Divining in Darkness: Methods of Divination Perfect for Winter

Winter. The word evokes a sense of chill, of cold, crisp air, and of dark, long, quiet nights. Darkness is often seen as a symbol of confusion or unfamiliarity, of uncertainty, of not knowing the way forward, but darkness can, indeed, be a powerful ally in the art of divination. Darkness can be the backdrop for some of the oldest and most varied forms of divination still known to us, and it can also be a tool itself, a key player in our divinatory practices. Two such realms of divination that rely on darkness in their own ways will be explored in this piece, two schools of divination that are perfect to welcome into our winter practices and traditions.

DivinationKeziahDecember 13, 2023divination, winter, winter divination, pyromancy, fire, libanomancy, scrying

Winter Protection Magic: Herbs, Amulets, and Easy Spells to Protect Yourself and Your Home

While the winter days are darker, slower, quieter, colder, we also find they are a time to gather with friends and family, to enjoy the warmth of company and the cheer of the winter season. It’s a season known both for being a season of joy and togetherness, as well as being a season of isolation and spiritual vulnerability. As opposing as these reputations are, one thing they share in common is the increased need for protective magic.

Protective magic for the winter season doesn’t have to be complicated. Indeed, you’ll often find it’s much the opposite. There are many simple methods of magical protection that we can put to work this winter season, and some of them are things we already do without even knowing. In this piece, we’ll explore winter herbs and ingredients one can use in their winter protection magic, as well as a few easy ways to protect yourself and your space during this winter season. Let’s get started.

the Winter Ones: Folkloric Figures of Winter, Yule, and Christmas

Yule has many customs and traditions, and those practices differ from region to region. One of my favorite aspects of Yule is the amount of figures associated with the festival – folk figures unique to the regions from which they hail. For many people, if you ask them about figures they associate with the Yule season, you’ll hear Father Christmas, Krampus, and maybe even a nod or two to Hans Trapp, but there are so many more Yule figures out there! In this post, we’ll meet a variety of these folk figures, and we’ll learn a bit about their Yule tales. It’s my hope that readers of this blog may find a new way of incorporating beliefs or customs of their ancestors or of their homelands (for our readers who are members of diasporic populations), and that, in doing so, their winter holidays may be even just a bit brighter for it. Now, shall we dive in? Who to meet first…

The Yule Father

When the days grow shorter and the nights grow longer and darker, that’s when I feel I’m at my best - creatively, emotionally, psychically, and, of course, magically; when I feel my ties to Óðinn strengthen. It’s a time of year I’ve always used to re-dedicate myself and parts of my practice. Jól, a holiday with such lasting traditions that have shaped the imagery and practice Christmas and winter holidays around the world, is not now commonly associated with Óðinn, and yet there is so much that ties it to the Wanderer.

Folklore, Holidays & TraditionsKeziahDecember 23, 2019odin, yule, jol, winter, the wild hunt, folklore, european folklore