๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฟ๐ป๐. โฃ
After this pause, the days slowly start to get longer again. โฃ
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This moment in the year asks us to honour what is ending in us โ looking back at what has passed over the last 12 months, and consider what we have healed, lost, gained, and learned. โฃ
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But in the same instant we are asked to look ahead at the next turn of the wheel โ what do I want to nurture, heal, grow and experience next year? โฃ
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It is a time for deep introspection. โฃ
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Honouring the Solsticeโฃ
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Many traditions around the world celebrate a festival in midwinter. โฃ
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We could be talking about the pagan tradition of “Yule”, Japan’s “Toji”, Mexico’s “Los Pasadas” or Iran’s “Yalda”. Or of course, Christmas. โฃ
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The common theme is the interplay of darkness and light. โฃ
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The word ‘๐๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ’ literally means ‘๐ฌ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ช๐ฃ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐จ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ก’. โฃ
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Here is the moment when the sun seems to pause and rest low in the sky. โฃ
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From the darkness, the sun is reborn. โฃ
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In many ancient traditions and myths, the solstice is marked by stories that relate to the motherโs womb. โฃ
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In Norway the goddess Frigg is the goddess of winter who laboured the sun into the earth on winterโs night. โฃ
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Many historians believe that around the 4th Century, the Roman Church began to replace ‘๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ต ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ป’ (the birth of the solar god Minus) with ‘the birth of the son’ (the birth of Jesus Christ). โฃ
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Though it is thought that Jesus was born in the spring, midwinter was chosen as the time to celebrate his birth: the new light coming to the earth.โฃ
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Though we don’t always realise it, many of us still celebrate pagan traditions that represent new life and light at this time of year: โฃ
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ย The evergreen tree – a symbol of enduring life in winterโฃ
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ย Fairy lights – sparkling lights in the darknessโฃ
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ย The Yule log (now largely chocolate!) – this was originally a ceremonial log burned on the fireโฃ
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ย Giving gifts – a tradition from many cultures to celebrate kindness and gratitude in the deepest of winter.โฃ
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๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐น ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐:โฃ
Winter Solstice is a festival of coming inwards – of personal introspection and of celebrating with our closest loved ones.โฃ
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We can bake cookies with children, make candles, or create a winter altar. โฃ
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We can say a prayer and come to quiet meditation. โฃ
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A Yule wreath is a perfect symbol for this festival – a circle has no beginning and no end. You could create a Yule wreath using evergreen foliage, berries, dried fruits and ribbons. โฃ
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๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ค๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ช๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ:โฃ
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1. What came to an end for me in the last year? What have I let go of, healed, or transformed? โฃ
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2. What challenges did I overcome? What did I learn?โฃ
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3. What held me back last year? โฃ
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4. What would I love to create next year?โฃ
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5. How do I want to create more joy, love, laughter and abundance in my life?โฃ
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6. What is ready to be healed next?โฃ
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7. What am I ready to let go of, so that I can birth new creations?
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
- ย Courage Dear Heart Episode #58: From Overwhelm to Ease, with client Leigh Farrer
- There have been many new uploads to myย YouTube channel, including interviews with Rob Cook, who is an internationally renowned speaker and veteran with over 20 years of military experience. His journey of โLife After Traumaโ is living proof that demonstrates the immense growth and strength possible when you learn how the mind truly works. You can listen to thatย conversation here, and listen to his interview withย me for his podcast here
- Free series of 5 Vlogs โ โComfortable in your own skinโ
- The 8-week Finding Freedom from Habits & Anxiety program can be foundย hereย
