Creating a Winter Solstice/Yule Altar
One great way to invite the magickal energy of any pagan holiday or season into your home is to decorate your altars or sacred space with seasonal decor and symbols! This year I was inspired to give my magickal workspace a total Yule altar makeover. I decided to make a little video about my altar setup process along the way.
At the bottom of this post I've included some common Winter Solstice/Yule correspondences and symbols to help inspire your own ideas!
For more Yule/Winter Solstice ideas, check out my post all about it here!
My Yule Altar Decor Process
Here is my altar pre-Yule makeover! I already started cleaning it off at this point. It had been in a weird working transitional state up until here anyway. It was about time it had an overhaul! After this "before" state, I took everything off of my altar and wiped down the surface so it was fresh, clean and ready for a makeover.
Next I did an inventory of things I definitely wanted to have on my altar. I like to keep all of my tools out that I use regularly. The point of my altar is that it is my magickal workspace. I like having my main tools and most used divination methods available and ready for when I use them!
Alternatively, if there is a tool or item that you want to use more frequently, you're more likely to use it if it is out than if it is tucked away somewhere! For example, if you want to do tarot readings more often, you might use them more if they are on your altar or out in your sacred space where you can see them.
Then I gathered my seasonal decor and got to decorating! This is my final result. Don't let these images deceive you. It took me several total do-overs and awkward states before I finally got here! If it isn't to your liking right away, rework it until it is! It can be as abundant or as minimal as you like.
My Winter Solstice/Yule Altar
I included both real and fake evergreens
This centerpiece was intended to be a "dining table centerpiece" at a craft store. Get creative!
At the darkest time of the year, the center of my altar is a symbol of light: a candle
Around my candle I have winter spirit offerings of cedar, juniper and cinnamon.
This Julbock ornament comes from a Norse tradition celebrating Thor and his goats. The Owl of Athena was a nice way for me to tie my Greek culture and pantheon into my altar space as well!
Yule Altar Correspondences and Decor Ideas:
Colors: White, Red, Green, Silver, Gold - Sometimes Purple, Light Blue, Dark Blue (for more of a winter/snow vibe altar)
Symbols: Pine/fir trees, Deer, Antlers, Yule Logs, Candles, Wreaths, Bells, Squirrels, Owls, Robins, Goats or Julbocks, Bows, Runes, Sigils, "Snow" or snowflakes
Herbs/Plants: Evergreens, Pine, Cedar, Basalm, Fir, Oak, Holly, Mistletoe, Ivy, Cinnamon, Cloves, Ginger, Frankincense, Bayberry, Myrrh, Rosemary, Nutmeg, Valerian, Juniper, Wintergreen, Chamomile, Pinecones, Oranges, Dried Orange Slices, Frankincense, Myrrh, Birch, Cedar, Chestnut
Crystals: Clear Quartz, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Garnet, Bloodstone
