The 12 Days Of Yule - by Melissa Kleehammer

COURSE

The 12 Days Of Yule

With Melissa Kleehammer

The 12 Days of Yule combines the history of Yule, meditation, and self-inquiry, to create more fulfilling festivities, and to spark some Winter magic. Celebrating Yule will help you to feel connected with the past and the change in season. Each lesson includes facts about Yule, meditation and journaling prompts, as well as activity ideas to spark your childlike spirit. This course is for anyone looking for a fun, meaningful holiday! Background music by Lesfm, Christmas Magic Night.


Meet your Teacher

Melissa has been studying and practicing earth-based spirituality for many years now. She creates rituals around the seasonal changes, which helps her to feel in tune with the passing of time. Honoring the wheel-of-the year holidays has transformed her relationships, meditation practice, and how she interacts with the world, and she hopes that sharing the 12 Days of Yule with you, inspires some of the same.

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12 Days

534 students

4.9 stars

10 min / day

Connection

English


Lesson 1

Yule Eve - Reflecting On The Feminine

Yule Eve celebrates time -- past, present, and future. Learn about two cultures who honor the 'Old Woman,' listen to a beautiful 'Invocation to the Old One,' and reflect and journal on the women in your life. We end with two activities to inspire your devotion to the feminine. Background music by Tomomi_Kato, Holy Night.

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Lesson 2

Happy Yule! Reflecting On The Masculine

Happy Yule! Listen to the Celtic myth of Yule and a poem honoring the masculine. After, you'll be asked to reflect and journal on the men in your life, and you'll leave with an activity to inspire your devotion to the masculine. Background music by JuliusH, Ambient Winter and Christmas lullaby.

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Lesson 3

Decorating With Evergreens

Today, you'll be read the story of 'Why there are Evergreens,' and then learn how they were used as adornments and what each symbolized. Practice a grounding, circular breath with reflection and journaling time offered. The activity for today will take you outside! Background music by JuliusH, Quiet Eve Christmas.

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Lesson 4

The Legend Of St. Nick

Today, learn about the origin of the Yule Goat and Father Christmas, and the legend of Sinterklaas, or St. Nick. Meditation will create a balancing effect in your being, by practicing different breathing techniques, paired with mantra and self-inquiry/journaling. I leave you with an activity that will make your gifts sparkle! Background music by Tomomi_Kato, Holy Night.

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Lesson 5

The Origin Of The Yule Log

Yuletide is a Winter festival full of feasting and worship of light! Today you'll learn about the symbolism of light and fire, and the origin of the Yule Log. Meditate on light, being guided around and in your body, and try your hand at making your own Yule Log... Background music by Lesfm, O Christmas Tree.

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Lesson 6

Merry Christmas! Decorating With The Elements

Today's lesson is all about the elements and nature, and how they brought meaning into festivities. Honor nature and the four directions with a short meditation, followed by silent reflection on which quality/power you'd like to work with. The homework further encourages bringing nature and meaning into your home! Background music by AlexiAction, This Christmas.

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Lesson 7

The Feast Of Fools

Midwinter was a time of great hardship, so naturally, parties and feasts were a way to work together and make it through the difficult months. Learn about a couple of outrageous festivities, and take time to reflect on your own. Your activity is an invitation to create your own Winter misrule! Background music by SoundGalleryBy, Magical Fairy Tale for Children.

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Lesson 8

Rest With Winter's Rhythms

Today is about reconnecting to Winter's rhythms, hibernation, and rest. Gather cushions and blankets, set yourself up in a comfortable position, lying down, and be led through guided relaxation. Background music by JuliusH, Ambient Winter and Christmas lullaby.

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Lesson 9

The Light Of The Solstice

The growing of light can mean many things, but during Winter, it also signifies the growing of cold days and nights. With this, it's essential to keep your body, strong and healthy, and your spirit, warm. Practice will address both, with meditation on light at your navel, and reflection/journaling at the end. Background music by JuliusH, Ambient Christmas Angel Choir.

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Lesson 10

The Origin Of Gift Giving

Today you'll learn about gifting traditions and how the commercialization of Christmas began. Practice simple breath awareness, then listen to an anonymous, but magical poem about Yule. Walk away with two optional activities! Background music by NaturesEye, Christmas Carols by the Fireside.

