Welcome to Winter Solstice (if you’re in the southern hemisphere).
We have arrived at the shortest day of the year – hooray. Under the Wheel of the Year, this is recognised as the beginning of the new sun year, because from here on, the amount of light in a 24 hour day/night cycle increases.
Did you know that the sun is supposed to set and rise at the same place every year at Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. These ancient stone monuments built over 5000 years ago and are consider particularly significant at the winter solstice where the sunset is visible through the center of the stone circle. How they were built and for what purpose remains a mystery to historians, although neo-druids, neo-pagans and druids celebrate here every year. I wonder what the ancient ancestors knew and what they did to recognise this important calendar event?
I usually celebrate this special calendar event with a small ceremony amongst family and friends but this year we are on a road trip heading north: I will be 10 hours on the road and don’t know what time I will arrive at our destination: Bloomfield National Park. I will however carry out a small acknowledgement when we get there.
Why do I feel this is important?
Celebrating and honouring the important moments in the seasons helps us connect in with nature and realize that we are cyclical beings. Noticing the natural world around us is a reminder that during winter it’s naturally a time to withdraw. We don’t need to be shining brightly like the full sun of the summer Solstice all year round.
Our society doesn’t honour the need to go within, but I recommend you take time to rest and regenerate – just like nature does at this time.
You might like to reflect on how you have honoured yourself over the last months and rested when you needed to or you might notice when in the future would be time to withdraw. reflecting on your habits, and behaviours gives you the opportunity to notice whether what you are doing is something you would like to continue or change.
As for me, I will be spending some time journaling my inner thoughts – giving myself 30 minutes of free journaling – just writing – whatever comes to mind – it doesn’t need to make sense. This is a great way to get your thoughts out of your head and help lighten the load. If you’ve never done this before give it a try – you’ll be surprised at how clearer and lighter you’ll feel afterwards.
My free journaling might be about what I’ve been doing over the last few month’s and just how I’m feeling in general. Although I feel quite good at the moment there is always room to uncover some deep held beliefs or thoughts that I didn’t know were there. This can be gold to revealing truths and even my path for the future.
Over the following few days I will be writing out my 12 month plan for this next Sun Year… but I’m going to take it easy, not push myself and just let whatever is there bubble up to the surface. Do you know what you’re plans are for the upcoming 12 months or even just the next 3 months? Try some free journaling – it can be very revealing. If you have any surprising revelations that come out of this, I’d love to hear about it – let me know.
Or if you want to recognise this event more formally – try out the activity I recommend at Winter Solstice last year https://thenaturalhealer.com.au/winter-solstice/
Until my next check in – enjoy your own Winter Solstice refection.