Welcoming Winter Solstice
Everything Is A Cycle
Dear Friend,
In less than a week, the Winter Solstice will arrive (December 21). The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year and is officially the beginning of winter, although many of us live in places where tempartures have felt wintery for weeks now.
Honoring Solstice and Equinox dates helps me to locate my personal life in the rhythm of nature’s seasons.
Learning about the Winter Solstice helps me to prepare for the winter months, to notice what’s arising in my energy and inner world at this time. And for many of us, this coming winter feels like an especially dark time in the outer world–so a ritual to gather strength feels especially timely. As we move towards Winter Solstice, I’m keeping these ideas in mind:
Solstice is a time to celebrate the return of sun’s light: While it may feel like winter is a descent into darkness, Solstice night marks each day getting gradually lighter. Noticing the light getting a bit longer each day, especially in January when the December holidays are over, gives me something to appreciate.
Midwinter was a time when our ancestors’ survival was perilous: It wasn’t that long ago in our human history that most of us were agricultural people. Winter came with an anxiety that there would be enough food to last through the cold months. Epigenetics now explains that the anxiety of our ancestors can be carried through in our DNA–so we may feel a sense of dread as sunlight decreases.
Rituals & Gatherings were essential: A wise and wonderful way that humans marked the longest night of the year was coming together for bonfires and celebrations. Holidays across cultures around the world celebrate light during this time of year, including Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Saint Lucia Day, Christmas and Lunar New Year.
Winter is a season for dreams and daydreams: As I’ve shared, I look forward to winter now as a time to turn inward. It’s an ideal time to start a dream journal or to allow yourself to daydream about the seeds you hope to plant in your life during the year ahead.
It’s a time for storytelling: It’s our season, writers! Before electricity, extended periods of darkness when people spent more time together indoors encouraged the sharing of stories. Teachings and traditions were passed down through generations. I think about how so many of us have favorite holiday movies that help us to enter the season. I believe that each of us has stories to share.
I’m very excited to host my third Winter Solstice Writing Circle this coming Thursday (December 19). Meeting a couple of days before the Solstice arrives will give us a the opportunity to dream and write about our hopes and intentions for the coming seasson.
Note: Paid subscribers will receive an email with zoom link for the circle on Thursday morning. You don’t need to register!
If you’re a free subscriber, you can upgrade to a paid subscription anytime before Thursday to receive your complimentary invitation and accompanying journal.
Writing Practice: Set aside 5-7 minutes for this practice. Write in a journal or open a ‘Journey with The Seasons’ document where you can return each Sunday. You can hear me guide you through today’s writing prompt at the arrow.
Prompt: Prepare for the start of the season by writing a recipe for a nourishing winter!
First, list all of the ingredients you’ll need. Ingredients could include activities you’re looking forward to, people you hope to see, books you’d like to read during the winter months, etc. What ingredients would make a nourishing winter for you?
Then add a list of instructions: What are ways that you’ll tend to your creative spirit? To your body? Daily rituals you hope to practice? What steps will you take to create a nourishing winter?
Finally, imagine that those ingredients + instructions come together. Imagine what the experience of a nourishing winter would feel like. Write about what you imagine!
I’d love to read your winter recipes!
Deepening Practice: Plan ahead for how you can honor the Winter Solstice this year. Take a listen to my new Winter Solstice playlist…and add your songs to it! And I hope you can join our circle Thursday night! Feel free to share & invite friends! Our gathering is always cozy, festive & nourishing.
Wishing you a cozy & creative week! Gabrielle Ariella
