“In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer.”~Albert Camus
Solstices are a time to celebrate the changing of the seasons. Depending on where you are in the world you will be experiencing either the Summer or Winter Solstice on December 21, 2017.
The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year and the Winter Solstice is the shortest. Since I live in the Northern Hemisphere I’m going to talk about the Winter Solstice on December 21, 2017. (Sorry Summer people!)
What is the Winter Solstice?
“The word solstice comes from Latin sol “sun” and sistere “to stand still.” In the Northern Hemisphere, as summer advances to winter, the points on the horizon where the Sun rises and sets advance southward each day; the high point in the Sun’s daily path across the sky, which occurs at local noon, also moves southward each day.
At the winter solstice, the Sun’s path has reached its southernmost position. The next day, the path will advance northward. However, a few days before and after the winter solstice, the change is so slight that the Sun’s path seems to stay the same, or stand still. The Sun is directly overhead at “high-noon” on Winter Solstice at the latitude called the Tropic of Capricorn.”~Farmer’s Almanac
The Winter Solstice celebrates the longest hours of darkness. According to spiritualists it is also known as the dark night of the soul. This is the night when the veil between dimensions is the thinnest. If you take time to listen, you may hear the whispers of messages from beyond.
As we wind down the year this is the time to honor your shadow self. The Solstice is a powerful time of self-reflection, recharging, renewing and birthing new ideas. The longest night allows us to quietly reflect on the past year and to think about where we would like to focus our attention in the year to come.
“The winter solstice has always been special to me as a barren darkness that gives birth to a verdant future beyond imagination, a time of pain and withdrawal that produces something joyfully inconceivable, like a monarch butterfly masterfully extracting itself from the confines of its cocoon, bursting forth into unexpected glory.”~Gary Zukav
Winter Solstice Rituals
There are a lot of Winter Solstice rituals including “burning” pieces of paper listing those things you want to let go of. Unless you have a fabulous fireplace or a proper “burning bowl” there is another option. Light a candle or simply turn one on. (I only have electronic candles due to a cat with a very bushy tail.)
Write down what you want to let go of, hold the piece of paper to your heart and surround yourself, and whatever memory, person or situation you wrote down, with golden light of forgiveness. Allow the golden light to fill you up with love and peace and compassion. When you’re ready, put your paper in a shredder or tear it up and throw it out.
The Winter Solstice is all about the feminine “going inward”. It is a time for self-nurturing. A time to check in with your spirit and soul. As you journey within open your mind to feel, see and know the calling of your heart. In your mind’s eye visualize where you’d like to focus your energy and attention.
“Nature looks dead in winter because her life is gathered into her heart. She withers the plant down to the root that she may grow it up again fairer and stronger. She calls her family together within her inmost home to prepare them for being scattered abroad upon the face of the earth.”~Hugh Macmillan
It is said that it’s always darkest before the dawn and what lies in darkness only does so because we have not yet looked (or lit a lamp) in its space. During this beautiful time of year, light a lamp in the darkness. In fact go within and shine YOUR light!~With love and light Debbie
©Debra Taitel 2017 All Rights Reserved
Debra Taitel is a gifted Clairvoyant Visionary, Energy Healer, Author, and Intuitive Business Consultant providing insight and guidance to clients around the world. In addition to her clairvoyant readings, business consulting and healing work Debra also offers one to one personal empowerment sessions and leads meditation workshops to help people heal and awaken to their own truth and spiritual gifts.
