Winter Solstice – the shortest day and longest night of the year

The festival of rebirth

The darkest day in the season of winter, the time of year when life has receded deep within the earth and it appears on the surface as if nothing is happening. This is the primal state that precedes all growth. This is a space of deep thinking and knowing, of facilitating. There is always subtle movement deep within. gentle flow on our journey through life.

Solstice means “standing of the sun” Glennie kindred “Sacred Celebrations”

When the sun reaches the peak of its journey, stops and then begins the return journey toward the light.

From the winter solstice the sun is waxing or growing towards its peak at the summer solstice in June.

Now is the time to stop and take stock of what the last 6 months have brought to you and look forward to the direction in which you would like to travel and grow into in the next six months.

Reflecting on our journey/ life-path

For the next six months we are moving into the light, expanding into our fullest expression. As we come to the shortest day of the year on the 21st we focus on our Journey this year and how things are flowing for us in every area of our life. 

The winter solstice offers us a natural time to pause, reflect, rest and begin to plan our path forward. On the darkest day of the year we acknowledge that there is always a glimmer of light on the horizon. 

Focus Questions

We can now focus our intention on the return of the light. Asking:

What can I release to lighten the load?

What can I shed to allow my journey forward to feel lighter?

Even in the depths of Winter, new roots are growing, bringing stability and nutrients to the plants and trees. Deeply buried bulbs are beginning to send up the first hardy shoots.

Nature has slowed down waiting for the energy to change at the solstice and for the warmth to slowly but surely return. 

December 21st Last FREE ONLINE community gathering for 2024

On the 21st December we will have our final online community gathering for 2024. Casting our eye back on the year of the Dragon, pausing and reflecting. Then looking ahead as the first glimpse of the light of the Winter Solstice appears on the horizon. With the rising sun on the winter solstice we celebrate return of the light for the year ahead. 

Celebrating the return of the light

Lighting candles to mark the return of the sun is an old tradition.  Their flickering light reminds us that although still weak, the sun is growing stronger beginning the journey back to its full peak.

The solstice is the suns birthday, a celebration of its rebirth.

The Winter Solstice is the time for us to bring our inner journeys out into the world, birthing our visions for the way ahead.

Ceremony to celebrate the Solstice this year: 

The Winter solstice is a tipping point of the year, the darkest day, when, we can connect to our ancestral traditions as we celebrate the return of the light. 

To tap into this energy we can clear a space and light a special candle with intention. Connecting to the past year we have spent circling the sun together with all its percieved highs and lows. 

Acknowledging that we can now let go of anything which has run its course, anything which no longer serves us. Exhaling fully in order to inhale fresh new chi.

Lighting a candle we can set our intention that in the letting go, at the most yin/dark day of the year, we now make space for the glimmer of new light to enter every part of our being and our lives. 

And so it is…..

Solstice Blessings to you and yours!