The Twelfth Night Writing Workshop

A writing workshop for those who want to catch their breath, take a pause and dive deep into their mind over those long winter nights.

Without pressure to attend all sessions, we simply gather when it feels right, guided by the writing prompts and the magic of community.

It’s the time of the long exhale, hot air forming clouds in the cold winter nights.

Every year around this time I am preparing for my personal hibernation and the Rauhnächte, an ancient German tradition, centering around the idea that the twelve nights between the 25th of December to the 6th of January is a particularly potent time to reflect on the old year and manifest the new.

A practice I have been following for over a decade now and this year I felt like sharing it with you.

First of all what exactly are the Rauhnächte (Magic Nights)?

The roots of the Rauhnächte (the twelve days of Christmas) lie in Germanic and Celtic tradition. They are the twelve days that lie between the 25th of December to the 6th of January. Since the lunar year has 354 days and the solar year 356, the “missing” twelve days were called the “dead days”. According to mythology the laws of nature are somewhat out of order and the veil to the spirit world is thin during that time. Following these ancient believes it’s the perfect time to reflect, tie loose ends and seek visions for the future, perform rituals and ask oracles for guidance.

Introducing: The Twelfth Night Writing Workshop

21.12.2025, 8-9PM

The Initiation

We will gather on the winter solstice, the darkest night and the shortest day, to begin the descend into our inner depths, longings and things we’ve perhaps not paid attention to all year. We will set intentions, and learn how to navigate the Rauhnächtewith ease and clarity.

It will set you up for the writing prompts, rituals and practices we’ll explore following the ritual of the Rauhnächte.

This session will be recorded for those who can’t join live.

Twelve Daily Writing & Ritual Prompts

Sent by email from 25.12.2025 to 06.01.2026

These writing and ritual prompts guide you through the energies of each Magic Night. Moving through closure, cleansing, dreaming, visioning, and blessing the path ahead.

Nine Live Writing Nights

(see dates below)

We will meet online on nine evenings during the Magic Nights. Each gathering begins with a short reading or grounding meditation to help us drop into the quiet of winter. After that, I’ll offer a writing prompt aligned with the theme of that night.

We will then write together in shared silence for about 30–35 minutes. You’ll be invited to follow the prompt, wander away from it, or let your intuition take over.

After writing, there will be gentle space for reflection: optional sharing, questions, insights, or simply witnessing one another. Throughout these nine nights, we’ll work with different sources of inspiration—poetry, excerpts from essays and novels, tarot cards, imagery, and mood boards—to open new paths into imagination and memory.

DATES:

You DON'T have to attend all sessions to be a part of the workshop.

They are meant to be drop-in sessions, take as many or as few as you please.

Winter Solstice Session:

21.12.25, 8-9PM (UK-time) (recorded)

Drop-in writing sessions (not recorded):

27.12.25, 8-9PM (UK-time)

28.12.25, 8-9PM (UK-time)

29.12.25, 8-9PM (UK-time)

30.12.25, 8-9PM (UK-time)

02.01.26, 8-9PM (UK-time)

03.01.26, 8-9PM (UK-time)

04.01.26, 8-9PM (UK-time)

05.01.26, 8-9PM (UK-time)

06.01.26, 8-9PM (UK-time)

This writing workshop is for you if:

• you’ve not been writing that much all year and really want to get out of your slump

• you really want to reflect on some things that happened

• you keep repeating the same things and want to change

• you desire clarity

• you feel exhausted and need a moment to gather yourself

• you want to be inspired

• you like a reminder on why it’s important to hibernate and do nothing

• you like a witchy vibe

• you seek a creative community

• you want some concrete steps and goals for the new year

• you’re curious what could happen if you try

For £122 pounds you get:

• Twelve daily writing and ritual prompts via email from the 25th of December to the 6th of January following

• 1 live session on the Winter Solstice (this will be recorded in case you cannot make it), to explain the concept of the twelfth nights, in German known as Rauhnächteand why they are a particularly potent time to reflect, write, visualise and manifest the next year

• 9 live writing evening sessions, with additional writing prompts, guided meditations to support you during this time (these are optional and will not be recorded to facilitate and intimate atmosphere and you don’t need to attend each one to be a part of the workshop)

• a new writing community

About me:

Sophia Hembeck is a writer, visual artist & cultural critic. She has published three books: Things I Have Noticed, 2020, Things I Have Loved, 2023 & Things That Are Different Now, 2025 which comprise lyrical essays as well as artwork that she specifically created for the books. Her work has appeared in off-chance, The Localist, Koralle Magazin,  Missy Magazin, Almost Magazin & Culture Vulture.  In her weekly substack The Muse Letter she wonders about the meanderings of life. 

She’s a fierce advocate for literary essays and teaches essay writing classes for writers of all levels.