Before we go deep into the meditation,
Just start to settle your body,
Take a big breath and your eyes can be open or closed and with every breath letting the day or the week or the month or the whole year just start to slip gently off your shoulders.
This is a moment,
A sacred pause to to rest.
This is a point in our medicine wheel,
In our seasonal wheel,
A threshold where the light very slowly is about to return again.
And in the shamanic practice we are sitting in the north node,
The north direction of the medicine wheel,
The winter season.
A reminder to look back or connect back to your ancestors and what they have taught you or passed on,
Passed down to you,
Their wisdom,
Their knowledge.
The north node is a reminder of resting.
Those of us in the northern hemisphere in winter,
The earth goes to sleep.
Or everything just hibernates so there might be things happening underground but nothing really is coming out in the surface.
There's no new flowers,
There's no new leaves,
Everything is resting and so should we.
In this practice together,
In these moments of stillness and peace,
We are invited to look inwards,
To honour the journey of the last six months and then honour the seeds that we may want to plant for the months ahead.
The winter solstice has been celebrated across cultures for thousands of years and it's important that we continue this beautiful tradition of celebrating the winter,
Of celebrating quietly the returning of the light and very gently and lovingly returning back to ourselves.
This is a time to gather your inner resources.
Taking this little moment here to reflect gently your body,
Your breath,
Just how you're feeling now.
And how you can honour this season of rest.
What little changes can you bring in to your every day throughout this winter season,
Throughout the north node of the medicine wheel.
And through this practice there may be times where I ask you questions and you can make the choice at that point whether you reflect internally on the questions or if you wish to journal and to write them down.
And let us journey now into the winter solstice energy.
You can close your eyes if they're still open.
Allow your body to melt down into wherever you're sitting or lying.
And a slow and soft and steady breath.
See how peaceful and quiet your breath can be as if you're inhaling and you're exhaling.
This is a practice that is an invitation to press pause on everything.
Pressing pause on the to-do lists and the distractions,
The phone calls or the to-do lists.
Pressing pause on everything that pulls you away from this moment.
Pressing pause on all the stimulation that you may be feeling.
Letting all of the sounds,
All of the smells,
All of the sensations just starting to fade into the background.
Imagine now standing at the edge of a snow-dusted forest.
And the air is still.
And each breath you take sparkling like frost.
The trees stand tall,
The branches reaching skyward.
And the silence,
So soft.
Walk slowly,
Deeper into the forest.
Every step,
You connect to the earth beneath your feet.
Notice how clean the cold air feels as you bring it into the nose and out through the mouth.
Notice how the silence allows you to really hear inside.
How the silence allows you to hear your heart.
And hear your soul.
What is your heart whispering to you now?
Further along your path,
You may sense the presence of one of your spirit animals.
Whoever comes is perfect.
They are there to gently remind you of your inner strength.
And they may stay with you for the rest of your journey,
Or be a small part.
You walk deeper into the forest.
And ahead of you,
A gentle fire glows softly,
Welcoming you.
And this here is a space of reflection.
Sit beside the fire.
And invite memories,
Feelings and experiences from the last six months.
Allow them to be present,
Without judgement.
Ask yourself,
What has grown within me over these past six months?
And what has naturally fallen away?
And in the past six months,
Since the summer solstice,
What has challenged me,
And what has softened me?
And in these past six months,
What lessons,
No matter how small or big,
Have I learnt?
And as you watch the flames dance,
Visualise offering anything that is heavy or painful,
Or unnecessary,
To the fire.
Feel it dissolve in the flames,
With love,
And holding the intention that whatever you are offering to the fire,
There was wisdom to be held from it too.
Even in those harder and difficult times,
You have grown,
And you have learnt.
And holding gratitude for this.
Sense the presence of those who have come before you,
Loved ones,
Ancestors,
Elders,
Guides.
Feel their energy,
It may be a hand on your shoulder that feels gentle and reassuring,
A whisper of encouragement or insight,
Or the warmth of their presence as they rest beside the fire.
Let their guidance settle softly in your heart,
They are here to support you,
And to hold you in this space.
Connect to the next few months,
Or six months,
Look beyond the fire,
And you notice the softest of light appearing on the horizon,
The promise of the returning sun,
Of hope.
And this is now a moment of connecting to where you want to be,
Or how you want to feel.
What do you wish to invite into your life in the coming six months?
Next chapter of your story,
What qualities do you wish to cultivate?
Patience,
Courage,
Joy,
Clarity,
Confidence.
What qualities do you wish to cultivate?
And throughout this wintering period,
How can you show up for yourself?
What wellness practice or self-care practice could you bring into your everyday or every week for these next three months?
And internally,
Or out loud,
Repeat the winter solstice affirmations.
I give myself the gift of stillness and rest,
What no longer serves my growth,
I trust the cycles of my life,
For all the wisdom I have gathered up until this point now,
And I am grateful for all the wisdom yet to come.
Bring your gaze back to your fire,
Carrying in your heart warmth,
Wisdom and stillness,
And with your guides or spirit animals,
Begin your journey back along the snowy forest path,
Breathing gently and slowly,
Holding gratitude that you have gifted yourself this sacred pause,
And here you may wish to remain with your eyes closed,
As you continue gentle reflection,
What have the past six months taught you about yourself?
What am I releasing as this traditional year comes to a close?
What lessons am I carrying forward with me into the next six months?
And in these next six months,
How can I be more aligned with my soul?
And what does that feel like,
To be living aligned with your soul?
Thank you for resting with me,
Thank you for being still with me,
Thank you for sharing your winter solstice with me,
From the stillness and the sacred pause within my heart,
I connect to yours.
Namaste
