Seasonal Musings - Winter Solstice Edition

An open art journal sits open on a desk with a Yule Log, eucalyptus leaves, candles, a cup of tea and other art witch items.

Hello creative alchemists,

Welcome to the longest night of the year. The Winter Solstice is here, a sacred turning point on the Wheel of the Year, a threshold between shadow and light, endings and beginnings.

There’s a stillness in the air that feels different. Ancient. This is a time when the earth whispers its old stories and invites us to rest, reflect, and root into the quiet before the slow return of the sun.

So, grab a cuppa, or perhaps a cheeky mulled wine and let’s sink into the solstice magic together.

A Brief History of Yule & the Longest Night

Before Christmas, there was Yule.

Yule is an ancient midwinter festival celebrated by Germanic and Norse peoples, falling on or near the Winter Solstice. The word Yule is thought to stem from jól, a term that predates Christianity by centuries. It marked the rebirth of the sun after the darkest, longest night of the year.

In pagan mythology, particularly within Wiccan and Celtic-inspired traditions, this moment is when the Great Mother Goddess gives birth to the Sun God, bringing light back into the world. It’s a celebration of hope, renewal, and the slow but certain return of warmth and life. The Crone phase of the Goddess makes way for the Maiden once more, the cycle begins again.

This sacred story of light reborn in darkness can be seen echoed in many cultures, including Christianity, where the birth of the Son of God is celebrated close to the solstice. Pagan Sun God—Christian Son of God. The symbolism is strikingly similar.

Yule Traditions You Might Recognise:

•              The Yule Log: Traditionally a whole tree or log burned over several nights, symbolising warmth, protection, and prosperity. Ashes were often kept for luck or used in charms throughout the year.

•              Evergreens & Holly: Trees and greenery symbolised life that persists through winter’s death. Holly was thought to house the spirits of nature and offer protection.

•              Mistletoe: A sacred plant in Druidic tradition, associated with healing, fertility, and the divine.

•              Feasting, Storytelling & Singing: Joyful acts to banish the cold and call in abundance for the season ahead.

•              Gift Giving: Originally offerings to spirits, gods, or loved ones as tokens of hope and blessings for the return of light. Over time, this evolved into the more commercial gift-giving we associate with modern Christmas.

As Christianity spread through Europe, many Yule customs were absorbed into Christmas celebrations, trees, feasts, carols, gift-giving. The deeper, cyclical rhythms of nature-based spirituality were woven into a new tapestry, but the original threads still shimmer underneath.

Other Midwinter Celebrations Around the World

While the Northern Hemisphere’s Winter Solstice is often at the centre of Western narratives, cultures across the globe have long honoured this seasonal turning.

•              Yalda Night (Iran): Originally Zoroastrian festival, celebrated throughout Central Asia celebrating the rebirth of the sun and the victory of light over darkness. Families gather to read poetry (especially Hafez), eat pomegranates, watermelon and nuts, and stay awake into the night.

•              Shab-e Chelleh (Middle East): Another name for Yalda in Iran and surrounding regions, honouring endurance, love, and the turning of the cosmic tide.

•              Dongzhi Festival (China): A time for family reunions and the making of glutinous rice balls called tangyuan, symbolising unity and balance. The solstice marks the yin phase transitioning back toward yang.

•              Soyal (Zuni and Hopi Tribes, USA): A ceremonial dance festival held to welcome the sun back from its long journey. It includes purification rituals, storytelling, and blessings for the new year.

Across time and culture, the themes remain consistent: rebirth, light returning, rest, gathering, and hope.

A traditional Yalda table set for winter solstice. The scene includes an open pomegranate, a bowl of mixed nuts and dried fruits, and slices of watermelon. A book of Hafez’s poetry lies nearby, with candles casting a warm glow over the richly patterned tablecloth. The atmosphere is cosy, festive, and filled with Persian cultural elements.

Ways to Celebrate – Witchy & Otherwise

Whether you identify as an art witch or simply love the invitation of a slower season, here are some gentle and magical ways to mark the Solstice in your own rhythm:

For the Art Witches

•              Create a Winter Solstice altar using natural materials: pinecones, quartz, candles, cinnamon, evergreen sprigs, and dried orange slices.

