The Sun Returns
Winter Solstice happens at 2:47 Mountain Time on Wednesday, December 21, 2022. That’s the moment the earth’s northern hemisphere stops tilting away from the sun and begins to tilt back as it continues its journey around our fiery star.
Solstice is about light and warmth returning. It is a time to tune into the wonder of life on this small planet dependent on the sun’s energy. We can also tune into the allegorical meaning of light returning – brining personal illumination, inspiration, and hope. Winter Solstice represents all of these concepts.
Mindful Connections
The essence of mindfulness is to pay attention, to notice, to be present. Stopping in our busyness to recognize and appreciate winter solstice is a reminder of our connection with this planet (our home), our planetary system, and the universe.
Mindfulness Prompts for Winter Solstice
One way to tune into the energy of this time is to work with a word or phrase that helps anchor our focus. The phrases below can be used for journaling or walking mindfulness practice. If walking, you can find a rhythm with the words, your footsteps, and breath. Repeat the phrase silently to yourself. But unlike a mantra, where you would repeat the phrase without stopping, when using a mindfulness prompt leave space after you say the phrase to see what bubbles up. If you are using the phrases for journal prompts, one suggestion is to write the prompt at the top of the page and sit for a moment to take in the meaning. Then when you begin to write or draw, avoid censoring yourself. Just write or draw whatever comes to the surface.
Introspective Prompts
Walk or journal with the words:
- “Be A Light Unto Yourself”
- “How am I bringing light to the world?”
- What needs illumination & clarity?”
Prompts for Cultivating Presence
Open all of your senses as you walk or sit in contemplation, look at what is around you as if for the first time, notice sounds, fragrances, and the air on your skin. Walk with the words, “fully sensing this moment.” If journaling, pose the question, “What am I fully sensing?”
The energetic properties of Winter Solstice include warmth, creativity, and transformation. While walking or journaling, consciously breathe the energy of the sun into the center of your being with the words, “Warmth, Creativity, Transformation”.
Trees in Winter
This one is best done as a walking practice. Depending on where you live, the deciduous trees that shed their leaves look barren at this time of year. Yet we know they are alive and hunkered down for winter. As you walk, open your awareness to trees as living entities. They transform the planet with transpiration, cooling, food supply, oxygen, beauty, and more. Notice their shape, branches, and bark, and their ability to stay alive in the frigid cold. Walk with the words, “appreciating trees as living beings“.
Awareness of Winter Solstice
We are on a tiny rock circling around a fiery star. And our little rock is being pulled back toward the star in a way that creates more light and all the beautiful accompaniments: gardens, birds, butterflies, hope, joy, and illumination. And of course, in the middle of the cold and the dark, to know the light is coming back is symbolic as well. It’s hopeful. It’s joyous. And it’s a mystery. For whatever explanations the scientists have theorized about why we are here, there is a part of all this that is magical. And profound.
That’s why we take time to recognize winter solstice.
Solstice Celebration at Bluff Lake
If you live in Denver, I will be leading a Solstice Celebration and Mindfulness Walk at Bluff Lake Nature Center on December 21st at 9 AM. Click here of details.
See my Lunar Blog Post Series
Each full moon I write about one of the plants featured in my book, Growing Mindful. Each new moon I write about a topic related to gardens, mindfulness, and spirituality. For more details and a list of past lunar blog posts, click here.
