Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come whispering, ‘It will be happier.’
~Alfred Lord Tennyson.
Winter Solstice
Celebrations honoring the winter solstice as a moment of transition and renewal date back thousands of years and occur among many peoples on every continent. It marks the longest night and the shortest day of the year and most often falls on December 20th through the 22nd.
As Thanksgiving is a time to give appreciation for the gift of life and all we’ve been given and experienced, the good and the bad, solstice is a time for introspection. There are two self-inquiries I like to reflect upon to close the current year. One is: Have I been kind? If not, how would I change my actions, words, etc., if given the chance to do it over? the second: What is most important to me? And secondly, How will I live this next year, with that in mind?
Although one question seems to look to the past and the other to the future, they are both coming out of the moment I am present to. That is the only point at which I can produce an effect. It’s the only point where energy is alive. Your mind can recall the past and imagine the future, but consciousness and cause and effect happen right now. Whether I set up a ritual for myself or with friends, or simply sit quietly and wait for truth to bubble up, inquiry is an honoring of that quiet place of wisdom that resides in each of us. We can more easily contact this wisdom once we clear our minds of distraction.
This honoring of wisdom can easily be forgotten with all the preparations for the more commercial winter celebrations. But perhaps this year, we can sow the seeds for a more intuitive, simpler, and natural holiday season. Instead, maybe we can make use of the solstice and tune into the magic and beauty we receive at this time of year.
People throughout the ages—from the ancient Egyptians and Celts to the Hopi—celebrated midwinter as a significant time of ritual, reflection, and renewal. This time of inner exploration helps to cultivate a deeper connection to nature and family and all the things that matter most to us. If we choose to, we can make it a time to feed the spirit and nurture the soul, not just a time to empty our bank account and jangle our nerves. Along with all the wonderful food that feeds and nourishes our tastebuds and bodies, we can also feed our spirit and those we love with the food of our soul.
Enjoy!