In this episode, we sit down with Lara J. Day, author of The Thirteen Sacred Nights Oracle, to uncover the hidden history of our holidays and the deeper meaning behind seasonal rituals. From the ancient solstice traditions encoded in sacred sites to the rebranding of Christmas by Victorian elites and the corporate creation of Santa Claus, we trace how human beings have always used ritual to align with nature, release tension, and connect to the sacred.
Lara also shares her personal journey into qigong and the origins of the Thirteen Sacred Nights practice, a time of presence and intention-setting that offers an antidote to the chaos of hyper-commercialized holidays. This conversation invites us to remember what was lost, reclaim the wisdom of the seasons, and plant seeds in the fertile darkness for the year to come.
Time Stamps
(00:00) Episode Teaser
(00:32) Mini Conversation w/ Joel & Yerasimos
(08:09) Introducing Lara J. Day
(08:55) Lara J. Day's Journey and Qigong
(13:47) Exploring the 13 Sacred Nights Oracle
(25:05) The History and Evolution of Winter Solstice Celebrations
(41:05) Personal Experiences and Reflections on the 13 Sacred Nights
(45:03) Celebrating Christmas with Intention and Presence
(49:59) Developing the Inner Jedi: A 13-Day Practice
(52:32) The Profound Impact of Rituals
(53:46) The Unexpected History of Christmas
(54:42) Personal Experiences with Holiday Traditions
(56:45) Navigating Holiday Pressures and Boundaries
(01:10:14) How Halloween Came To Be
(01:19:37) Embracing Death and Nature's Cycles
(01:27:33) Final Thoughts and Rebooting Holiday Rituals
Guest Links
https://www.instagram.com/larajday/
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