The Winter Solstice, also known as Yule, marks the longest night of the year. It’s both a celebration of the deep, deep darkness of winter, and the return of the sun, as from this night, the days will slowly begin to lengthen.

Winter solstice is a time of profound reflection, renewal, and celebration of the light within us.

For witches, this sabbat is a powerful day for magick. But it’s also slow, restful and contemplative, so any spellwork down on this day tends to reflect this.

Here are three spells to honour this magical time: a protection spell, a spell jar, and an altar blessing.

1. Protection Spell

As the longest night envelops you, instead of turning away, harness the power of darkness in your magick.

This simple protection creates a shield against negativity, and harmful thoughts, acts or even personal patterns that maybe lingering. Cast on the solstice to ensure your spirit remains safe and grounded as you traverse this seasonal gateway.

Spell ingredients

• A black candle (for protection)
• A piece of obsidian or black tourmaline (for grounding)
• A small bowl of salt (for purification)
• A sprig of rosemary (for cleansing)

Spell instructions

1. Find a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed. Set up your materials in front of you and take a moment to ground and center.

2. Light the black candle, focusing on the flame as a source of protection.

3. Take the piece of obsidian or black tourmaline in your hands. Close your eyes and visualize a protective barrier emanating from the crystal, surrounding you completely.

4. Sprinkle a circle of salt around the candle, creating and symbolising a protective boundary.

5. Hold the rosemary in your hands, infusing it with your intention for protection. Say the following incantation:

“By the light of this flame so bright,

I call for protection, day and night.

Surround me with your shield so strong,

Keep my spirit safe, where I belong.

As I will, so mote it be,

Guard me now, and set me free.”

6. Allow the candle to burn for at least an hour as you meditate on your intention. When finished, extinguish the candle safely.

2. Winter solstice spell jar for lucid dreaming

If you have never tried intentional dreaming, the longest night of the year is the BEST time to try! As darkness falls, why not bed down early and set intentions into the night for clarity and insight to appear from your subconscious realms?

This spell jar combines powerful herbs and crystals to promote vivid dreams, intuition, and restful sleep.

Spell ingredients

• Dried mugwort (for enhancing dreams and intuition)
• A bay leaf (for protection and clarity in dreams)
• Dried lavender (to soothe)
• A piece of moonstone (for heightened intuition)
• A piece of lapis lazuli (for wisdom and insight)
• A small clean jar with a lid or stopper
• Purple wax to seal (a purple candle will do)

Spell instructions

1. Begin by cleansing your jar with salt water, moon water or by passing it through the smoke of your chosen burning herbs (mugwort would be ideal).

2. Ground and center yourself, and call in any spirit allies to support your work

3 You may like to charge or activate each ingredient before you place it into the jar, and then in a slow, intentional way, layer each ingredient in.

4. When complete, close the jar tightly, hold it in your hands and say the following incantation:

“In this jar, my dreams take flight,
With herbs and stones, I seek the night.
May visions come, both clear and bright,
Guide my soul till morning light.”

5. melt the purple wax and use it to seal the lid of the jar shut. If using a candle, you could place the candle atop your jar and let it burn down (watch carefully and extinguish before it quite reaches the lid)

6. Place the jar on your bedside table or under your pillow to enhance your dreaming experience and invite clarity and insight into your dreams.

3. Altar blessing

If you have an existing house altar, you may like to freshen it up and re-awaken it for yule. If not, I invite you to create one for the season. Here’s a simple altar blessing you can use for the solstice.

Spell ingredients

• A white candle (for purity and new beginnings)
• Fresh greenery (like pine or holly)
• A small bowl of water (for clarity and reflection)
• A few stones or crystals (like amethyst or rose quartz)

Spell instructions

1. Arrange your altar with the white candle at the centre, surrounded by fresh greenery.

2. Place the bowl of water on one side and the stones or crystals on the other.

3. Light the white candle and take a moment to breathe deeply, centring yourself.

4. As you gaze at the candle flame, say the following blessing:

“By this light, I bless this space,
With love and peace, I fill this place.
May the energies flow, pure and bright,
As I honour the return of the light.”

5. Dip your fingers into the bowl of water and sprinkle a few drops around the altar, symbolizing clarity and purification.

6. Spend some time in quiet reflection or meditation, bathing in the quiet energy of the solstice, allowing it to fill your space.

These simple solstice spells can be adapted to fit your personal beliefs and practice of magick, ritual and witchcraft.

May your winter solstice be filled with warmth, protection, and the promise of new beginnings. Blessed Yule.