How to Use the 12 Days of Yule Journal: Your Complete Guide

Last Updated: November 2025

You've downloaded the 12 Days of Yule Journal—now what?

This guide walks you through exactly how to use the journal for a meaningful winter solstice practice, whether you're new to Yule celebrations or looking to deepen your existing practice.

What Is the 12 Days of Yule Journal?

The 12 Days of Yule Journal is a guided daily practice for the period between winter solstice (December 21) and New Year's Day (January 1).

Each day includes:

• A specific theme aligned with the season's energy

• Reflection prompts that go deeper than surface gratitude

• Simple rituals (10-30 minutes, apartment-friendly)

• Creative activities (mandalas, drawing, writing)

• Alternatives for everything (no candles? no problem)

It's designed for:

• Modern witches and pagans

• Spiritual seekers of any tradition

• People affected by seasonal affective disorder

• Anyone wanting to mark winter solstice with intention

• Practitioners who need structure without pressure

When to Start (And Why Timing Matters)

Option 1: Start on Winter Solstice (December 21)

Best for: People who want to follow the traditional Yule timeline

The journal is designed to begin on the longest night and guide you through 12 days of transformation—from descent into darkness through rebirth into light.

Start your first entry on December 21, 2025.

Option 2: Start Whenever You're Ready

Best for: People who discover the journal after December 21, or who need flexibility

The practices aren't date-dependent. You can start:

• On January 1 as a New Year practice

• During any dark season when you need structure

• Whenever winter darkness feels heavy

• When you're ready for deep inner work

The themes work any time you need them.

How to Prepare (Before Day 1)

1. Choose Your Format

Print the journal:

• Print all 30 pages

• Use a 3-hole punch and put in a binder (or tie with ribbon of your favorite color)

• Or print day-by-day as you go

Use digitally:

• Save PDF to your device

• Use a PDF annotation app (GoodNotes, Notability, Adobe)

• Type directly into fillable fields

• Or read on screen, write in separate notebook

My recommendation: Print it. There's something powerful about physically writing during the dark season.

2. Gather Your Supplies (Optional)

The journal is designed to work with what you have:

Basic supplies (if you have them):

• Pen or pencil

• Colored pencils or markers (for creative activities)

• Candle and matches (alternatives provided if you can't burn candles)

• Your phone or a timer

That's it. No elaborate altar, no special tools, no expensive supplies.

3. Find Your Practice Space

You don't need a dedicated altar or ritual room.

Your practice space can be:

• Your bed with a pillow behind you

• Kitchen table with morning coffee

• Bathroom floor during a bath

• Desk corner with a candle

• Anywhere you can sit undisturbed for 20-40 minutes

The journal is designed for real life, not Instagram.

4. Set a Daily Time

Consistency helps, but flexibility matters more.

Good times to practice:

• Morning: Before the day's demands hit

• Evening: To process the day and wind down

• Night: During the darkest hours (literally and figuratively)

Pick whatever time you can actually protect.

Block it in your calendar if that helps. Tell your household you need 30 minutes. Set boundaries.

How to Use Each Daily Entry

Each day follows the same structure. Here's how to move through it:

Step 1: Read the Day's Theme (2 minutes)

Example themes:

• Day 1: Descent

• Day 3: Shadow

• Day 7: Gratitude

• Day 11: Transformation

Read the introduction to understand the day's focus. Let it settle.

Step 2: Complete the Reflection Prompts (10-15 minutes)

These aren't surface-level journaling prompts.

They're designed to:

• Help you confront what you've been avoiding

• Process difficult emotions safely

• Explore your relationship with darkness, rest, transformation

• Go deeper than "what are you grateful for?"

Tips:

• Write without editing yourself

• If a prompt makes you uncomfortable, that's often where the work is

• You can return to prompts later if you're not ready

• There's no "right" answer

Example prompts:

• "What have you been avoiding that darkness is asking you to face?"

• "Where in your life are you performing rest instead of actually resting?"

• "What needs to die so something new can be born?"

Step 3: Do the Ritual (10-30 minutes)

Every ritual is designed to be:

• Apartment-friendly (no outdoor space needed)

• Simple (minimal supplies)

• Flexible (alternatives provided for everything)

Ritual types you'll encounter:

• Candle meditation

• Sound cleansing (bell, singing, clapping)

• Breathwork

• Intentional bathing

• Movement practices

• Visualization

If you can't do the main ritual: Look for the "Alternative" section—there's always another option.

Can't burn candles? Alternatives provided.Don't have supplies? Alternatives provided.Too exhausted? Simplified versions provided.

Step 4: Creative Activity (10-20 minutes)

Each day includes a creative practice:

• Mandala coloring

• Free drawing

• Collage or vision work

• Writing exercises

• Symbol creation

These aren't "optional extras."

Creative activities access different parts of your brain than writing. They help you:

• Process non-verbally

• Access intuition

• Rest your analytical mind

• Create something tangible

You don't need to be "good at art." The point is process, not product.

