The winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere occurs on Tuesday,
December 21st,
2021 at 1059 a.
M.
Eastern Standard Time.
It's the astronomical moment when the sun reaches the Tropic of Capricorn.
We have our shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
Regardless of what the weather is outside,
The solstice marks the official start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
Solstice comes from the Latin words sol,
Sun,
And solstere,
To stand still,
Because the angle of the sun and the earth appear to stand still.
Many cultures have observed this day,
And the traditions continue.
While in Ireland,
I went to Newgrange,
Where one enters into a mound through a narrow stone passageway,
Which leads to a large stone circular room where you're in perfect darkness.
From the solstice,
I can imagine songs and drumming while in this perfect darkness,
Until the sun would shoot down the hallway and fill this room with light,
As it has done for over 5,
000 years.
Then we have when the Yule Log is lit.
Some say the piece is kindled for the next year's Yule Log,
While other traditions burn the log to ash and spread as fertilizer on their land,
Or even wear as a talisman for protection in a charm.
This is the time when the bears are sleeping,
And our dream time is the longest,
And also the turning point for when the earth's aura is rekindled and the days go brighter and longer.
If you need to pause at any point in this meditation,
Or change the imagery,
Feel free to.
It's your meditation,
And important to feel as comfortable as possible.
So whether you imagine crawling into a cave,
Or sitting in a temple,
Or being in Newgrange,
Or simply by a hearth with the Yule Log,
Get a comfortable position as you allow yourself to settle in for this part of your long winter's night.
Imagine the darkness,
Feel the air around you,
The temperature,
The feel,
The smell,
The incredible quiet of it,
As if you could just sit and breathe,
And allow yourself to go into a state of lucid dreaming,
Relaxing,
Letting go,
Allowing the breath to soften your face,
Relax the mouth,
The tongue,
The eyes,
The ears,
What a good job they've all done for you this year,
And allow your body to relax as you go a little deeper,
As if the muscles are relaxing so much that you feel them softening away from your bones,
And your breath flowing smoothly,
Deepening further.
Imagine yourself in a place with light,
Whether from a Yule Log,
Or an ancient mound,
Where the sun beams down the passageway,
Awakening all the places that have been hidden in darkness,
Allow the warmth and colors to come into the body and the mind's eye,
Bring the healing fire of the sun's energy into your body,
See it,
Feel it,
Smell it,
It's amazing how a little light can ignite a whole room,
Feel deep gratitude for your body,
Mind,
And soul,
Helping you get through the darkest time of the year,
To this day of renewal,
Bring in the first light,
Slowly,
Where the earth is still in a healing sleep,
Although the rebirth has begun,
As you go out from here today,
Notice how your shadow is so long,
But you're leaving it to get shorter every day from now on,
As we go towards the light,
Go gently though,
The earth is still dreaming beneath your feet,
Blessed souls to sleep.
