Winter Solstice Practices
The Winter Solstice is a time to renew, to remind ourselves of the need for both light and dark, and to tap into our inner reserves of creativity. The solstice is a time to pay attention to dreams and to contemplate the cycles of nature, life, death, and rebirth. The longest night is a time to appreciate the still point before a new cycle emerges, and to let go of something old in order to invite in something new.
Here are five simple practices to honor this liminal season of the Winter Solstice. As you take this time to connect to this celestial event, may your body remember its ancestral connection to the sun, moon, and stars.
Five Simple Practices for Winter Solstice This Year…
1. Candle Meditation—If you are seeking solitude and quiet: light a candle in the dark, and silently observe the flickering flame. You might keep a journal nearby for any ideas or inspirations that come to you
2. Soup and Story—If you are seeking community: invite a few loved ones over for bread abd a pot of soup. Perhaps have everyone contribute one ingredient for the soup pot. Then, sitting around candles or a fireplace, take turns sharing stories. They could be stories you read or stories you imagine, or stories from your childhood. Invite everyone to clean their own dish in a ritual, and as the water washes over their bowls, imagine clearing out the old and inviting in something new.
3. Journal—either alone or with a group, spend time journaling around these questions:
How do quiet dark time allows us to arrive at deeper levels of understanding and perception?
What in your life can you release during this solstice?
What can you allow to be reborn?
4. Make a Simmer Pot—Infuse your home with the soothing scents of the season. Fill a sauce pan with water. Add cinnamon sticks for abundance, pine needles for luck, orange and lemon peel for new beginnings, and bay leaves for success in your ventures.
5. Moon Watch—Make a mug of hot tea, bundle up, and head outdoors to watch the moon and the sky. Spend at least 20 minutes outdoors (weather permitting); you might sit but you might go for a walk. Remind yourself that your ancestors looked at the sky as frequently as we look at our phones and screens. Think to yourself: which inspires more awe and connection? Once you return inside, go back to your journal and make some notes or write a poem.
Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash
