The mysteries of winter
And how to experience them: An introduction to the 12 Sacred Nights
With the Winter Solstice arrives not only the sun’s return but the sacred nights of dreaming. A time of oracular insight and magic that has been revered for millennia. But one to be aware of as the Wild Hunt is still roaming the lands and the veils between the worlds of old and new are lifted.
The mystification of the Raunächte (Twelve Nights) is multi-layered and goes back to pre-christian history: some interpretations refer to the Germanic winter and light festivals, others to Celtic and Slavic influences.
All origins have in common that it was believed that the boundary between the visible and invisible world was particularly thin at this time. Therefore, the spirits of the deceased, ancestors and nature spirits could roam freely and influence the human world - both positively and negatively.
This is the essence of the Wild Hunt which in my hometown Glastonbury is lead by Gwyn ap Nudd, faery king of Annwfn (The Otherworld) - or King Arthur and his army, as many claim to have seen their ghosts at Cadbury Castle and in Wales.
The Wild Hunt is a sacred yet eerie procession which often starts with the harsh November winds and rides with the mists. The aim is to collect all souls who are transitioning and therefore many warn to stay inside - unless you are a seasoned spirit worker, witch or death doula and want to join in the sacred work of soul tending. In Germany and the Netherlands it is not a man who leads the hunt but a much older deity, Holle or Perchta in Southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria. She leads the souls of children to the place where they can be reborn or has them join her walk.
She is the ancient mother, the great goddess and creator of all.
Her old and ugly face is also known in Scotland as the Cailleach, the winter crone and shaper of land. But this is just one of her faces, to those who honour, respect and care for her she often appears as a beautiful maiden, the fertility aspect of nature. Those that fear her are advised to look within. To face what you deem ugly in your own body, mind and soul.
This is why various customs developed to ask for protection and blessings for the coming year. People also used this time to consciously prepare themselves for the challenges and opportunities of the future. Various rituals were intended to bring luck, health and success and strengthen the connection to the spiritual dimensions.
At the dawn of patriarchy the great goddess was joined first by other god*esses until the one sky father pushed everyone into the corner of consciousness and they became saints, antagonists or evil characters in myths and witches or fairy godmothers in folk tales.
What we know is that the custom of this special time is much older than the modern take of it which is celebrated between Christmas on the 24/25th December and the arrival of the three kings on 6th January.
It is difficult to determine the natural origin of the Sacred Nights. Historians suspect that the change from the lunar to the solar year, which took place during the reign of Julius Caesar (100 - 44 BC), could have been the reason. Due to the calendar change, the year was extended by eleven days and thus twelve nights, which were also called ‘dead days’ at the time - today's Raunächte. However, there are also traditions that define the Sacred Nights as an old pagan custom whose origins lie in the Germanic calendar and the 11-day leap months that were inserted there.
The Winter time and preparation towards the Winter Solstice is a deeply feminine time, for indigenous (nordic) people it was the nights of the mothers in which the solar child, the sun was born. (the sun, Sunna, herself a female deity, sister of Máni, the moon)
Time of wise women, death doulas, midwives of new life, sorceresses of healing and transformation, goddesses of fate, female ancestors and protector spirits of the collective. A perfect time to connect with ceremonial cacao and allow her to awaken your inherent magic (in form of a healthy magical treat instead of the sugar loaded hot chocolate)!
In Germany we still celebrate the 12 Sacred Nights and for me a much more potent time than Christmas itself and one I look forward to every winter!
A tradition that links us to non-patriarchal times of honouring the power to give, nurture and regenerate life and a practice that fits perfectly well into our modern lives - well, if you detach your smoke alarm because it involves daily incense burning.
Most align their ritual practice with the Christian festive days between 24th of December and 6th of January. Considering Winter Solstice is just a few days before Christ’s birth (like Summer Solstice lies a few days before John the Baptist’s birthday) t iis more likely to be the start of the so called “Time between the Years”. It is a liminal time of introspection, insight and oracular imagination.
I have created a guide to assist you throughout each of the Sacred Nights, including rituals, herbal suggestions for incense, journal questions, energies and correspondences as well as the 13 Wishes Ritual.
If you want to get my guide without subscribing to this Substack publication (and to save yourself the stress of last minute xmas shopping) you can get it by ordering ceremonial grade cacao with my affiliate link until the end of this year. A magical gift for friends and family alike!
Simply use my link or the code KAKAOZAUBER19DE21 on keithscacao.com - worldwide shipping and 5% off on your first order. Send me a message or comment on this posts after you ordered and I’ll send you my 30+ pages pdf with lots of background information and daily guidance.
I loved discovering the 12 sacred nights from you last year and love delving deeper here, the rituals for the in-between time sound wonderful xx