Wiccan Yule customs, also known as Yule customs, are the traditional practices and rituals followed by Wiccans during the winter solstice known as Yule. Yule is a significant holiday for Wiccans as it represents the rebirth of the sun and the return of light after the darkest time of the year. These customs and rituals are aimed at celebrating the cycle of nature, honoring the gods and goddesses, and bringing warmth and light into the home. One of the main customs during Wiccan Yule is the decorating of the Yule tree. This tradition involves bringing in evergreen branches or a small tree and adorning it with lights, ornaments, and symbols that represent the elements, the gods, and the spirits of nature. The Yule tree is often placed in a central location in the home and serves as a focal point for the Yule celebrations.
Witch prophet
Witch Prophet is a queer, East African, singer-songwriter, as well as the President and Co-CEO of Heart Lake Records. She provides her fans with a soundscape of vocal layers, loops, raps, and harmonies on a bed of hip-hop, jazz, and soul-inspired beats produced by her wife and business partner SUN SUN. Think Erykah Badu meets Lauryn Hill meets Portishead. She finds depth and connection in creating music as a portal for self-growth and discovery, as she navigates and better understands her cultural and queer identity.
She has shared the stage with and opened for acts like Sudan Archives, Tash Sultana, JPEGMAFIA, Lido Pimienta, CLIPPING, JELEEL!, Pierre Kwenders, Begonia, Shabazz Palaces, The Hallucination (fka A Tribe Called Red), SAMMUS, Snotty Nose Rez Kids and THEESatisfaction to name a few.
She has toured Europe independently twice; playing shows in Paris, Amsterdam, London, and Berlin, as well as performed at North American and European music festivals like: Montreal Jazz Festival, Black Women Rock, New Skool Rules, Soul Of Brooklyn, Allied Media Conference, Beloved Festival, SXSW, Vancouver Folk Fest, Luminato, Summerworks, Ottawa Capital Pride, Pride Toronto, Pop Montreal, Halifax Pop Explosion and so many more!
In March of 2020, Witch Prophet released her Ontario Arts Council funded sophomore LP “D.N.A Activation”. An ode to her Ethiopian and Eritrean ancestral roots, fusing Jazz, Hip-Hop, Soul and RnB with songs sung in English, Amharic, and Tigrinya. Co-produced by herself and her partner SUN SUN, praised by press and music lovers alike, DNA Activation was shortlisted for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize. She has since released a deluxe edition of DNA Activation featuring remix tracks with rappers Stas THEE Boss and LATASHÁ. The video for her song Tesfay directed by Leah Vlemmiks was nominated for the 2021 Prism Prize and was an official selection at the 2021 Rhode Island International Film Festival as well as the 2021 SXSW Music Video awards. Tesfay was also nominated in the UKMVA’s Best International RnB/Soul video category alongside Beyoncé, Cardi B, Normani, The Weeknd, and Bryson Tiller.
On May 1st 2023, Witch Prophet released her deeply personal and intimate 3rd studio album ‘Gateway Experience’ produced by her wife and business partner SUN SUN via Heart Lake Records. Funded by Ontario Creates, Canada Council for the Arts and Radio Starmaker, ‘Gateway Experience’ is an 11 track, neo-soul/alternative r&b/ trip hop vibe with songs focusing on the connection between the human brain, dreams, seizures, god, and other worldly abilities. Gateway Experience was also nominated on the long list for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize.
“As a neurodivergent artist who struggles with focal seizures (Déjà vu, out of body experiences, lucid dreaming, memory loss etc) I feel like; sharing my experiences through my music is one of my paths to healing.” - Witch Prophet
EXCLUSIVE: Erykah Badu Pens Essay on Making Time for Joy in Your Life
"The wise woman knows instinctually that in order to truly realize herself she must be still," writes ESSENCE cover girl Erykah Badu. "She realizes that the ultimate human JOY we seek can only be found in the full acceptance of who we really are and not in the avatars we've created to define ourselves."
Warwick SaintTHE PARADIGM OF JOY
There’s this natural instinct we have as human beings. Regardless of our position, religion, color or kind, we all have a primal desire for immediate, and almost unwavering, JOY. Eventually, through the experience of events and circumstance, we learn that this desire just may be unreasonable and unnatural. We watch our emotions sway as we are affected and influenced by the energy around us. Our own resistance to “unpleasantness” restricts our movement.
In a self-medicated state, we start to become addicted to our pain. In some cases it even starts to define us. We wear masks to protect ourselves and alas lose sight of who we are. Drained physically, spiritually and emotionally, we become ill and left with very little energy to cope. Our service to others becomes exhausting. Our breathing becomes shallow. JOY seems so far. Now we are stuck in our own minds, filled with random thoughts and collected fears.
This place has become our world. We know we are imbalanced. Something must change. How do we portion our busy lives to give the proper attention to our inner beings; the part of us that, at its core, regulates our mental, emotional and vital wellness? Perhaps we change our state of being by taking a look inside and simply changing our perspective and perception.
BE STILL. OBSERVE. IDENTIFY. ACCEPT. ELIMINATE.
The wise woman knows instinctually that in order to truly realize herself she must be still. She must give up things that no longer evolve her by first identifying what they are. She realizes that the ultimate human JOY we seek can only be found in the full acceptance of who we really are and not in the avatars we’ve created to define ourselves. When she is fully present and can see her true self clearly, she realizes that the very need for JOY dissolves along with the need to resist pain. She replaces them with humility, for she now trusts the natural flow of life. She becomes one with the all.
It is in that very moment of complete acceptance where she is transformed. It is in that state of awareness that she expands and contracts and breathes life into her thoughts. She now knows that those thoughts become her reality. She has always known. She is
THE MEDICINE WOMAN.
