Welcoming the Winter Solstice
We welcome Winter Solstice as a potent time for deep regeneration and renewal, and in doing so one of our favorite reminders by Lao Tzu comes to mind:
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
As we approach the last days of this solar cycle, we may feel precariously balanced between the urge to get everything done, and the quiet request from the mind, body, and spirit to seek rest.
In these moments, we turn to the teachings of Nature to guide us - remembering that we are a part of, not apart from, the natural world - and there is infinite wisdom to glean from aligning ourselves to its rhythms.
How can we carve out space and intention these final days of 2023 for rest, for going inward? What practices can we explore to prime ourselves for the coming changes of the new year?
With its rich symbolism, Winter Solstice becomes an opportune moment for profound rituals and renewal – taking its lead from Nature to never rush, knowing in its infinite wisdom that all will be accomplished in due course.
Photo by Patrick Bremser.
“In these moments, we turn to the teachings of Nature to guide us - remembering that we are a part of, not apart from, the natural world - and there is infinite wisdom to glean from aligning ourselves to its rhythms.”
Should you feel inclined to honor this seasonal shift, join us in the simple practice of brewing a comforting tea, wrapping yourself in blankets, lighting a candle, and opening your journal. Here are some Winter Solstice-inspired prompts we love to contemplate this time of year:
What lessons have I learned from the darkness of this winter season?
How can I pay homage to the return of the sun and the light it casts upon my life?
How am I attuned to my body in this season of repose, rest, and recuperation?
What can I bid farewell to in the coming year? What mindset or habit(s) do I wish to leave behind?
What space can I carve out in the upcoming year for rituals and routines that would infuse more joy into my life? What are the rituals and routines I crave?
How have I evolved as a person this past 365 day cycle?
What guiding intention do I hold for the approaching year?
What manifestations would I like to invoke in the new year?
List the top ten (or more!) things you are grateful for this past year.
