Winter Solstice Self-Reflection

The winter solstice is the longest, darkest day of the year. It is deeply rooted in ancient spiritual traditions, but the modern world pulls us away from nature’s cycles into an active presence. Even if we are not conscious of it, the long darkness calls us in. By attuning to the spiritual energy of our own dark and light together, we create our own ritual of rebirth. This meditation presents questions to encourage self-inquiry into your own darkness & light; finding balance between the two.

Transcript

Winter solstice self-reflection.

The days leading up to and after the solstice are meant to draw us in.

The solstice is a powerful time to remove obstacles and foster renewal.

Even as the holiday season pulls us in all directions,

Overstimulating our senses from the outside,

Our energy draws us inward.

This is a potent time to take what I refer to as S vitamins.

Silence,

Stillness,

Solitude,

Spirituality.

Look around you in nature.

Everything appears to be still and dead and quiet.

And that long darkness calls us.

We are that darkness.

And it is in the dark that we are inspired to connect to our higher selves.

We'll be asking questions and just note what immediately comes to mind.

And when you're done with this meditation,

If you'd like to write anything down,

Please do.

What has your spiritual practice or wisdom tradition brought you this year?

What seeds do you want to plant that will grow when the days of long light return?

Yoga gives us the concept of the three gunas,

Their qualities of everything in nature.

Darkness is represented through Thomas.

It might be considered gloom.

That's what obscures the sun.

Mental darkness,

Ignorance,

Illusion,

Inertia.

We'll explore Thomas within ourselves.

How do you feel about being in the dark phase of the year?

What lies dormant under the deep dark earth inside of you?

What is hidden in you,

But always present?

What do you keep in the dark from yourself,

From others?

When difficulty happens around you,

Can you stay behind in the dark?

Which seeds have failed to germinate?

What has been difficult or hellish?

Who do you perceive as casting shadows on you that get in your way?

What are you consciously or unconsciously incubating during the dark phase of the year?

What gets prioritized when you feel as if you vanish into the darkness?

Do you see your darkness as a force to resist?

Is it the same with the darkness of others?

Invite ourselves back into the light.

Yoga uses the term Tejas to invite ourselves back.

Aura,

Glow,

Brilliance,

Radiance.

It's our fire and luster,

Our spiritual power.

Think of delighting in the brilliance of a beautiful sunny day and feeling that sun on your skin.

All that Tejas asks is that we never do any practice unless we love it.

Be passionate,

Be real.

Love activates your instincts.

We'll now ask a list of questions,

Bringing us back into the light.

What have I achieved since the last winter solstice?

Do I trust my source to provide light to me each day?

What lights your fire?

What turns you on and what do you desire?

How do you express your creative energy and what is its fuel?

How do you honor,

Direct,

And constructively channel any righteous anger?

Is your fiery side ever destructive to yourself or others?

What is important to you?

Who helps you embody your light?

How do you give and receive radiant love?

And can you do both equally?

How do you bring warmth,

Nourishment,

And passion into relationship with both yourself and others?

Which obstacles would you like to burn away?

What needs cleansing and purifying by the fire of intention?

What do you want to nurture,

Develop in yourself in the coming year?

Moving forward,

We'll experience that balance between light and dark.

The space of inertia with activity,

Acceptance of what is without attachment,

The intention of change without expectation.

Do you recognize the solstice as a portal to unearth the unconscious obstacles in your soul journey?

Even in the darkest dark,

The light of consciousness always wants to illuminate what is for your highest good and the good of all.

Can you learn not to take sides or label?

Good,

Bad,

Right,

Wrong,

Right,

Dark.

Thoughts arise,

Let them come.

Thoughts disappear,

Let them go.

Are there simple daily routines that you can turn into rituals?

Run a loop in your mind and think of everything you do in 24 hours,

The whole wacky cycle,

Habits,

Routines.

We have to awaken before we can go to work.

Where can you turn routines into rituals?

Simple things,

Being mindful,

Taking a shower,

Who's in the shower with you in your mind's eye,

How we eat our food,

Not just what we eat,

But our frame of mind.

What gets in the way of your awakening?