THE WITCH DOCTOR.
THE FORTUNE TELLER.
THE WISDOM KEEPER.
We must remember that we are powerful beyond measure. Each obstacle we are faced with is another opportunity to use our power. It is a step toward our greatness. After all, we have asked to be great.
Pick up the August issue of ESSENCE to read more about Erykah Badu in Africa.
Witch Prophet
Witch Prophet is a queer, East African, singer-songwriter, and the Co-CEO of Heart Lake Records. She provides her fans with a soundscape of vocal layers, loops, raps, and harmonies on a bed of hip-hop, jazz, and soulinspired beats. Think Erykah Badu meets Lauryn Hill meets Portishead. She finds depth and connection in creating music as a portal for self-growth and discovery, as she navigates and better understands her cultural and queer identity.
She has shared the stage with and opened for acts like Lido Pimienta, Sudan Archives, Shabazz Palaces, The Hallucination (fka A Tribe Called Red), SAMMUS, Sean Leon, JPEGMAFIA, Snotty Nose Rez Kids and THEESatisfaction to name a few.
She has toured Europe independently twice; playing shows in Paris, Amsterdam, London, and Berlin, as well as performed at North American and European music festivals like: Montreal Jazz Festival, Black Women Rock, New Skool Rules, Soul Of Brooklyn, Allied Media Conference, Sappy Fest, Electric Eclectic, Summerworks, Ottawa Capital Pride, Pride Toronto, Pop Montreal, Halifax Pop Explosion and so many more!
In March of 2020, Witch Prophet released her Ontario Arts Council funded sophomore LP “D.N.A Activation”. An ode to her Ethiopian and Eritrean ancestral roots, fusing Jazz, Hip-Hop, Soul and RnB with songs sung in English, Amharic, and Tigrinya. Co-produced by herself and her partner SUN SUN, praised by press and music lovers alike, DNA Activation was shortlisted for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize.
She has since released a deluxe edition of DNA Activation featuring remix tracks with rappers Stas THEE Boss and LATASHÁ. The video for her song Tesfay directed by Leah Vlemmiks was nominated for the 2021 Prism Prize and was an official selection at the 2021 Rhode Island International Film Festival as well as the 2021 SXSW Music Video awards. Tesfay was also nominated in the UKMVA’s Best International RnB/Soul video category alongside Beyoncé, Cardi B, Normani, The Weeknd, and Bryson Tiller.
Her newest video for her single Makda was released May 2021 and debuted on FADER.
Currently, Witch Prophet has her 3rd album ‘Gateway Experience’ due for release May 2023.
The Yule tree is often placed in a central location in the home and serves as a focal point for the Yule celebrations. Candle lighting is another significant custom during Wiccan Yule. Wiccans light candles to symbolize the return of the sun and the triumph of light over darkness.
They may use specific colors that correspond to the gods and goddesses they are honoring during this time. Lighting candles throughout the home adds warmth, light, and a sense of sacredness to the holiday festivities. Feasting is a common custom during Yule, where Wiccans gather with loved ones to share a meal. The feasting is often done on Yule Eve or Yule Day and includes traditional foods and drinks that are associated with the season. These foods may include roasted meats, vegetables, bread, and spiced drinks like mulled wine or cider. The feast is a time to celebrate the abundance of nature, give thanks, and connect with loved ones. Gift-giving is also a part of Wiccan Yule customs, symbolizing the exchange of blessings and good wishes between individuals. The gifts are often handmade or meaningful, representing the love and thoughtfulness behind them. This tradition encourages the spirit of giving and generosity, fostering a sense of community and kinship. Furthermore, Wiccans may engage in rituals and ceremonies during Yule to honor the gods and goddesses associated with the season. These rituals may involve chanting, meditation, spellwork, and invocations, connecting the practitioners with the spiritual energy and the natural forces at work during Yule. Rituals may also include the lighting of a Yule log, which represents the turning of the wheel of the year and the burning away of old energies to make way for new beginnings. Overall, Wiccan Yule customs encompass a variety of traditions and practices that are centered around celebrating the rebirth of the sun and the return of light. These customs not only connect Wiccans with the natural world and the cycle of the seasons but also create a sense of warmth, joy, and spiritual fulfillment during the darkest time of the year..
Reviews for "Wiccan Yule Traditions for Protection and Renewal"
1. John - 1 star - I found "Wiccan yule customs" to be a complete waste of time. It was filled with frivolous and superstitious practices that had no basis in reality. The book didn't provide any logical explanations for the customs or rituals it presented, and it seemed to cater to those who believe in supernatural powers rather than relying on scientific evidence. I was extremely disappointed and would not recommend this book to anyone seeking well-reasoned and rational information.
2. Emily - 2 stars - While I respect people's right to practice their own spiritual beliefs, I personally didn't connect with "Wiccan yule customs" at all. The instructions and suggestions for the rituals were too vague and lacked clear explanations. It felt more like a collection of random ideas rather than a cohesive guide. Additionally, I found some of the customs presented to be unnecessarily complex and difficult to implement, which discouraged me from trying them out. Overall, I felt disengaged and unsatisfied with this book.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - "Wiccan yule customs" was not what I expected. As someone interested in exploring different spiritual practices, I was hoping for a more comprehensive and well-researched guide. However, I found that the book lacked depth and relied heavily on personal anecdotes and beliefs without providing any factual or historical context. It felt more like an opinion piece rather than an informative resource. I would suggest looking elsewhere if you are seeking a more informative and evidence-based approach to Wiccan customs during yule.