Nine Plant Spirits to Celebrate with during Yuletide
The Who, the Why, and a little bit on the How. Merry Yuletide!
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Yuletide
As Winter Solstice approaches, we near the longest night of the year. In ancient times, people would sit up all night long to tend the hearth fire lest the fire go out and stay out. The Yule Log was a new hearth log that was lit with the old fires from the past year’s fire and ushered in the Light for the new year to come.
While the twelve days of Yule were a time of celebration, the first night, known in some traditions as Mother’s Night, was held as sacred.
It is my understanding that what many call paganism was the shamanic traditions from Western Europe, which were largely decimated by the spread of the Christian and Catholic Churches. (There is a very long rabbit hole one could go down to explore these things, but let it be known that I have nothing against present-day Christians or Catholics, just as I have nothing against present-day Germans. However, to ignore history is to remain in ignorance.)
The traditions I have ties to in my past lives are those of Norse Shamanism (which is distinctly different from Sami traditions, and also very different from what most Norse Pagans/Heathens have recreated) and Druidry. Both of these traditions had beautiful celebrations for the Twelve Nights of Yule and Winter Solstice.
It’s interesting to note that most of the Christmas traditions we have are very strongly tied to these ancient shamanic roots. While some could say that the Church stole or appropriated these things, I think it was more a natural transition as people converted (authentically or not), they brought these traditions into their Christian faith and kept them alive in their celebrations.
A recent musing sent me down a path of understanding why Christmas was on the 25th of December rather than the actual date of birth for the man known as Jesus, and I think it’s closely tied to the Winter Solstice. Just as we needed to keep the hearth fire going for the long winter months ahead (an untended hearth fire could have meant death for ancient peoples), I feel that the enlightened master who would be known as Christ came in a very dark period for mankind, as a representative of the Light, and what better time to celebrate the Light than during the darkest time of year?
So, during this time of darkness, let us rekindle our hope. We are in a very dark time, now, and many cannot see it. Let us be the hope, the Light, for others. Let us keep the wisdom traditions alive, keep the hearth fires tended, and pray through our darkest hour as we wait for the sun to rise again and welcome the Light back.
Celebrating Mother’s Night
The Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year. In Norse traditions, it was said that this is when the “Great Hunt” began, which was when Oðinn and his horde would hunt each night. If you were found outside after dark, you would die.
We can see how this might be a legend meant to keep people inside during this dark and cold time of year. Whether Oðinn is an actual god or a legend similar to that of the story of Christ, with elements of awakening, alchemy, and self-sacrifice, is for you to decide.
A very common tradition for Mother’s Night is the Yule log. If you are blessed enough to have a wood burning fireplace, you can choose a large log to light and keep your fireplace burning all through the twelve days. If not, you may choose to burn a large candle through the night (obviously do not leave it unattended or leave burning while you sleep).
Often times Mother’s Night is spent with family and friends, staying awake all night to wait for dawn the next morning.
If none of those are possible for you, there are dozens of recipes online for a Yule log cake that are delicious and accessible ways to celebrate Mother’s Night.
You may wish to take some time and honor the motherline of your family and ancestors, and all of the feminine spirits and masters. Celebrate their create and joyful spirits and the sacrifices they make to bring life into the world.
Nine Plant Spirits to Celebrate Yuletide
Rosemary (recommended for Mother’s Night on the Winter Solstice)
Rosemary is one of my favorite plants, and she is very surprising. In ancient traditions, she is known as the “exorcism herb.” From my remembrances, she is Western European traditions’ equivalent of White Sage, in use, although not in Spirit.
Rosemary has the essence of the Mother. She is also an herb of the Sun. When you look into Rosemary’s Spirit, you can feel sunlight radiate from her, and her loving smile is like that of a mother beaming at her child.
Rarely do we get to equate the Sun with a feminine spirit but this is who Rosemary is. The Sun energy she brings is why she is able to drive out darkness so effectively. Rosemary is a very strong herb, as well, and can be considered “hot” - don’t chop rosemary and then rub your eyes! If you choose to work with her as an essential oil, you will want to dilute it.
Rosemary is one of the easiest herbs to incorporate into your life, as she is already present in many foods we eat. I recommend switching to fresh rosemary (found in the refrigerated vegetables section of your grocery store) if you’ve been using dried as the taste and aroma are significantly different.
Rosemary has traditionally been planted by “portals” - ie. gates, doors, windows - to protect the entrances to our spaces. She is a wonderfully protective Spirit. She is also very fortifying and strengthening for the soul.
You can make a delicious dish with chopped fresh rosemary (a little goes a long way!). Or you can make a simple rosemary tea.
