Happy Winter Solstice my baddies!! 

Wednesday December 21st marks the northern hemisphere’s Winter Solstice.

The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year with the longest, darkest nights.

The word “solstice” derives from the Latin word combining the word “sol” (sun) and sistere (to stand still). It is the literal “stand-still” of the sun between the days getting shorter and shorter to the days then starting to get longer again.

During this phase of the winter solstice, there is a “shift in direction” as the days shift from getting shorter and shorter to now becoming longer again. With this “shift in direction” phase, we experience a pause. A stillness. Almost a standstill. This is a period of great stillness before the sun starts to “grow” again as the days slowly get longer.  The winter solstice reminds us that the sun exists even in the darkness and will return even in the darkest of times.

The Winter Solstice is a story of the cyclical nature of life - life, death & rebirth. It is a reminder to truly “BE” in all the phases, including the darkness. These are the ones that feel less comfortable but are equally important and powerful. You are being called and asked to lean into it this season and embrace it for all that it is and all that it can bring and teach you. 

How can you harness this potent energy of the Winter Solstice?

• It is a time for sacred rest. Use this standstill to give yourself permission to “be” in a standstill pause in your own life. 
• The shortest day with the longest and darkest nights asks you to tune into your inner warmth for getting “light”
• The winter solstice is a symbol of the cycles of life, death and rebirth. Spend time honoring the cyclical nature of life and leaning into the less “comfortable” and “darker” phases. 
• Reflect on ways you try to suppress your darkness, such as negative emotions, your ignored shadow side, or difficulty being still or ways you avoid slowing down.

Ritual - Celebrating Life, Death and Darkness 

For this Winter Solstice ritual you can either find these elements and create a small altar or immerse yourself in these elements individually. Regardless of how you choose to approach this, set an intention before you embark on your ritual to open up the sacred space.

• Evergreen plants. As a representation of the cycles of life, add some evergreen plants around your house (you may already have these as part of your Holiday decorations). These can be added to your small intentional altar if that feels aligned or you can journey out into nature to be surrounded by literal evergreens.
• Oils. Essential oils such as bergamot, cinnamon, clove, peppermint, rosemary are all “inner winter” oils that support you in creating your own inner warmth even in the external cold. Use the oils to open up the sacred space, set your intention, or simply apply or diffuse throughout the day. 
• Fire & candles. When we are in the darkest of seasons, it is up to you to remember our own inner light and create the warmth of the sun for yourself within. Practice some “sun worship” by lighting candles around your home or burning a fire if that’s available to you. 
• Connecting to your light in the darkness. The patriarchal world culture tells us that success is external and to feel valuable and worthy we need to have "something to show” for it. That’s total BS. You are already enough right now. You don’t know to do anything more to feel worthy, to be worthy, to seem worthy.  Spend 5-10 minutes writing a list of 10 things that are an inherent part of you that you believe makes up “your light.” 

How are you embracing and leaning into the potent cyclical energy of the Winter Solstice? Share it in the comments below!