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Lesson 11

The Christmas Of Your Dreams

Learn the origin of the Christmas Carol -- Silent Night, then allow visualization and guided imagery to create the Christmas celebration of your dreams. I leave you with a quiet, musical activity! Background music by Daddy_s_music, Silent Night.

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Lesson 12

The Tradition Of Wassailing

On our final day together, learn about the tradition of Wassailing! Remembering that the Eve of a holiday is one of anticipation and reverence, your time in meditation and self-inquiry will be reflecting on your past year, and imagining the new. Wassail! Background music by Nesrality, Scottish folk song Auld Lang Syne.

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Ask your teacher

This course includes 10 community questions and 8 audio replies from Melissa Kleehammer. The community classroom and teacher audio replies are only available via the app.

10

4.9 (59)

Recent Reviews

Joyce

January 1, 2026

A fun course that is both educational and celebratory.

LeighAnne

December 31, 2025

Her words were clear and the teaching enjoyable.

Isabel

December 31, 2025

Best Yule course i could find on Insight Timer. Really nice to listen to it realtime starting on december 20th and finishing on 31st. My kids enjoyed some of the activities too. Thank you!

Donna

January 2, 2025

I’ve gone through your course again this year and enjoyed hearing about Yule and the meditation 🙏🏼💙🕊🦋

Melissa

December 31, 2024

This was a beautiful course. What I got the most out of it was carrying that holiday spirit inside me for 12 days instead of just one or two. It warmed me from the inside out as we entered the winter season and I plan to keep my evergreen forages and winter spirit going throughout the winter season. 🌲 ❄️

Crystal

December 31, 2024

I really enjoyed learning about the traditions of Yule - especially the Yule log, of which I had been aware, but didn't know the story and details. I also appreciated the meditations and reflection/journaling prompts each day, especially the final day's prompts. Thank you!

Linda

December 31, 2024

I found this so interesting and learned so much. I plan to add this to my holiday traditions next December. Thank you Melissa for sharing this with us. Wassail!

Jen

December 31, 2024

I really enjoyed learning about Yule. Thank you for all I learnt and the new traditions I would like to incorporate.

Laura

July 12, 2024

What a sweet course for the season

MariaXavier

January 17, 2024

Lovely. Inspirational. Learning.

Meaghan

January 6, 2024

Melissa's course on Yule was beautiful! I learned a bit more about Yule traditions that I didn't already know and a lot more on meditation and journaling. (Obviously this is my experience.) Her prompts for journaling gave me the chance to reflect on who I am, learned behaviors, and who I want to be going forward. While reminding us of past traditions and how they tie into current celebrations I uncovered a lot about our family traditions. I look forward to discovering more of her courses and tracks!

April

January 5, 2024

I loved the Yule education, followed by meditation and prompts for thoughts and journaling. I enjoyed this class a lot 😊

ArizonaSky

January 4, 2024

This was so lovely. Thank you! Your course was a beautiful pause and addition to my study/incorporation of ancestral practices. I hope you might do more! Wassail.

André

January 2, 2024

I enjoyed this course very much. A playful & joyful way to end the year and start a new one. Thank you, Melissa.

Katie

December 31, 2023

A beautiful course to slow down and savor the Yule season. Filled with interesting information about the traditions of the 12 days, and forgotten activities such as making evergreen yule logs, boxing items for others who may need these, as well as insightful journaling prompts to enjoy. A beautiful journey that reawakened in me the magic of Christmas. Thank you Melissa. 🎄

Apryl

December 31, 2023

This was a beautiful journey. I started on the eve of winter solstice and ended New Year’s Eve. I have been inspired and feel connected to the tradition of the season and nature in a new way. Thank you!

Monet

December 31, 2023

I loved doing this course in real time. I loved the journal prompts and breathing exercises. Wonderful course! Thank you.

Megan

December 31, 2023

The perfect course during Yule season. How many times have I heard these words, but never knew the origin stories. I will come back (and look forward to) this wonderful course next December. Thanks, Melissa! 🕯️🙏🏻

KatieG

December 31, 2023

what a lovely course and addition to the holiday! It was fun learning about the history of so many elements of our traditions- enriching my experience of each this and in coming years. Thank you and blessings back to you, Melissa, in the New Year! 🙏🏼❤️

Anne

December 31, 2023

Lovely course for the Yule time period. Made the holiday period a meditation time.

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