The Spiritual Significance of Winter Solstice

The light of the Sun begins a new solar cycle at Winter Solstice. The rays shine into the dark, and nurture the newborn life there to be cultivated. And this is mirrored in nature, as the seeds are buried in the darkness of the Earth, to emerge once again with the life-giving rays of the Sun.

Winter Solstice 2021 in the Northern Hemisphere will be at 11:59am Atlantic Standard time and 4:58pm Central European time on Tuesday, December 21, marking the first day of winter.

At this time in the Northern Hemisphere we are experiencing the longest and darkest nights of the year and the shortest days with the least amount of daylight. The dark triumphs over the light, but this really signifies a turning point ... it's a time of hope.

In winter everything lies dormant in the silent earth, it is a sacred time of rest and reflection before the awakening and the slow build toward brighter days.

The energy of winter is that of going within. It's the fruitful darkness and quiet beauty out of which our soul's yearnings and new inspirations can eventually emerge. As we consciously link our awareness to nature's cycles, our understanding of our own personal growth cycles begin to deepen and take on a new luster that we can anticipate and welcome.

Why do we spend so much time suppressing and hiding our darkness? When negative emotions come up and we feel them, they're inconvenient, uncomfortable, or worse, we make ourselves wrong for feeling them.

When we fear our own darkness, we cut ourselves off from an essential source of our own personal power. The key is in understanding that darkness can be one of the greatest catalysts for personal growth and transformation.

It may even be our way to enlightenment.

By allowing ourselves to feel our emotions and experience our own darkness, the darkness itself can become the spiritual cradle into which our inner light and new life is born.

Allow your feelings to guide you because your feelings are your truth.

Winter Solstice is the great stillness before the Sun's strength builds, and days grow longer. It is a time to rest and reflect and frankly this year, I'm cultivating hope.

In Latin, solstice is made of two words: sol– meaning “the sun” and sistere meaning “to make stand.” Winter Solstice is one the most powerful points of the year as the axis of the Earth pauses, shifts and moves in the opposite direction. For three days around the solstice points we experience the power of the standstill point and the shift of direction. The sun standing still is a powerful metaphor for the energy available to us at the #WinterSolstice to change the direction of our lives with intention and build on this energy as we enter into the new year. After experiencing the longest night and darkest day, the nights grow shorter and the days grow brighter until the Summer Solstice.

For today, please smile, breathe, and let yourself rest in the peace of darkness. Connect with the universe and know the changing of the season, and the return of brighter days is ahead. Doing this can help remind you that you are always connected to Source, and your inner light never dims.

Don’t pressure yourself to make changes right now or be in action in the world … let the energies of new life and inspiration build slowly within you and by spring you’ll be bursting with new energy and ideas. This is the nature of things… the cycles and rhythms of personal growth and change, as you consistently nurture yourself with compassion, allowing for rest and reflection, and of course, essential oils, great joy will be your harvest in 2022.

Take time to honor and acknowledge the endings & new beginnings in your life in a ceremony or personal ritual that both honors your past and clears space to make room for what you wish for the coming year. Join me for The Possibilities Planning workshop on Sun Jan 2nd at 3pm AST if you'd like some beautiful and fun rituals to help make this sacred transition and blaze a trail forward.

Whatever you choose to do to mark the end of the year, the coming of the new, and the rebirth of the light— whether pausing in quiet reflection, or celebrating with community, know that all over our planet, there are many fires burning brightly.

Abundant blessings to you in the coming year and until next time, dear friends, peace!