year by interpreting the events and dreams being sent to us at this time.

The Wild Hunt

For our ancestors in Europe, winters were long and harsh, when supplies were running out, there was not enough firewood, and there was no chance of finding food in nature. Winter was a tough fight for survival. In addition, raids and battles were planned in winter, leaving our ancestors to fear robberies, robbers, arson and starvation. The Wild Hunt was therefore not only a concept from mythology, but a real event. It brought with it loss, disease and death and burned into the memory of the people and has been preserved in the cell memory to this day.

Justice is being carried out through The Wild Hunt, which sees all and knows all. Our errors can be changed by means of insight, grace and forgiveness.

Return to nature

Our ancestors were much more closely connected to the rhythms of nature and they depended on charity, mercy and compassion. It is therefore not surprising that the feasts then focused on cosmic events in the cycle of the year. People were connected with nature and its powers and beings. The veils between the worlds were sometimes very thin and celebrations were celebrated in conjunction with the spirits of nature. They honored the basis of existence and this gave them hope and made them strong.

Today we have come to a turning point. We are rediscovering ancient pagan rituals. Old roots become visible again and shine through the Christian rituals. A global awakening takes place and the feminine power returns in all its completeness and equality to the side of the masculine power. This shakes ecclesiastical norms and values, resulting in uncertainty and confusion. It is no longer about ‘or or’ but about ‘and and’. All of the feasts we celebrate are anchored in the cosmic events of nature, and the qualities of the Yule era are not tied to any religion, but are religious in themselves. Today, it is more important than ever to reconnect with nature, for we are on the verge of losing the basis of our existence by alienating ourselves from natural relationships. By dishonoring the earth we have moved away from that which carries, sustains and nourishes us. We have the opportunity to transform into something completely new together with Mother Terra, and to regain a consciousness that has existed since the beginning of time. The light can awaken in each of us.

A Midwinter Light Ritual

I learned this ritual from https://www.heksenkruid.info/
During the day, look for a fallen (oak) branch that you can use for the ritual in the evening. The Oak symbolizes constructive sun power and reigns from midwinter to midsummer.

Before you start the ritual in the evening, make sure you have the following attributes for the ritual ready;
3 (red) candles, incense, bowl of salt, the Yule branch, 3 red cards with a piece of string, pen/pencil, bowl of (moon)water, a glass of mead (honey wine) or Moon water.

The intention is that you stay in an energetic circle during the ritual and have all the necessities ready together.

As a sacrifice for the wind directions, put the element on that wind direction;
North – Earth> Salt
East – Air> Incense
South – Fire> 3 (red) candles
West – Water> (Moon) water
Middle – Spirits> Yule branch with cards etc. + Glass of mead or Moon water

Open the circle as you always do en then you can ground the Yule branch by sprinkling it with some salt, clean it by running it through the incense, give it strength by gently passing it through fire from the three candles, instill feeling by rubbing it with (moon) water and bless it by holding it up with 2 hands.

Place the Yule branch in front of the 3 candles on the south, go in silence for a moment and then express your 3 light wishes to the 3 candles;
1 wish for light for Mother Earth
1 wish for light for someone you care about
1 wish for light for yourself
You write these light wishes on 3 separate red papers and attach them to the Yule branch.
The intention is that the light wishes are good for everyone and will not harm anyone or anything.
Pay attention! Be clear and loving in what you wish for … because it just might come true …

Finally, toast the return of the light with the Mede (honey wine) or moon water.

When you are ready, lift the circle and do this counterclockwise. Leave the branch in your house and burn it at the end of Yule to release your wishes.

P.S.

I am still accepting orders for the 2021 Year ahead Tarot readings; https://www.joyincreation.com/2020/12/06/start-2021-with-clarity-vision-year-ahead-tarot-readings-ook-in-nederlands/ – please don’t wait to long as the final spots are filling up quickly.