It’s the longest night of the year, yet Solstice is all about the return of the light. I love the Winter Solstice, especially, because I love everything about dimming lights, lighting candles to symbolize the light that is on the way, I love getting cozy and contemplating what has come before and what is yet to come. Then getting still, quiet, present.
One of the things a coach does the most is to ask questions. The Solstice offers a perfect opportunity to ask yourself some thoughtful questions.
Here are a few to get you started:
As the length of light expands day by day, what else would you like to expand in your life?
Who are you authentically and how is that different or the same as how you’ve been showing up in your life?
I got this next one, a statement, from Emily Garrett of Laughing River Yoga, with a few tweaks by me:
In 2020 I had to slow down and I had to examine ______________ and because of it I have come to appreciate myself and what’s important to me. (Fill in the blank.)
In 2021 I am dedicated to _____________________.
In 2021 I would like to learn_____________________.
How do you start now?
What would you like to shine the spotlight on as you finish 2021?
I have been reading a lot on the solstice- so fun to think of a Christmas Star appearing- Jupiter and Saturn so close to one another as to appear as one. (Something that hasn’t happened since several hundred years ago.)
Jupiter represents newness and exploration. Saturn represents rules and traditions. It is a great time to think about what new things you would like to do and what you would like to explore for yourself and what rules you might like to create for yourself. (I love setting my own rules!) You may also want to establish some new traditions in this season or revive old ones that you once enjoyed.
There are many nice meditations on the Winter Solstice you can find on the Insight Timer free app. (I recommend this app over and over again.) One of the things I have done a few times in the past week, that I had not tried before, is candle gazing.
Candle gazing is a way to meditate, by focusing on the base of the candle flame. I find it to be very calming. Candles are a way to warm your space and bring light alive in your surroundings.
Also, wearing anything that reflects the light- sparkly things can be fun and uplifting at this time.
To celebrate the solstice, take at least a few minutes of stillness, quiet and peace. Take some deep breaths. Embrace the dark and light a candle as a symbol of light and then write in your journal. Answer the questions/thoughts above, or just write about how you are feeling. Enjoy these moments, these seasons of the year and seasons of life.