Dear Friends,
I invite you to stop for just a moment to BE still. Feel your feet on the ground. Notice the sounds in the space around you… BE quiet for ten deep, intentional breaths. Then notice how that brief pause affected your state of mind and body.
Taking pause and standing still is the invitation during winter solstice.
The Winter Solstice is the day when (in the Northern Hemisphere) the sun is at the lowest point in the sky resulting in the shortest day and longest night of the year. The word solstice comes from the latin word sōlstitium which translates as “sun stop” or “sun still.” If broken down further, into two parts, it translates as: sōl meaning “sun” and sistere meaning “to stand still.” This day can serve as a great reminder to take some time to pause and delight in moments of stillness.
The practice of taking pause to mark this time of year is ancient.
Many of the traditions surrounding Christmas can be traced back to early Celtic traditions marking the winter solstice. Traditions such as: gathering with loved ones, decorating with holly and mistletoe, and burning Yule logs. The awareness and acknowledgment of this time of year in Ireland can be traced back at least 5000 years. The Síd in Broga cairn at Newgrange, Co Meath was built around 3300 BC in precise alignment with the rising sun over the solstice each winter. This monument is evidence of how important the winter solstice was for the Neolithic culture of the Boyne Valley thousands of years ago.
The early peoples of Ireland are not the only to celebrate and mark the winter solstice. Here in the United States, scholars have studied the astronomical observations that indigenous people made and sought to understand. One of the discoveries from this research was various temple pyramids in Cahokia, near the Mississippi River in what is now Illinois. Researchers found that on the winter solstice the sun aligned with one of the structures (known today as Woodhenge) as well as with the top of another temple mound in the distance. They further discovered that the sun aligned with a different temple mound on summer solstice.
These are but two examples, of many, peoples and ways that this time of year is revered. I find that during the holiday season I need these reminders, to slow down and really appreciate all that I have. The winter solstice can serve as an invitation to do just that, to pause and appreciate the quiet moments. If you feel inspired to take space and honor the winter solstice…
Here are some ideas for how you might celebrate on December 21st:
1. Honor the sun by watching it rise or set.
2. Gather with loved ones around a bonfire or the fireplace and reflect on lessons learned from the year past and share hopes for the year to come.
3. Perform a spiral candle ritual (see image below). The spiral represents the journey of returning light. As you light the center candle (representing the darkness), consider a belief, person, or habit that no longer serves you and affirm that your intention is to release that person, habit, fear, or belief. Now spiral outwards from the center candle. Set an intention for the new year with each candle that you light.
4. Spend time in nature. Taking pause to show reverence and appreciation for the abundance that the natural world provides.
5. Get creative using items from nature. Perhaps create a star, or another ornament, out of sticks, leaves, flowers, or stones to put on your tree at home.
However you choose to honor this time of year, I hope you feel connected to the earth and to the abundance she provides.
Header image credit: Aaron Burden