•              Make a symbolic Yule Log from a small branch. Decorate it with ribbon, runes, or sigils for protection and creativity. Burn it (safely) or display it on your altar.

•              Paint your own Sun God/Goddess—as they rise from the dark. Use golds, deep indigos, and symbolic elements like antlers, spirals, or flame.

•              Craft a wheel of the year for your art journal, or collage seasonal imagery to track your inner and outer cycles.

A cosy armchair draped with a soft throw rug sits beside a small altar table. A grey cat is curled up peacefully on the arm of the chair. On the table, a steaming glass of mulled wine, candles, eucalyptus leaves, and a few crystals create a warm, witchy solstice setting. The lighting is soft and golden, evoking a calm winter evening.

For the Muggles (and low-spoons witches)

•              Brew a warm cider or spiced tea. Add cinnamon or clove and stir in an intention.

•              Watch the sunrise the morning after solstice to welcome the light back.

•              Light a single candle and sit in darkness for a few moments—notice what emerges in the quiet.

•              Bake traditional winter treats (shortbread, gingerbread, or anything warm and buttery).

•   Call a friend or loved one. Connection is a spell too.

Winter Studio Tunes

If you’re looking to set the perfect vibe while you slow down and honour the Solstice, I’ve put together a Winter Studio Tunes playlist—full of warm, gentle, and soulful tracks to accompany your ritual, journaling, or simply resting. You can find it linked in the blog to help create your own sacred soundtrack for this quiet turning of the year.

Art Journal Prompt – "A Light in the Dark"

In the deep dark of winter, what light do you tend within?

Reflect on the parts of yourself that are ready to emerge or be reborn. What quiet truth is beginning to glow again after a long dormancy?

Use imagery of spirals, candles, seeds, or fire. Consider journaling or illustrating the inner flame that guides you through your own winter.

Optional: Try a before-and-after page, one side for what you’re releasing in the darkness, the other for what you’re gently calling back into the light.

An open art journal rests on a cream-coloured desk, showing a creative response to the prompt “A Light in the Dark.” The pages feature painted spiral shapes, soft brushstrokes in gold and indigo, and handwritten reflections. Surrounding the journal are a lit candle, a cup of tea, and a few crystals, creating a peaceful and introspective solstice atmosphere.

Oracle Insights – Solstice Reading

Take a pause and shuffle your favourite oracle or tarot deck. Ask the solstice to speak through your cards. Then pull:

1.           The Darkness: What is being invited to fall away or be composted?

2.           The Stillness: What wisdom or rest is here in the pause?

3.           The Light's Return: What is beginning to rise again in me?

Write down your impressions or sketch the card imagery into your journal. If you don’t have a deck, pull symbols from nature, use your intuition to draw three abstract shapes or colours, or flip to three random pages in a book and let those be your guidance.

Three oracle cards are laid out in a horizontal row on a cream-coloured desk, each turned face-up as part of a Winter Solstice spread. Around the cards are crystals, a lit candle, dried herbs, and an open art journal with handwritten notes and symbols. A warm mug of tea sits nearby. The scene feels quiet, intuitive, and ritualistic—an art witch’s sacred moment of reflection.

Closing the Circle

As the wheel turns and the light slowly returns, may you find rest in the stillness and inspiration in the dark. Winter invites us to honour the quiet, tend our inner flame, and listen deeply to what’s ready to emerge.

The next instalment of the Monthly Musings – Art Witch Journal will be out next week, where I’ll be sharing more reflections from the studio, an art journal prompt for the new moon, and the next chapter of my long-form artist essay.

In the meantime, don’t forget to check my Facebook page for the upcoming Cycles of Craft update as we move through the Solstice portal and into Cancer Season—a time of deep feeling, nourishment, and inner sanctuary.

You can also visit my Redbubble shop to explore my art prints and designs, or follow along on Instagram @angefosterart for more updates from the studio.

Wishing you a gentle and magical Solstice,

A note on images:

As a disabled artist, I sometimes use AI-generated images to help illustrate my blog and social media content. Creating and photographing styled scenes myself isn’t always physically possible, especially on low-spoon days. These images are a supportive tool that helps me share my vision and storytelling when my body needs rest. Wherever I can, I bring my own art and handmade magic into the mix too. Thank you for understanding and holding space for access in creative practice.