As winter solstice approaches we are reminded that all things have a season. As the year comes to a close, it's time to reflect on what we are ready to let go of and what we are ready to call in.
Materials Needed for Winter Solstice Ritual:
* Candles (black & white)
* Blankets or warm clothing
* Symbolic items (crystals, pinecones, evergreen branches)
* Pen and journal
* Fire-safe container
* Hot beverages (tea, cacao, coffee etc.)
Ritual Steps:
Cleanse your space:
Start by doing a smoke cleanse to prepare your ritual space. Light your sage, palo santo, or incense, and clear the space around you, including your ritual tools.
Honor winter on the darkest day of the year. Take a moment to reflect on winter… the slowing down of the seasons, where we enter a cycle of allowing the old to die and go dormant as we prepare for a cycle of rebirth and renewal.
Think about the year coming to a close, and all the ways you have grown. Think about the hard work you put into your goals, your successes, and your failures. Be willing to let go of things that need to leave your life. Light the black candle, to let go of the old and welcome the new.
Light the white candle, representing the return of light. As you light the candle, express gratitude for the warmth and illumination they bring.
In your journal, write down your intentions for the coming season. Focus on personal growth, renewal, and the things you want to bring into your life with the returning light.
On separate pieces of paper or birch bark, write down any negative thoughts, habits, or obstacles you wish to release. Take a moment to reflect on each one and then safely burn the papers in the fire-safe container, symbolizing the release of what no longer serves you.
Step outside and embrace the winter night. Feel the cold air on your skin and listen to the sounds of nature. Connect with the energy of the season.
Meditate on the significance of the winter solstice. Reflect on the cycles of nature and the cyclical nature of life. Consider how you can align yourself with the rhythms of the Earth.
Return to your ritual space to your hot drink. Place your hands around the cup and speak your intentions and affirmations as if you are infusing them into your drink. Feel the warmth with gratitude and drink your beverage.
Express gratitude for the lessons of the past year and the opportunities for growth ahead. Blow out the candles, symbolizing the gradual return of light. "So be it, and so it is." 🙏