279. The 12 Holy Nights: How Sacred Wintering Reconnects Us With Our Bodies & Nature, with Lisa Jara

This episode is a recording of our recent women’s circle gathering on Sacred Wintering and the Twelve Holy Nights, and it was truly beautiful—deep, grounded, accessible, and full of wisdom for the season we’re entering.For centuries across European, Germanic, and Christian-mystic lineages, the Twelve Holy Nights have marked a threshold in time: the Year Between Years. These nights begin on December 25 and carry us through January 6, honoring the liminal space when the sun’s return becomes visible and intuition feels naturally heightened.I invited Lisa Jara to teach with me, because she guides this practice every year with a devotion and clarity I deeply respect. Lisa and I first connected through a membership of intuitive and anti-capitalist entrepreneurs, and our friendship grew quickly through long WhatsApp voice notes about the people we serve, the work we love, and the ways cyclicality shapes our lives. I’ve practiced the Twelve Holy Nights on my own for the last two years—well, actually, with my husband and daughter and I love that it can be done with others!—and it has become one of my favorite ways to enter Winter with intention rather than resistance.Inside this session, we explored:What it means to like our lives, including how we can learn to like WinterHow to proactively surrender to Winter instead of waiting for a “forced winter” through burnout, grief, or crisisWhy so many of us stopped naturally wintering—and how capitalism shaped thatHow Winter restores self-trust and reconnects us with our inner wisdomA generous teaching from Lisa on the cosmology, history, and practice of the Twelve Holy NightsHow each Holy Night mirrors a month of the coming yearHow to work with dreams, symbols, signs, and synchronicitiesAn imaginative visioning practice to help you enter the season more intentionallyThis conversation is for anyone longing for slowness, clarity, ritual, or a more embodied relationship with Winter. It’s also for anyone who wants to practice the Twelve Holy Nights this year in a simple, grounded, and meaningful way.Links Mentioned in the Episode 👇Lisa’s Full Twelve Holy Nights Program:https://lisa-jara.com/en/mystical-twelve-holy-nights/Donate to Lisa (reciprocity for her teaching):https://lisa-jara.com/en/buy-me-a-coffee/Connect with Lisa:Website: https://lisa-jara.comPodcast: https://lisa-jara.com/en/podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_lisajara/Join the Wild Wellness Women’s CircleWe gather for seasonal rituals, intuitive exploration, and deep connection—growth that happens naturally, without pressure or performance.There’s one more live gathering this month for Yule on Thursday, December 11 at 1pm EST, and if you join now, you’re welcome to attend. You’ll also receive access to two years’ worth of seasonal resources and replays.Join the Circle (sliding scale):https://jess-reid.com/womenscircle/Free Seasonal Resources For You Right Now 👇How to work with the current moon in Celtic Lunar Tree Calendar: free guide on how this month's moon tree is impacting you based on a woven understanding of the Celtic lunar tree calendar, the Native American tradition, and Western astrology + journal prompts to help you reflectHow to Celebrate Yule: this FREE instant access PDF will give you 10 easy and enjoyable ways to celebrate Yule + 12 journal prompts to help you reflect and process the inspiration of this season.You Did More Than You Think: Free Self-Gratitude Prompts To Close Your Year. Perfect for self-reflection—or with others on holiday car rides or dinner table talks. Do them all at once, pick one a day, or whatever feels joyful & regenerative for you!