What and when is winter solstice?
December is a month filled with many magical happenings, but aside from the more commonly celebrated holidays, winter solstice marks a special day for many reasons.
Winter solstice, also known as Midwinter, Yule and the Longest Night, is a yearly occurring astronomical event, happening this year on December 21st, where the Earth is titled on its axis the furthest away from the sun, therefore allowing for the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.
Winter solstice is originally derived from Latin meaning “sun stands still” because on this day at the end of December, the sun has reached its lowest possible arc in the sky, giving the illusion that it is both rising and setting from the same place, giving the appearance that the Sun’s declination “stands still”.
But aside from the astronomical implications, winter solstice has clearly been a significant day for other reasons, celebrated by the ancients from land to land with notable and vast monuments commemorating it; from Newgrange in the Irish countryside, places in Peru, Egypt, Machu Picchu and many others, constructs were built to align with the unique Winter Solstice shadow markings, where shadows are cast longer than any other day in the year.
What does the winter solstice mean spiritually?
Although many of us are familiar with the fact that winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year (at least in the Northern Hemisphere), winter solstice is also seen by many to hold very spiritual attributes as well.
In Pagan culture winter solstice was known as Yule and was a celebration of the moon and the return of the sun. In a sense the moon giving birth to the “return of the sun” or the return of the light. It was viewed as time of the year to hold hope, and to have perseverance in getting through the dark days while keeping a “bright” mindset that the light would return. This can be viewed as a spiritual metaphor for life or our own development as individuals.
In life we are often faced with tough times or difficult decisions which can feel overbearing, but the winter solstice is a day to remember that no matter what, one way or another, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, and that light will shine once again. It is also a time to remind us of the natural cycles in nature, which we may start to notice in our own lives.
We have all experienced times of lightness and abundance in contrast to times of heaviness and hardship, or “dark times”. The world is always changing, and always moving and we can use the winter solstice as an outward expression in nature to express themes we experience internally as individuals as well as in society at large.
How can you celebrate this winter solstice?
If we take the cyclical astronomical occurrence of winter solstice as symbolism for internal transformation, we can see this day as an opportunity to reflect on our own inner struggles or “darkness” and the rewards which are reaped when we are able to overcome hardship or challenges and reach new levels of inner peace, strength and acceptance, only to begin a new chapter, with more lightness in being.
Winter solstice is therefore a great time to be quiet with one’s self, and to let go of the past hardships in making space for new beginnings. This can also be used as a time to further reflect on what goals and intentions we wish to make for the coming “new year”. It is not a time for outward and abundant energy, but rather a time of internal reflection, contemplation and a seeking towards inner calm and peace.
It is a time for manifesting slowness and in that new space allowing for an inner vision that sees outdated and old energies or patterns that are ready to be left in the dust. Common rituals include various meditations which can help cultivate the necessary quietude for such inner contemplations and below we have listed a few of our favorites for this special day of observance on winter solstice.
4 rituals for the winter solstice
1. Honor the Cardinal Directions
Since winter solstice is much about reflecti