Winter Solstice
We have come to edge of the wheel of the year. Time is standing still. We have come to everything’s ending. And everything’s beginning. And it is the perfect time for celebrating the return of the light though a quiet moment of gratitude and reflection.
The winter solstice has been celebrated as long, as anybody can remember. Delivered to us through myths and ancient rock carvings, human beings have celebrated the winter solstice as the last day of the year seen from the calendar of nature for more than 5000 years.
The wheel of the sun, known by so many indigenous cultures, like the North American medicine wheel, is one of the first cultural tokens of the native medicine tradition representing the 4 seasons and the seasonal celebrations: Winter Solstice, Summer Solstice and Spring and Autumn Equinox. Then as now, the winter solstice was a celebration of the return the light and the rejoice of the coming new year.
In this shortest day of the year, we celebrate the sun as a life giver, and as we are standing on the threshold between the old and the new, we are in a magical portal of possibility, where the veils are thin, and we are granted insight into the potential of our inner soul seeds.
Standing Still
The word solstice comes from the latin solstitium, sol meaning ‘sun’ and stit- ‘stopped, stationary’ (from the verb sistere ).
In ancient Scandinavia, we had an old tradition around the solstice of ‘no wheel shall turn’. For three days, many of the wheels usually in motion, like spinning wheel, wagon wheels, mill wheels, all kinds of wheels should stop.
Just like the wheel, we too can make a halt in our productive spinning wheel, and feel the gift of slowing down and listening. The gift of deep listening is so needed in our fast-paced Western society, where we rarely give time and space for listening. Not only outwards listening, but also inner listening, the listening to the voice of our souls.
From this place of stopping and coming into a deep place of listening, we can start to remember, we can open up to a magical time of ‘filling up’ again, and we can connect to the stories of where we came from, what our values were, to help us to remember, before we go into the new year.
“Take a pause and celebrate Life today as a constant interplay of dark and light. Moment and Eternity.”
Try to carve out some time during the days of the Solstice to connect with Stillness and Deep Listening. Slow down, go for a medicine walk alone, or go outside in the darkness to look at the stars. Find the time somehow to connect to nature and your inner sun, as we call back the light and step into a sacred time, where the universe is both guiding us a nd listening to what is in our hearts.
This is a time for deep remembrance. A time to ask the voice of the Earth to help us to remember, Where we are, where we come from and who we want to be.
Solstice Blessings to all,
Midwinter Solstice Rituals
Take time to Feel
The Winter Solstice is a day where time is standing still. You can honour this special day by trying to clear the day of your normal to-do list. In the midst of the holiday season, this can be a quite a challenge, but this day is powerful and the universe supports you for a day spent in reflection and gratitude and a pause from the stress. This day is perfect for practicing gratitude for the gifts and teachings you have received during the year. A great way to do this is to write a reverse bucket list, that contains everything you received this year and discover how life can surprise you and some times even delivering above your wildest dreams.
Go for a walk
Spend the shortest day on going for a walk in the woods or by the sea, and let nature show you, what you are ready to let go of. Or go for a walk in the darkness and welcome the sun inside yourself. Look at the sky, ask for a guiding star to tell you how to lead you into the new year. You can find more advice on how to go on a medicine walk here.
Light a Fire
Fire is the ancient element of the sun and the light. Fire both consumes and nourishes. At the winter solstice, we light a fire to burn all the old cords, actions and vows. Everything that has been used up, and we are now ready to say ‘fare well’ to. You can even write your thoughts on a piece of paper and throw them on the fire. Find more inspiration on the fire ritual here.
Do you have any traditions or rituals around the Winter Solstice or the coming New Year? Please share your stories or tips in the comments below.
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