Episode 08: The Space Between: Yule and the Twelve Omen Days
Welcome back to Ritual Herbalism—a podcast exploring the sacred threads of plant medicine, ancestral memory, and the ways we return to ourselves through earth-centered ritual.
In this episode, “The Space Between: Yule and the Twelve Omen Days,” we enter the deep heart of winter and the ancient traditions that shape this season between years. The Winter Solstice, or Yule, marks the longest night and the quiet rebirth of the sun, a turning point long honored by our ancestors as the beginning of a sacred season rather than a single night of celebration.
Yule opens the door, but it is the days that follow that carry the magic forward.
Beginning on December twenty-fifth, the Twelve Days unfold as an extension of the solstice blessing. These are the days when time grows thin, when the year is neither old nor new, and when reflection becomes its own kind of ritual. Across cultures, they were understood as a passageway between worlds—a liminal corridor where insight arises, intuition sharpens, and the shape of the coming year quietly begins to form.
In this episode, we explore the folklore of the Twelve Days, their history in Ireland and Italy, the herbal allies associated with this season, and a guided Twelve-Day ritual practice to help you welcome the year with intention and clarity.
This is a slow, reflective journey. Brew your tea. Light a candle. Let yourself linger in the space between.
Episode Themes:
Yule, liminality & the wisdom of the omen days. We exlpore The origins of the Twelve Days. In the world before electric lights and digital calendars, people lived by the rhythms of the sun and moon. The discrepancy between the lunar and solar year left days unmoored—time belonging to neither cycle. Across Europe, these became the Twelve Nights or Twelve Days between the years, viewed as enchanted, prophetic, and spiritually potent.
The Omen Days: Listening to the Months Ahead
The Twelve Days were known as the omen days because each one was believed to reflect a month of the year to come. People watched the weather, dreams, emotions, animal encounters, and unexpected signs, understanding each day as a mirror held up to the future.
In this same spirit, this episode offers a Twelve-Day herbal ritual practice. Each day is paired with a month, a theme, a plant ally, and a journaling prompt to support deep listening.
You may begin on December twenty-fifth, or whenever you feel called to step into the space in-between.
Ritual Invitation
We invite you to walk the Twelve Days with us. See it laid out in writing at our Substack post here:
Want to go deeper?
Join us at Twin Star Tribe to explore the art of ritual herbalism, energetic plant medicine, and ancestral healing. Our online and in-person offerings are here to support your journey—whether you're just beginning or deepening your path with the plants.
Come be part of a growing community rooted in Earth wisdom, sacred remembrance, and collective transformation. Visit our website and step into the circle. We’d be honored to welcome you.
Please remember that not every herb is right for every person. Know your medicine and consult a trusted herbal practitioner before beginning new remedies.