How To Honor Winter Solstice To Heal & Grow—Plus A Chaga Chai Recipe

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.

This year, the Winter Solstice occurs on Thursday, Dec 21, 2023, at 10:27 PM.

My friend Charleigh often reminds me of what our ancestors called “fallow times” when they would set the fields to rest and bring in the harvest. Fallow days are winter days. They are action-less times when we don’t achieve anything in particular. These are times to work less, or not at all. Fallow times are opportunities to contemplate, go within, and to rest in the shadow.

This is a time to remember how we are dependent on the natural rhythms and elements of the Earth. Our Western, imperialistic, colonizing, white supremacy culture, has emphasized removing ourselves from the natural elements and organic rhythms, destroying Indigenous cultures as well as almost everything in the natural world. To be still, to honor the darker days, and to not achieve goes entirely against our capitalist culture. However, these natural rhythms and elements are essential for our physical and mental well-being.

Our very Earth needs us to embrace quiet reflection.

In yoga class-talk, there is a lot of discussion about the importance of light, bringing our bodies to lightness, finding the spiritual light, even wearing only white to encourage this light connection. But we do this at the expense of the richness of shadow and the darkness.

How can we find the light at all if we do not contrast it with the shadow? I find in my own experiences that my shadow times bring me greater nourishment. From the shadow, I can discover my rich roots.

There is something in the winter that is primal, mysterious, and utterly irreplaceable. We need the darkness of winter as much as we need the light and heat of summer. We must die, in a sense, to our old ways in order to be reborn. This dark fallow time allows us to arrive at deeper levels of understanding and perception.

Simple Practices to Honor the Darkness

Journaling

Practice connecting to this darker natural rhythm in creative journal work. Begin by writing a list of shadow words. Use words that inspire your senses. Can you list shadow words for sight, sound, touch, smell, taste? Any other words that come to mind are also welcome. Then, write a short poem about the shadow and darkness, perhaps inspired by your time inside this year and what it has changed for you.

Meditation

If you are seeking solitude and quiet: light a candle in the dark, and silently observe the flickering flame. Alternatively, you could sit in the dark. Listen to the sounds around you, and the sounds within. You can practice with this Winter Solstice meditation HERE.

Recipe: Chaga Chai

Drinking a hot beverage while sitting in front of a candle light might encourage you to connect to your inner shadow realm of inspiration and dreams. Chaga is a type of mushroom that grows on birch trees. It is usually found in colder, darker climates. The part of the mushroom that is harvested grows like a dark burn scar or burl. Chaga appears black because it has a high melanin content. It has many strong medicinal properties and has a mild rich flavor.

1 Tbsp Chaga mushroom (powdered or crumbled)

1 tsp of Reishi Powder (another medicinal mushroom that pairs well with Chaga)

1 Tbsp cardamon, freshly ground

3 Tbsp cinnamon chips (bits of cinnamon or the whole curled bark)

4 cloves

2 anise star pods

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 inch chopped fresh ginger

1 Tbsp dried dandelion root

Directions

Gently grind spices in a mortar and pestle for about a minute. Add spices, chaga, and dandelion to the about 6 cups of water, boil for 30 minutes. Strain herbs. Flavor with your choice of mylk and sweetener (I prefer cashew mylk and a couple of teaspoons of maple syrup).