You can also hang sprigs of rosemary around your home, create wreaths with fresh rosemary and other fresh plants, such as cuttings from evergreen trees, and more.
Mistletoe
It was said that the Druids could make a plant medicine from mistletoe that was a panacea. I have an intuitive sense that mistletoe was mixed with one or two other plants to make a psychedelic medicine but I have no more information than that hunch.
There are many legends and myths surrounding Mistletoe, and many of them are rather unkind. Mistletoe is considered a parasitic or semi-parasitic plant, which I find rather fascinating, and because of this the legends tend to be harsh.
There is one that says Mistletoe used to be a tree and its wood made the cross that the man known as Jesus was crucified on, and in its shame it became a parasite. This doesn’t feel like an empowering story and, from the Spirit World perspective, doesn’t feel aligned with how Spirit operates.
There is also the story that Loki killed Baldr (son of Frigg and Oðinn), who was the god of the Sun, benevolence, and perfection, with a dart made of mistletoe, which is the one thing in existence Frigg had forgotten to get an oath from as she sought to protect Baldr from harm. Occording to myth, Baldr currently dwells in Helheim (which, contrary to modern belief, is not “hell” but rather the Underworld, which may need to be a whole different discussion) and will return at Ragnarök at the last battle of the gods.
In Druidry, as I said, Mistletoe was considered extremely sacred, especially one that grew on the oak tree. They had whole ceremonies around when and how to harvest such a plant, and used it to create incredible healing medicine.
You can choose how to view this spirit, of course, but choose one that feels empowering and inspiring to you for this time of year and where you are in life.
Hang mistletoe in your home, with rosemary or other plants listed here, and enjoy hugs and kisses from loved ones, if desired! Love is, after all, the panacea.
Cranberry
Cranberry is a very tart berry that is common this time of year in jellies, jams, relishes, and drinks. The color is bright and festive, and adds a flair to the greenery of other plants we have listed here.
The benefits of cranberry on the physical plane and body are tremendous. It is an incredibly cleansing and toning plant for the digestive, excretory, and urinary systems. It will clear out all stagnant energies in the lower chakras.
They often say that bitter medicine (which we can’t deny about raw, un-sugared cranberries) remove the bitterness within us. If you’re able to tolerate the bitterness and sourness of raw cranberries, I recommend trying a few each morning for a few days as a detox.
If you’d rather celebrate with these berries, there are a variety of dishes and drinks that include cranberries and cranberry juice in them. I recently splurged on an artisanal New England cranberry relish and it did not disappoint!
(As a side note, be aware that packaged cranberry products often contain quite a bit of sugar. You may have more fun and make a healthier option by DIYing it.)
Cinnamon
A classic spice this time of year, starting in autumn, we have cinnamon as a shining star in many dishes and drinks, and for good reason.
Cinnamon has traditionally been considered a spice of good fortune and abundance. Cinnamon is the bark of the Cinnamomum cassia tree, which is part of the Laurel family, which is a family of trees that have often been associated with victory and good fortune. (See Bay, below.)
Cinnamon is commonly used in abundance spells in various esoteric traditions. I, myself, in younger days, have used cinnamon money spells with surprising success!
Cinnamon is a very warming spice, so you can understand that as the days get colder and nights get longer, we turn to a spice that would bring us warmth and energy.
Cinnamon pairs wonderfully with apples and other fruit, which, as in apple cider and other warm autumn and winter beverages, are a wonderful way to get healthy doses of vitamin C and other essential vitamins and nutrients we need for the long winter months.
Try making a brew of cacao, water, honey, and a dash of cinnamon for a beverage akin to Mexican hot chocolate, or add a pinch of cinnamon to your coffee grounds as you brew your coffee. (Send me a message and thank me when you do, ha!)
Pine
In ancient times, pine boughs, branches, and sometimes whole trees were brought in in order to invite the Spirits of the forest into the home to help them stay warm, and possibly offer good fortune to the home dwellers. Gifts, baubles, and bells were left on the branches, as were small candles, and thus began the Yule tree, later to become the Christmas tree!
We know the phrase “knock on wood” when we are hoping for a good outcome, and this is based on the idea that knocking on wood would encourage the Spirits in the wood to awaken and bring good fortune.
Pine is a beautiful decoration to bring into your home in the holiday season, whether it’s through a Christmas tree, a wreath, or even essential oil in a diffuser. Decorating with pinecones is a common tradition as well, and are more easily accessible to many if finding or buying a tree, boughs, or wreaths are a stretch financially.
There are a variety of other types of evergreen trees you can work with during this time, and they each have their own Spirit and personality. Pine is a gentle Spirit and very inviting to all, but Fir or Spruce are wonderful too. Using something local that you can find and bring home is a lovely way to connect to nature in your area.
Juniper
Juniper berries have a deep tradition with the medicine woman path, and follow me back into my days working with Norse shamanism. Juniper berries are a plant sacred to the deity Hel (Hela) who was the guardian and steward of Helheim, which is where those who died as children, in sickness, in childbirth, or of old age went. (Many are familiar with Valhalla as part of the Old Norse afterlife, but this was only a small percentage of people, and was not, as has been led to believe, the Norse “heaven,” and Helheim was not the Norse “hell.”)
Juniper is also sacred to Hekate, and most any other deities and traditions that work with the Underworld and afterlife. Juniper is a highly protective Spirit and works to keep negative and chaotic energies away, or to banish any present. This is why it is a plant Spirit so useful for journeying into the Underworld.
Journeying into the Underworld is extremely potent this time of year (starting around mid- to late-October) as the veil between this realm and the Underworld thins during Mother Nature’s falling into “slumber” and darkness. Ancestral work and deep healing work can be extremely beneficial during this time, and Juniper is a wonderful assistant and protectress.
Burning juniper berries as incense, or bringing in fresh sprigs and berries to hang along with your other greenery and decorations can bring in her Spirit and protect your home while adding a new dimension of color with her dark bluish-purple berries.
Vanilla
Another wonderfully aromatic plant that we find in our holiday dishes and traditions, although we use vanilla year round, too! Vanilla is a warming Spirit, and we find that adding the extract to our baked goods and beverages gives that little extra something!
If you can afford it and are interested, you can make your own vanilla extract, and it is quite amazing how much different it is from typical store-bought vanilla extract. There is also a big difference in the vanilla extract many buy in the United States and what is considered “Mexican vanilla extract,” with the latter being much milder in flavor.
One great project you can start as a yearly tradition is to make your own vanilla extract for the year, which only requires a couple of ingredients - vanilla bean pods or vanilla bean paste, and vodka. It takes about two months to craft, but it not only tastes better, it’s more cost effective too!
Apple
Apples have been a symbol of immortality for millennia. Having a sacred five-pointed star when halved horizontally, they symbolize access to Spirit and the four elements, and mastery thereof.
In the Norse tradition, Iðunn was the keeper of the Golden Apples, which were passed out among the gods and goddesses and gave them their immortality.
The Spirit of Apple is one of opening to our higher knowledge and wisdom. In some religions, it is said that the fruit offered from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was an apple. (Again, we can choose what story feels inspiring and empowering to us.) With a similar vein of the “poisoned apple” running throughout legends and myths, it makes me wonder if the apple presented wasn’t some form of psychedelic “apple,” but that’s just a pet theory of mine, haha. This also seems to relate to the story of Iðunn and her golden apples, but I will leave you to meditate on the possibilities of that!
We see the use of apples begin in fall when we had traditional activities like bobbing for apples, making apple baked goods and dishes, and even dishes that could be stored for the winter, such as homemade canned applesauce or freezer apple pies (both are a staple in our home!).
Apples are high in vitamin C and many other nutrients, which strengthen us for the coming long and hard winter months. Of course, our winters aren’t necessarily so long and hard anymore, but we do spend more time indoors in close proximity to others, so the seeming spread of illness is not uncommon. Any boost to our immune system is welcome! As they say, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
Combing apples with some of the other listed plants makes for wonderful holiday traditions. You can also leave apples out as offerings to local wildlife. If you have children, tying a piece of natural string around an apple, covering it in peanut butter, and then rolling it in birdseed to hang in your trees would be a lovely holiday tradition and a welcome treat to passing birds!
Bay
Bay leaf is related to Cinnamon - they are both in the Laurel family. This plant family has always been been used for victory and success, and carries a spirit of achievement and even glory.
The Greeks would crown their victors of athletic, poetic, musical, and other competitions with crowns of bay laurel or were given a wreath of bay laurel as part of their prize. We even see that the busts of Julius Caesar and other famous Greeks often have a crown of bay laurel leaves.
We’ve seen the tradition of victory and success come forward into modern times as many modern practitioners of various esoteric paths will write a wish on a bay leaf and burn it to set the intention of manifesting their desire.
Interestingly, we can use bay leaves to season soups and other dishes, but our digestive systems cannot break down a bay leaf so it needs to be removed before serving.
Add a bay leaf to your favorite savory dishes, especially hearty soups and stews, which are warming and put a little “meat on your bones” for the long winter.
Merry Yuletide
I meant for there to be 12 plant Spirits for you to celebrate with but with all the joyful chaos of the season, I’m grateful that I got at least nine written up for you. Enjoy your celebrations with your kin and your plants as we welcome back the Light!
Merry Yuletide - Stay safe, stay sovereign, and stay blessed!