Welcome,
And thank you for taking this time to join me as we honour the winter solstice,
A moment that's all about stillness,
Reflection and embracing the beauty of darkness before the return of the light.
It's a powerful time for us to pause,
Reconnect and plant seeds for the brighter days ahead.
We begin by taking a deep breath in together.
Fill your lungs completely,
Hold it at the top and let it go slowly,
Just releasing any tension that you've been carrying.
Let's do that again,
Breathe in deeply,
Hold and exhale,
And with each breath feel yourself settling,
Feel your mind quieting,
Your body softening and your energy grounding.
Close your eyes if you haven't done already and get yourself nice and comfortable.
Feel the surface beneath you,
Whether that's the floor,
A cushion or the chair that you're sitting on.
Imagine that it's not just supporting you,
But it's gently holding you in place,
Like the earth wrapping you in its embrace.
Now let's visualise.
Picture yourself standing at the edge of a forest on a still winter's night.
The air is crisp,
Fresh and cool and there's a blanket of snow on the ground around you,
Softening all the sounds.
Above you the sky is deep and dark,
Scattered with sparkling stars.
There's something quite magical about the quiet of this moment.
It feels safe,
Calm and full of possibility.
As you begin to step into the forest,
You feel your feet crunching softly on the snow.
Each step is slow,
Steady and purposeful,
Drawing you deeper into the heart of this peaceful winter world.
Notice how the trees around you stand tall and steady,
Their bare branches reaching up like they're waiting for the light to return.
There's no rush,
Everything here feels still,
Almost like it's waiting with you.
Now,
In the centre of the forest,
There's an open space.
In the middle,
You see a small fire glowing,
Warm and inviting.
Walk towards it.
Feel the warmth grow with every step.
And as you take a seat by the fire,
Let it represent the spark within you.
The light that's always there,
Even in the darkest moments.
Take a moment to reflect.
What are you ready to release as this year comes to an end?
What things have been holding you back?
What situations have made you feel less than good?
What people do you need to cut ties with?
Imagine tossing these things into the fire,
Watching them dissolve into smoke and disappear into the night sky.
Feel the space that this creates within you.
Space for new intentions,
New light and new growth.
Now,
Think about the seeds that you'd like to plant for the year ahead.
These seeds are your dreams,
Your goals,
Your intentions.
So picture them as tiny glowing lights in your hands.
Place them gently into the earth,
Trusting that they'll be nurtured through this season of rest,
Ready to grow and bloom once the light returns.
Take a deep breath in,
Feeling that sense of trust and renewal.
And exhale,
Grounding yourself in the knowledge that this moment of stillness is exactly what you need.
Give thanks to the winter solstice for everything that you are able to release.
Give thanks for the last six months since the summer solstice.
Give thanks for everything that no longer serves you.
Give gratitude to every situation,
Every person or every circumstance that didn't work out exactly how you wanted it to.
The winter solstice is here to help you release,
Let go and make space for more.
When you're ready,
Slowly start to bring your awareness back to the room that you're in.
Begin by wiggling your fingers and toes.
Stretch if that feels good.
You might like to roll your head side to side.
And when you feel ready to,
You can open your eyes.
Thank you for sharing this winter solstice moment with me.
May this season ahead bring you peace,
Clarity and the light that you've been waiting for.