Our work,

Relationships,

The roles we play in this lifetime and the stories we repeatedly tell ourselves.

They all at times feel like difficult tasks or failures bring us into the dark.

Remember that we manifest as uncreated light.

Your potential always wants to shine through and dispel any gloom.

Can you let go of the need for approval from others?

The sunrise doesn't care if it's too pink or too red.

Do your work for the highest good of all and be done at the end of each day.

Will you take time to furnish and embellish your inner sanctuary?

No one else is going to come along and show you your beauty from the inside.

It's a place that only you can access.

Visit the inner sanctuary frequently in the morning,

At night,

One minute during the day here or there,

Wherever you can find the time.

There's always a place of refuge inside yourself where you can retreat,

Find rest,

Healing,

Regeneration and rejuvenation.

Have you created a physical place that you can go to within your home?

Create an altar to remember.

Remember,

Meaning become a member again,

A member of the light.

Space or altar can include simple gifts from those who support you at your highest vibration,

Items representing the elements in nature,

Deities or anything that's a source of support for you.

It should remind you who you are and the items should be as unique as you.

They will hold the energy of light for you when you are in the dark.

Can you expect and embrace change or do you resist it?

Practice not doing.

Be a human being instead of a human doing.

Stay behind in the dark sometimes.

You will be ahead.

Are you comfortable in the mystery of the dark?

Don't try to master the darkness.

Surrender to it.

Learn to create within the mystery of deep darkness.

That way the darkness doesn't force itself upon us.

It reveals the ashes of our growth.

How can you be like the light?

The light nourishes all things without trying.

The sun does not shine only in the most fragant flowers.

It cares for all things.

It leads the day without trying to control it.

Don't look for the light to find you.

Be the light.

Tediously and repeatedly cleanse your inner vision until all you see within is light.

Where do you find the balance between the creativity of dark and the manifestation of light?

Make a mental list of the tools you will need to gather in these dark days to be able to successfully plant your seeds,

The seeds of intention in the spring.

Meditation,

Nature walks,

Writing,

Music,

Any way you replenish and remember that the universe supports you in your growth and transformation.

The more S vitamins we take,

The more present we can be for ourselves and for others.

In this season of giving,

Can you give yourself a gift?

The gift of insight and kindness.

The more we let go of our love,

The more compassionate we become.

Being present in yourself is the greatest present of love to yourself and for the greater good of all.

Blessings on the winter solstice.

There is a light that shines beyond the world,

Beyond everything,

Beyond all,

Beyond the highest heaven.

This is the light that shines within your heart.

Reviews

I enjoyed this meditation. I was drawn into deeper stillness as I surrendered to the ideas and prompts presented.

I adored this blended meditation / talk. Definitely an awesome way to reflect and look forward. Thank you for sharing!

So helpful and hopeful, exactly what I needed, thank you very much

Thank you for this meditation. At first I thought the questions would overwhelm me but they revitalised me, made me realise how far I have come this year, spiritually. You have given me plenty of food for thought for going into 2021. This meditation re-energised me. I will be taking my ‘s’vitamins regularly. The simplest of things make the biggest difference. I have learned so much from this meditation. I am light. Thank you 🙏🏻💫 🕯

A very moving, poetic meditation. I'd have loved a quick breathing exercise to start off.

So many inspiring issues. Thank you so much 💫

Beautiful thank you . Just perfect for today the morning of the winter solstice.

Loved it. A beautiful winter solstice down here in Australia. Thanks you.

Wonderful thank you Megan, from this dark and damp winter solstice down under. Many profound thoughts and questions which I will certainly return to (w pen and paper next time!) Blessings 🌏🖤⭐️🌛

Love this. Thank you 🙏🏼❄️💙 it’s winter solstice here in Melbourne, Australia today. This was the perfect meditation. Thank you. Namaste ✨✨

A lovely way to start Winter Solstice Day here in the Southern Hemisphere 🙏💜

Blessings of light to you. Thank you 🙏❤️

Perfect 🙏🏻. It's winter solstice here this weekend in the Southern Hemisphere, and this meditation was just perfect to listen to now. I really appreciated your words. Thank you.

Wonderful talk. Save for next year's solstice. 🎇