Winter Solstice Magic ...

Over here in the northern hemisphere we are in the final decent to the winter solstice on the 21st of December, also known as the shortest day of the year.

However this day is so much more than this moment in the year when the earth is tilted furthest away from the sun, another turn on the wheel of the year 

For many people they see the darkness of winter a negative thing, but when we align ourselves more in tune with the seasons and mark the points in the wheel of the year. We reconnect to ourselves on a deeper level and because we are in tune and flow with the seasons and get the benefits from this.

I find personally marking these points as pauses, using them as a time to reflect to see where I’m at.

Which feels good to connect with the rhythms of life rather than fight against them, so I can get the best out myself. 

Spiritually, the winter solstice marks the symbolic death and rebirth of the sun, a resurrection. It’s the return to light as we move back towards the summer solstice. 

Whereas in the summer we mark the decent back to the darkness.

Winter is a time of inward reflection, honouring the darkness within you, an inner hibernation which often with our busy lives we struggle to observe. 

I find even if you are really busy taking small about of time out for this reflection and observation really does make a difference. 

The rebirth of the light gives us the hope in the darkness, and reminds us that even in the darkness the light always returns. One cannot exist without the other, we spend much of time hiding from our own darkness and suppressing it. We’ve almost been programmed to view it as a negative thing, when actually we need to honour and observe our shadow and darkness as much as all the positive stuff. When we bypass this in the long term it disconnects us and numbs us, our shadow is important and it allows us to the feel the things we often most hide from. This is in turn allows us to grow, heal, expand and deepen our connection to ourselves. 

We all have a shadow side, and its something that makes us fully human and its important not to ignore it.  

So the solstice is the perfect time to illuminate the darkness bringing some light into it. 

Ask yourself these questions for reflection.

What have you been numbing, suppressing or avoiding?

What can you illuminate in your life right now that needs looking at in the darkness? 

Here’s some ways to mark this magical point in the wheel of the year. 

I like to light a candle in the darkness, sit in stillness and pause and reflect, this is vital during this time.

Remember this isn’t a time to rush, after all it is hibernation season.

It’s the perfect time to write down what you want to release from the past and what you need to light up in the darkness in order to let it go. 

I tend to burn this list to fully release it.

Then write done what you want to rebirth and plant it as a seed this winter, so it has time grow in the darkness up into the light ready for the spring. It’s always important to remember that everything needs times to grow they are seeds for a reason, this tends to be a modern life problem that we rush the growth process.

It’s a great time to do a physical declutter, while we are in the quieter reflective periods as it’s good to have a clear and clean space to create more flow.

Prepare a candle lit meal with yourself or whom ever you’re with and celebrate the rebirth of the return to lighter days.

It’s also a good time to do a blessing ritual for what has been, appreciation and gratitude is perfect to add to this reflection time. 

I hope you can find some time to honour this magical point in the wheel of the year in whatever way feels good for you.

Lastly, we are in the middle of the festive season which is often busy with lots going on, I think this adds to the importance of using this beautiful point to take time out to pause and reflect.

Yuletide/solstice blessings to you all.

All my love 

Hannah X