#yule activities

I came up with 50 things for you to do during the Winter Solstice so you didn’t have to! Yay for not thinking!

1. Wear wreaths like flower crowns because… reasons. 
   
2. Wear an obnoxious amount of red because. Reasons?
   
3. Decorate your magical space with pinecones.
   
4. Create your own festive incense blend with non-traditional ingredients. Get creative!
5. Make a witchball.
6. Adorn your house with reds, whites, greens, golds and browns.
7. Gather twigs and branches and make your own tree figure for your altar.
8. Alternatively, decorate a pinecone as if it were a yule tree.
9. Invest in some strong citrus scents.
10. Feast on foods with rich flavour.
11. Be receptive to the needs of your friends; help them out if you can.
12. Snack on dry fruits.
13. Keep a candle burning late into the night.
14. If New Years is for new beginnings, make your Yule about successful ends. Wrap up your projects and take time to rest, confident in your actions.
15. Make a pomander! 
16. Bake mince pies.
17. If you’re an adult, it’s fairly likely that someone is going to gift you booze at some point. Why not use it as an offering?
18. Hang mistletoe above your altar and blow any spirits or deities you work with a kiss.
19. Create your own tarot spread in traditional winter shapes; stars, trees, etc
20. Make your space a light in the winter darkness.
21. Write a poem.
22. Bake a Yule log. This is… a no-brainer, surely?
23. As a devotional act or simply as the act of a good human being, go buy some cheap gloves, hats and blankets and donate them to homeless shelters. 
24. Hang cinnamon sticks from your Yule tree for festive energy and positivity.
25. Pay for the next persons’ drink at a coffee place.
26. Reconnect with a friend or family member you’ve lost contact with.
27. Make blessed water with snow.
28. Design your own greetings cards.
29. Create cinnamon stick candle holders.
30. Make a yule ritual oil.
31. Gather small tools for a mini ritual kit if you’re going to be away from home this season.
32. Cleanse your house with Yulecentric scents like citrus fruits, frankincense, pine needles, cedar, sandalwood, juniper berries, etc…
33. Craft a wreath and weave your intent into it.
34. Tis’ the season of flu and colds; brush up on your herbal remedy knowledge.
35. Consider making a special Yule dinner for a pet (before giving them ANY food they don’t usually have, ensure to research whether it is safe for them to eat.
36. Explore the world of clay crafts; make decorations with protective intent, carve sigils into them.
37. If you don’t have clay at hand, salt dough is the next best thing. Explore creating ornaments with herbs baked into them for extra magical zing.
38. Consider environmentally friendly routes of doing your wrapping this year. I’ve often wrapped a gift within another gift. (for example, wrapping an ornament up in a blanket)
39. If you can’t afford to donate to homeless shelters or any charity of your choice, do volunteer work. Nonprofit organizations are always short-staffed this season.
40. Create new traditions. Tell stories, insist on weird party games before opening gifts. It’s the small things that your family will remember fondly for years to come.
41. If you are alone this season, don’t isolate yourself any more than you need to. Look out for events going on in your area. Have a good phone call with a friend. Settle down and watch your favourite film. There’s no reason to force yourself to wallow.
42. Hotlines are there for a reason. If you need to, use them. 
43. Get your research game on; learn the history of Yule!
44. Don’t stop there. Search the winter traditions of all cultures and faiths. They can inspire you with new ideas for your own practice.
45. Practise an old tradition you wouldn’t usually have considered.
46. Mourn the loss of the sun on the longest day… yet celebrate too, as he returns sooner than you think :)
47. Yule is a great time to pay homage to work with earth and fire alongside each other in balance. If you’re lacking a meaningful connection to either of these signs, now is the time to make that bond!
48. Pay homage to the tale of the Holly King and the Oak King by hanging both above your fireplace.
49. Make mulled/spiced wine!
50. Ignore literally all of these tips for at least a day and just CHILL dude. Have some fun. Sleep on your sofa for 8 hours. Live your best life.