this is no ordinary season
winter solstice, holidays, holy nights
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This week, December 21 is the Winter Solstice, which means (from the Latin roots) the "sun standing still.” For the past 6 months, the days of light have been getting shorter, leading up to this pause.
As I shared in this entry ‘on wintering,’ the nature of this season and moment of pause is like a caterpillar in the cocoon, wrapped and integrating before emergence.
From the shortest and darkest day, the light (Sun) returns and begins a new cycle of life and growth from that darkness. A whole new year of experiences — a new life chapter.
In recent years, I've noticed how the space between the Winter Solstice, Christmas and New Years has felt like an "in between" for me. Like the year is coming to a close, but the new cycle has not quite begun yet.
In our culture, some enjoy the opportunity to take time off work and step aside from their usual routines in some way. For me, it's felt like a space that was missing something and old traditions no longer fit in the same way.
Enter the ancient tradition called the Celtic Omen Days (some call this period the Holy Nights). For a bit of history I learned from Caitlin Matthews about the Celtic Omen Days…
"In the medieval liturgical calendar, the festival of Christmas Day stood alone by itself as a supreme holy day, and so the counting of the twelve days began from 26 December which is the 1st day of Christmas until the 6th January which is Twelfth Night, or the 12th day of Christmas."
These are also known as the intercalary days of the year, and they have a special purpose. They're the days left over from reckoning up the solar year and, in calendars throughout the world and at different times. They're considered to be “the days out of time.”
Within these 12 days lies a doorway, as each of the days are assigned to a month of the coming year. Observing the signs in nature and divine "omens" experienced on each of these days would give insight — tapping into the energies of each month in the coming year.
I started this ritual two years ago with the 13 Holy Nights Oracle by Lara Day as a guide. The Winter Solstice opens the preparation time leading up to Christmas Eve, since sundown on Christmas Eve to sundown on Christmas Day represents the nature of the year ahead. Then each day after that corresponds with each month.
The practice encourages one to meditate, dream, connect with nature, God/Spirit, and set intentions for the coming year.
So starting on Christmas Eve, I kept a journal of insights, dreams, and things that happened in my life each day. I also created a simple sacred space and time to choose and read into the nature-inspired oracle cards.
Quartz, Mugwort, Owl…. Looking back on each month throughout the year and inside my journal with the card for that month has been a gift of wisdom, remembering, and connection. The dreams and metaphors that turned into “real life” synchronicities were powerful. I was guided to live with more intention, and it’s offered me a deeper connection with the music playing all around me. It’s been quite a gift.
So, if you want to upgrade your seasonal traditions in something that anchors you to the magic and mysteries around you in a deeper way, this may be a ritual you appreciate too.
Thank you for connecting here, and for your presence this past year. You'll hear from me again in January, and until then I hope you find some magical moments to unearth the sacred in this (not so ordinary) season. Blessings…
Thank you for reading.
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