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/
Connect with Us
Subscribe to Here for the Truth Fridays
Discover Your Truth Seeker Archetype
Popular Podcasts
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.