A VERY SPECIAL RITUAL WE WANTED TO SHARE THAT BEGINS ON WINTER SOLSTICE FOR 12 DAYS!
We had our Soulful Sundays Digest all ready to go and a synchronistic opportunity crossed Leslie's path on Saturday. When something appears such as this, we know it has special meaning and wanted to share this simple ritual in addition to our usual information which is below this one.
The 12 Wishes Ritual
On the winter solstice, write 12 wishes on individual pieces of paper. These are 12 wishes you have for 2026. After you write them, fold them and put them into a jar and mix them up. Each night, starting the evening of winter solstice, randomly select one of the pieces of paper, don't peak. You will burn that one. Each night you will repeat this process. When you get to the end of the year, you have your last piece of paper. Pull it out and read it. This wish is for you…an opportunity for you to work on whatever it is. The other wishes that you burned are being sent out into the universe and trust that these are being worked on by your ancestors, passed over family members, angels, guides, etc.
We hope you will enjoy this ritual!
Winter Solstice and Yule mark the sacred turning of the Wheel — the longest night of the year and the quiet rebirth of the Sun. This holy moment has been honored across cultures, lands, and lineages as a threshold outside of ordinary time. It is a pause in the great exhale of the year, where the world grows still enough for us to hear the deeper rhythms of life moving beneath the surface.
In this season, darkness is not something to be feared or resisted. It is the womb — fertile, protective, and wise. It is the place where restoration happens naturally, where seeds are held in warmth and silence before they ever reach for the light. The darkness of winter invites us into deep remembering: of who we are beneath the roles, the striving, and the constant doing.
Yule reminds us of an ancient truth — that light is never truly lost. It retreats only to be renewed. Even when the land appears dormant and the days are at their shortest, life is quietly gathering itself. Roots deepen. Energy reorganizes. New beginnings are already forming, unseen but very real.
The Winter Solstice calls us inward, into the hearth of the soul. This is the sacred fire that does not demand performance or productivity, but simply asks for presence. Here, reflection arises gently. Release happens naturally. Intention is born not from pressure, but from listening.
This threshold teaches us that true transformation does not begin with action, effort, or force. It begins with stillness. With trust. With allowing ourselves to rest in the dark long enough for clarity to emerge. The returning light does not rush — it comes slowly, steadily, faithfully — just as our own healing, awakening, and becoming unfold in their own perfect timing.
Sacred Themes of Solstice & Yule
The Return of the Sun Light is reborn within the darkness, reminding us that hope and renewal are always present, even when unseen.
The Womb of Winter A time of deep rest, gestation, and inner reorganization, where what is meant to grow is quietly being formed.
The Hearth & Home The sacred center within — a place of warmth, protection, devotion, and spiritual nourishment.
Sacred Completion Honoring what has ended, softened, or fallen away this year with gratitude and compassion.
Quiet Hope Trusting what is growing beneath the surface, without needing proof or urgency.
Ways to Honor Solstice & Yule
Light candles at dawn or dusk as a symbolic welcome to the returning light, both within and around you.
Create a small hearth or seasonal altar using evergreens, pinecones, holly, or natural elements that reflect continuity and life.
Spend time reflecting on the year that has passed — noticing what has completed its cycle and what wisdom remains with you.
Rest deeply and intentionally, allowing your body, mind, and spirit to be held by stillness without guilt or expectation.
Set one soul-centered intention for the new solar cycle — not as a goal to achieve, but as a quality to embody as the light slowly returns.
As you move through this sacred Solstice and Yule day, may you feel no pressure to be anywhere other than exactly where you are. May you allow the darkness to nourish you, the stillness to steady you, and the returning light to remind you that something beautiful is already unfolding within. Carry this gentle warmth with you into the days ahead — knowing that each small moment of presence, rest, and trust is part of the great turning. May your day be peaceful, your heart be tended, and your inner light glow quietly and true.
Sue & Leslie
A Simple Solstice & Yule Ritual:
Inner Light Awakening
This ritual honors the return of the light through imagination, breath, and intention, reminding us that the truest flame has always lived within.
Essential Oil: Sweet Orange
Sweet Orange carries the frequency of solar warmth, joy, and gentle uplift — making it ideal for both Winter Solstice and Yule. It supports emotional lightness during the darker season and helps awaken hope without overstimulation.
(If diffusing is not possible, one drop on a tissue or simply breathing in from the bottle is perfect.)
The Ritual
Prepare the Space
Find a quiet, comfortable place where you can sit or lie down. If using essential oil, begin diffusing Sweet Orange or place one drop on a tissue or in your hands (rub palms together gently and inhale).
Ground & Breathe
Close your eyes and take three slow, deep breaths. With each exhale, allow your body to soften and settle. Feel yourself being held by the stillness of winter.
Imagine the Inner Flame
Bring your awareness to your heart or solar center. Imagine a small, gentle point of light glowing there — not bright or forceful, but warm and steady, like an ember in a hearth.
Allow the Light to Grow
With each breath, imagine this inner light slowly expanding. It may become golden, soft white, or whatever color feels right to you. There is no rush — the light grows naturally.
Release Into the Sacred Dark
Silently offer anything that feels complete — worries, old stories, fatigue — into the surrounding darkness. Imagine the dark receiving it with compassion and ease.
Set One Soul Intention
Choose one quality you wish to nurture as the light returns — peace, clarity, trust, joy, courage. Imagine this quality weaving gently into your inner light.
Rest in Presence
Spend a few moments resting with the sensation of warmth, breath, and inner glow. Know that the light continues to grow even when you are not focused on it.
Close with Gratitude
When you feel ready, offer gratitude to yourself, the season, and the returning light. Slowly open your eyes.
Closing Affirmation
The light within me is steady, wise, and returning in perfect timing.
Step into 2026 with clarity, grace, and soul alignment.
The Release, Renew, Radiate: New Year’s Spiritual Reset Bundle is your sacred guide to closing 2025 with intention and entering the new year aligned with your light.
This powerful digital experience blends guided meditation, ritual ceremony, intentional journaling, and affirmations into one soulful package — crafted for empaths, healers, and spiritual seekers craving a more meaningful New Year’s transition.
