21/12/2025
Beautiful words ๐
Wanted to share a Watchers Yule Ceremony Visualisation with you that I wrote specially for anyone who like me canโt get to be with others in person this year, for whatever reason.
First of all decide what you will wear for this vision. I am in my Solstice Dress with Greenmen and moons on, with my Green Velvet cloak.
Lie down.
Close your eyes and breathe in deeply and exhale 3 times. Let your whole body relax.
See your favourite Stones in your mind surrounded by ancient Woodland and just walk in.
Then join with me within the Circle of Stones. I visualise the Rollright Stones but you can be anywhere. Your are an astral body not a physical being now.
You hear my voice say.
Welcome to Watchers of the Old Ways Winter Solstice Yule Ceremony.
The shortest day is this Sunday the 21st of December this year.
We are now at the threshold of Winter, as it gets darker and colder itโs time to embrace our inner Bear.
Everything in nature is showing us the way to return to our caves, our safe spaces, for reflection and learning from the events of the last year.
Itโs been a tough year in so many ways. Many of us are feeling exhausted and feeling the need to rest to be alone to retreat away from society from all the noise...all the news.
But nowadays we fight this natural way of being as Winter arrives with bright lights and too much alcohol, overspending and buying things we donโt really need.
Many people are made sick at this time of year, both physically and mentally from the pressure to conform, to spend time with people and families they may avoid at other times of the year.
Not this year. This is not what this time of year is truly about, nature leads the way, the plants pause and many creatures go inwards and hibernate.
We must learn from Mother Nature and the Great Bear Spirit, look up to the stars more, they watch over us always.
Ursa Major is a constellation in the northern sky, whose associated mythology likely dates back into prehistory. Its Latin name means "greater she-bear. She is made of stardust like us, shining with limitless energy and inner power.
We have everything we already need within us if we take the time to pause and look deeper.
Some will also follow the tradition on Yule of laying a table space for a departed loved one.
Many moons ago we used to lay three spaces for the goddesses, with a knife each to cut the threads of life, of fate.
We hold our own space now we are all one with our Ancestors. Imagine a cloud full of lights taking turns to shine, like the timed flashing lights on a Yuletide tree.
We bring plants and greenery into our homes and weave them together at this time into Garlands or table decorations, some of us even bring a whole tree into the house!
Traditionally The Holly King battles the Oak King and the Oak King wins at Yule time.
I wanted to do something different for you, to talk about communing and growing together with our plant allies this year instead. People uniting in these difficult times rather than taking sides, battling and causing divisions.
History shows us that the plant allies we used at this sacred time were those thriving in this season.
Symbolic Yuletide and Solstice plant allies used for decorations include:
Evergreens like spruce as symbols of immortality as they stayed green whilst other trees lost their leaves.
Yew a very sacred tree represented the death of the old year and were seen as a connection between this world and the next. The berries seeds are poisonous so take care.
Oak trees often seen as the Druid tree, were revered for being long-lived. Even though they were not evergreen, they were symbols of eternal life and considered a source of protection, strength, and endurance.
Rosemary, an evergreen shrub was called the herb of the sun. It is also used to improve memory so a powerful plant ally to weave into your Garland to remember loved ones no longer with us.
Bay, an evergreen herb used in garlands and comforting teas. Bay laurel also signifies courage and strength. The Romans revered it and wove it into garlands to wear on their heads.
Birch is a sacred tree within the mythology of the Celts and is thought to have very protective influences.
Mistletoe stood for peace, happiness and kisses. For romance, vitality and fertility. It is also prepared correctly with knowledge, a powerful healer even though the berries are poisonous. Revered by the Druids.
Holly was used for magical protection and good luck, for fertility and eternal life.
Ivy symbolised fidelity, faithfulness and healing. Itโs used in binding spells too so it can be used to pull all the other elements of the Garland together, uniting all the individual meanings.
Pine cleanses and it symbolised peace, healing, and joy.
Pine resin is in the incense I made for Yule. Every element of this ritual is woven together and steeped in deeper ancient meanings.
Fill your mind with the scent and meaning of these plant allies as we manifest all of humanity coming together at this time.
I have recreated Ursa Major the great bear spirit constellation in mirror stars on the ground within my Altar space, inside the circle of stones I can visualise me walking in the sky.
Look up to the stars tonight and realise this is just a moment in time, we are protected and watched over, we are stardust.
We will now do a wishing cone together for 2026.
See yourself putting a slip of paper with your wishes written on it into a fir cone that will then be burnt in the ritual fire. As the cones burn, your wishes will be released into the universe through smoke.
Now gently return to your body open your eyes and breathe in deeply.
Blessed be.
Wishing you and yours love and peace for 2026.
Rebecca Henderson
Watchers of the Old Ways.