Step 5: Close Your Practice (2 minutes)

Each day ends with simple closing:

• Acknowledgment of what you did

• Permission to rest

• Transition back to daily life

Blow out your candle. Close your journal. You're done.

Tips for Getting the Most from the Journal

1. You Don't Have to Do Everything

Exhausted? Do the reflection prompts and skip the ritual.

No time? Do just the creative activity.

Something is better than nothing. The journal is designed to meet you where you are.

2. It's Okay to Skip Days

Life happens.

If you miss a day (or three):

• Don't guilt yourself

• Don't try to "catch up" by doing multiple days at once

• Just pick up where you left off, or jump to the current date

The practice is about showing up, not perfection.

3. Adjust the Rituals to Your Life

Live in a dorm or shared housing?

• Do rituals in the bathroom

• Use headphones for sound-based practices

• Practice late at night when others are asleep

Have kids or pets?

• Involve them if appropriate

• Or wake up before them

• Or practice after bedtime

Chronic illness or disability?

• Do everything from bed if needed

• Adapt movement practices to your capacity

• Rest is a valid practice

4. The Journal Works for Any Spiritual Path

You don't have to be:

• Pagan

• Wiccan

• Witch

• Religious at all

The journal is designed for:

• Eclectics who pull from many traditions

• Secular practitioners who use ritual psychologically

• People of any faith who honor natural cycles

• Anyone seeking rest and reflection during dark season

Adapt the language to fit your beliefs.

5. Shadow Work Is Part of the Journey

Days 3, 11, and others include shadow work themes.

Shadow work means:

• Confronting what you avoid

• Processing difficult emotions

• Examining your patterns

• Integrating rejected parts of yourself

This can be intense.

If it brings up trauma or mental health struggles:

• Go at your own pace

• Skip prompts that feel too big

• Work with a therapist if you have one

• Remember you're safe

You don't have to do deep work alone.

6. Document Your Experience

The journal becomes a record:

• How you felt on the longest night

• What you processed

• How you changed

• What you released and what you invited in

Keep it. Look back on it next Yule. Notice what's different.

What to Expect from the 12 Days

Day 1-3: Descent

Energy: Going inward, slowing down, confronting difficulty

You might feel:

• Resistance to rest

• Discomfort with darkness

• Old patterns surfacing

This is normal. Keep going.

Day 4-6: Deep Work

Energy: Shadow, boundaries, ancestral connection

You might feel:

• Raw or vulnerable

• Emotional releases

• Clarity about what needs to change

This is where transformation begins.

Day 7-9: Turning Point

Energy: Gratitude, vision, reconnection

You might feel:

• Lighter

• More hopeful

• Ready to look forward

The darkest point has passed. Light is returning.

Day 10-12: Rebirth

Energy: Joy, transformation, new beginnings

You might feel:

• Energized

• Clear about next steps

• Ready to emerge

You've moved through the darkness and you're different now.

After the 12 Days: What's Next?

On January 2, you'll have:

• 12 days of deep reflection

• Clarity about what you're releasing and inviting

• A record of your inner work

• Renewed energy for the new year

What to do with what you learned:

Keep practicing:

• Use the prompts again next Yule

• Return to specific days when you need them

• Keep journaling through winter

Take action:

• Make the changes that became clear

• Set boundaries you identified as needed

• Follow through on insights

Rest:

• You did deep work

• Integration takes time

• Honor what you've processed

Common Questions

Can I start late if I don't get the journal until after December 21?

Yes. Start whenever you're ready. The practices work any time during winter.

What if I don't celebrate Yule or identify as pagan?

The journal is designed for anyone. Adapt the language to fit your beliefs. The themes are universal: rest, shadow, transformation, rebirth.

Can I do this with a group or coven?

Yes! Some people do the reflection prompts privately, then meet to do rituals together. Or share insights in a group chat.

What if the prompts bring up difficult emotions or trauma?

Go at your own pace. Skip prompts that feel too big. Work with a therapist if you have access to one. You're not required to do deep trauma work alone.

Do I have to do every single activity?

No. Do what serves you. Skip what doesn't. Showing up imperfectly is better than not showing up at all.

Can I use this journal every year?

Yes! Many people make it an annual practice. You'll notice different things each year as you change.

Get the Journal

Ready to begin your 12-day journey through winter solstice?

Download the 12 Days of Yule Journal here →

What you get:

• 30 professionally designed pages

• 12 complete daily practices

• Reflection prompts, rituals, and creative activities

• Alternatives for everything

• Works in apartments, no special tools required

• Instant PDF download

Price: $12

Start whenever you're ready. The darkest season is also the most transformative.

More Winter Solstice Resources

Want to deepen your practice?

• Read: 10 Candle Magic Rituals for Winter Solstice (simple practices for the longest night)

• Explore: Indoor Witchcraft for Apartment Dwellers (practice in small spaces)

• Learn: How Ritual Actually Works (the psychology behind magical practice)

Have you used the 12 Days of Yule Journal? Share your experience in the comments below!