Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice, or Yule, is a celebration of the shortest day of the year. For those of us in the northern hemisphere the Winter Solstice marks the start of astronomical winter, or mid-winter if you follow the Celtic Wheel of the Year. 

The shortest day and longest night are the result of the northern hemisphere tilting the furthest away from the sun. During today the sun will be the lowest in the sky and you’ll notice long shadows.

During this festival we celebrate a turning point and the return of the light. From this point forwards each day will gradually become lighter, reaching a peak at the summer solstice.

Winter is the season to turn inwards, to rest and to set intentions of what you want to bring to life when the light returns in Spring. 

Since Samhain at the end of October I’ve been thinking and reflecting on the year so far and gently starting to think about the intentions for the coming year. 

From the Winter Solstice I start to move my thoughts towards building greater clarity around my intentions and aspirations, and planting metaphorical seeds and bulbs of ideas. I tend to use the time over the coming weeks to think about how I want to bring things to life, resting, gathering resources and taking time to work through ideas. 

At this time of the year the natural world is standing still, plants retreat and die back, trees stand bare and animals hibernate. Beneath the surface of the soil things are happening, transformation of growth is preparing to take place ready to come to life in the spring. Animals hibernate making time to rest and look after themselves during a cold and dark part of the year. 

Connecting with the seasons and taking cues from nature can support us to grow our lives and work sustainably and gently. I’ve been using seasonal cues and leaning into metaphors I see in nature to support me, my reflections and inspiration for many many years. This year the Winter Solstice feels more poignant and special as some big changes are lining up to happen next year. I’m resting, planning and taking time to think, ready to bring something new to life.