Winter is not my favourite season (I can live without -20° C windchills!). But there are things that I love about this time of year – the late sunrises and early sunsets, the clear crisp evenings, the smell of smoke from the woodstoves lingering in the air, the trees creating beautiful silhouettes against the sky, and the darkness. The darkness, for allowing us to admire all the light around us… and giving us time to hibernate.
Tomorrow marks one of my favourite days of the year, Winter Solstice…. a magical time of the year – the shortest day and the longest night. It is symbolic of the sacred balance that we witness everyday in nature – to appreciate the darkness as it leads us to the light. It is a time for reflection – on ourselves, our lives, our time, and our year. It is a time for setting intentions for the new year as we examine – What brings us joy? What do we hope to share in the year? How will we shine our light in this coming year? We honour the light in ourselves, and in those around us. And each day we make a choice, will we live from a place of darkness, or from light?
The word Solstice comes from the Latin, solstitium, “the point at which the sun seems to stand still.” How beautiful! To be in stillness. For me, just saying the word, stillness, slows down my breath and makes me pause.
This season, I invite you to embrace your light, and your darkness, as we move forward with longer days and shorter nights. I invite you to be still… and I wish you a beautiful 2016 filled with all that brings you joy. ♥