Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The Winter Solstice, also known as Yule or Midwinter, signifies the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It usually occurs anywhere from December 20th to December 23rd in the Northern Hemisphere, frequently falling on the night of the 21st. In contrast, the Southern Hemisphere experiences it from June 20th to June 22nd.
Certain myths suggest that in ancient times, a large tree trunk or log was set on the hearth during the solstice, intended to burn all night keeping the light strong and true through the darkest hours till dawn. It is said that the tradition of burning a Yule log was part of a ritual to mark the winter midpoint. It was considered a celebration of having survived the beginning half of winter's wrath and a way to encourage the approach of spring through spells intended to keep the light and life of all creatures going strong during the second half of winter.
Regardless of the myths' authenticity or the origins of Yule logs, I embraced the concept of having one every year and it's become a tradition in my home. Every year I find a piece of wood that looks aesthetically pleasing, preferably with a flat top (to place tealights on), then using a fine point sharpie I cover it with sigils, runes, and spells for prosperity, protection, wealth, health, happiness, and positive energy for all the members of my family for the new year ahead.
Sigils are symbols created to serve magical intentions. I usually find all the sigils I use on Pinterest but you can also create your own! In the image above I've shared many of the sigils I use on my Yule log. You can find sigils for just about any purpose on Pinterest.
After I draw all over the log, I find a spot where I want to place it until the solstice and decorate it. You can decorate your log however you like, using garland, ornaments, pinecones, or other festive items on and around it (if you add candles and intend to light them be mindful of how close certain items are in approximation to them so you don't accidentally cause a fire)
On the night of the Winter Solstice, I remove the candles and decorations and burn the log in the hearth. Sigils are activated by adding your energy and intent to them as you draw them. If you draw them on yourself, a wall, or another surface as the image fades so does the magick behind the sigil, and you may want to reapply them. Burning them is also a way to release their energy into the universe.
If you lack a fireplace, wood stove, or a safe place to burn logs, you can carefully carve sigils into candles and burn those instead. Remember to always prioritize safety when handling any type of flame.
Happy Holidays & Have a Magickal Winter Solstice!
*Disclaimer the sigils are not my property and are shared for educational purposes.*
