Wiccan Solstice rituals are sacred ceremonies that are performed by Wiccans during the Summer and Winter solstices. These rituals are deeply rooted in the Wiccan religion, which celebrates and honors nature and the cycles of the seasons. The solstices, in particular, hold great significance in the Wiccan calendar as they mark the longest and shortest days of the year. During the Summer solstice, also known as Litha, Wiccans gather together to celebrate the power of the sun and the abundance of the Earth. They often perform rituals outdoors, surrounded by nature, and may create a sacred space by constructing a temporary altar or circle. These rituals may involve lighting bonfires, dancing, singing chants and praises, and offering symbolic gifts to the elements and deities they worship.
These rituals may involve lighting bonfires, dancing, singing chants and praises, and offering symbolic gifts to the elements and deities they worship. Winter solstice, or Yule, is a time when Wiccans celebrate the rebirth of the sun and the return of light after the darkest time of the year. They gather to honor the winter season and the promise of new beginnings.
Winter Solstice 2019: Witches Offer a Look Into Their Yule Rituals
Witches in the Northern Hemisphere will celebrate the Winter Solstice 2019 on December 21. Witches following the Wheel of The Year will also start their Midwinter, or Yule, celebrations on this date. The Wheel of the Year is the cyclical calendar of festivals that modern pagans celebrate. The Wheel symbolizes the continuous turning of time and mirrors nature’s cycles of death and rebirth. The origin of the name ‘Yule’, some say, comes courtesy the Norse god Odin. Traditionally, the festivities began on the longest night of the year and celebrated the lengthening days and return of light. The Yule festivities stretched 12 days while its celebrants feasted and burned yule logs.
While most modern witches don’t take a whole 12 days to celebrate the season — the witches that I talked to usually limit their celebrations to December 21st — many of them still derive great meaning from the holiday and have their own rituals to celebrate lengthening days. “I observe the Solstice to honour rebirth, to observe stillness between the end of one cycle and the beginning of a new cycle,” Tess Giberson told Teen Vogue. “I take all of the wisdom, thoughts, and feelings that have been growing in the dark, and bring them out into the light to share them, name them, speak them aloud.”
Giberson, also known as City Witch, is a folk tarot reader, zine maker, and witch. For Giberson, who is gender non-conforming and identifies as trans, creating ceremonies and rituals allow them to celebrate things that are meaningful — whether that be festivals tied to the Wheel of the Year and secular rites of passage, like recognizing accomplishments, or taking on a new name. “Ceremonies and ritual allow me to celebrate aspects of my life that aren’t within the cis-hetero-patriarchal definition of success,” Giberson said. “Ceremony is an act of love (for myself and my community) and an act of defiance against the state. In creating ceremony I am celebrating my being in a world that is trying to deny and erase the existence of trans and gender nonconforming folk. Ceremony brings power to the present moment, it’s how we celebrate being alive and initiate change.”
Michael Cardenas, head brujo at Olde Ways, is an initiated witch and trained clairvoyant/medium whose practice encompasses many different kinds of witchcraft. As a child, the season marked a literal and figurative return to the light for him. “[What] really drew me to witchcraft is that there were a lot of dark things happening with my family,” Cardenas said. The impetus to protect his family and an intuitive understanding of the need to bring lightness to the situation is what Cardenas credits with being the beginning of his witchcraft journey.
Cardenas was initiated to and practiced with a local coven as a teenager. It was through them that he participated in traditional Wiccan Yule celebrations, like heading to the forest to pick out and eventually decorate a Yule tree — a tradition that Cardenas recounts as his favourite. The evergreen represented everlasting life and was decorated with white candles, items that symbolized the things they wanted to bring into their lives, and garlands of seasonal berries.
Solstice took on new meaning for Cardenas once he started to research solstice celebrations around the world, “I’m Mexican and I came to [witchcraft through] a European path first,” Cardenas said. “ All of the images that I saw were of European people celebrating Solstice. So, there’s always this part of me that was second guessing myself or trying to figure out if this was right for me.” Once Cardenas dove into his heritage — Cardenas’ grandmother is Indigenous to Guadalajara — he had a revelation. “When I started to explore and investigate other cultures, I found that within my own culture, in ancient times, we were doing the same thing.”
For witch and feminist creator Eden America, the Solstice also connects her with her ancestry. “It is important to me to acknowledge seasonal change. Like nature, there are similar shifts and rebirths that occur inside of me. Growing up I shared [these] rituals with my Gram,” she said. “I identify as a witch and I learned it all from my Gram. I just recently found out my great, great grandmother was a healer.”
For those of you celebrating Yule, Cardenas said that it’s imperative to research all of the different ways that the Winter Solstice is observed around the world and to do work to spiritually connect with your ancestors. “They’re the first spirits you should work with, I think,” said Cardenas. He advised setting out an offering of some flowers and a simple glass of water. “Water represents life and also represents a portal between worlds. Call to your ancestors: ‘To my ancestors, known and unknown, I come forward today to create a vivid connection between us.’”
For Cardenas, one of the most profound rituals is simple and free — you don’t even have to go outside. Light some incense and grab a warm drink. With your footsteps, create a spiral in a clockwise direction. “As you’re doing that, you’re literally aligning yourself with the pattern that the universe is creating. Aligning yourself with that and aligning yourself with the time of the season is very, very empowering and I really recommend that for anyone on the path to becoming a witch or exploring witchcraft,” Cardenas said. “It’s really important to empower yourself as a witch and that’s one of the ways you can align yourself with nature.”
Giberson had some suggestions for rituals for beginners, but also stressed that Solstice celebrations needn’t be overly complicated. “You also don’t have to spend money to observe the Solstice, if I wanted to do my ritual without spending any money I’d use the free app #SelfCare because it has a candle you can light, an altar, and a tarot deck, which are the main components of my ritual,” they said.
Here’s a ritual you can do to utilize some of Giberson’s favorite practices:
- Cleanse yourself by taking a salt bath and burn rosemary to cleanse the air
- Build an altar (theirs will be in the Celtic tradition)
- Burn a candle and as your candle burns, release the old energy/thoughts/feelings/ways of being and name the new intentions that come to the surface
- Use their favorite three-card tarot spread to do a reading for yourself: ask the cards what you’re supposed to leave in 2019, a gift hidden in plain sight, and an intention to set or something to grow in the new year
“If it’s your first time ever celebrating solstice, know that your first time is your rebirth,” Cardenas said. “You are stepping onto the wheel, and you’re stepping into that liminal space between time, between worlds. Let that be the beginning of your rebirth and let it be meaningful.”
This article has been updated to be relevant to the current year's solstice.
Pexels. Rachel Claire.
These rituals may involve decorating a Yule tree, lighting candles, and performing ceremonies to release negative energy and welcome the return of the light. Winter solstice rituals may also include feasting and gift-giving, as well as divination and reflection on the past year. In both Summer and Winter solstice rituals, Wiccans often incorporate the use of herbs, crystals, and other natural elements to enhance the energy and intention of the ceremony. They may also invoke the presence of specific deities or goddesses associated with the solstices, such as the Sun God or the Winter Goddess. The purpose of these solstice rituals is to connect with the cycles of nature and align with the energies of the seasons. They provide a time for reflection, gratitude, and spiritual growth. Wiccans believe that by participating in these rituals, they can attune themselves to the natural rhythms of the Earth and strengthen their connection to the divine. These solstice rituals are not only practiced by Wiccans but also by various pagan and earth-based spiritual traditions. They serve as a way to honor and celebrate the changing seasons and to acknowledge the sacredness of the natural world. Through these rituals, Wiccans seek to find balance and harmony within themselves and with the Earth..
Reviews for "Sacred Fire: Wiccan Solstice Rituals for Transformation"
1. Amy - 2/5 stars
I attended a Wiccan solstice ritual out of curiosity, but I was left feeling disappointed. The whole experience felt disorganized and lacking in direction. The rituals were not explained clearly, and I constantly felt lost and disconnected from what was happening. Additionally, the atmosphere felt forced and artificial, with the participants seemingly going through the motions without true belief or passion. Overall, I was not impressed and would not attend another Wiccan solstice ritual in the future.
2. John - 1/5 stars
Attending a Wiccan solstice ritual was one of the most bizarre experiences of my life. The whole event felt like a bunch of people playing make-believe in the woods. I couldn't take any of it seriously, from the chanting to the elaborate costumes. It seemed more like a performance than a spiritual gathering. I left feeling confused and unsatisfied, with no real connection to any higher power. I can't understand how anyone can find meaning in such rituals.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars
I decided to give a Wiccan solstice ritual a try, but it left me feeling underwhelmed. The whole event felt too focused on aesthetics rather than genuine spiritual practices. There was a lot of emphasis on candles, incense, and props, but little substance. The rituals themselves felt repetitive and lacked a clear purpose or intention. I left feeling like I had wasted my time and didn't gain any deeper understanding of Wiccan beliefs or practices. I would not recommend attending a Wiccan solstice ritual if you're seeking a truly meaningful and profound spiritual experience.
4. Mark - 1/5 stars
I attended a Wiccan solstice ritual out of curiosity, but it was nothing more than a bunch of people dressed in silly costumes, dancing around a bonfire. I couldn't take any of it seriously. The whole event felt like a mockery of spirituality. I left feeling like I had wasted my time and had no desire to explore Wiccan practices further. If you're seeking a genuine and meaningful spiritual experience, I would advise looking elsewhere.