Hope is Reborn at the Winter Solstice

This year, when so many people have faced such dark and anxious circumstances, it is more important than ever to celebrate the Winter Solstice and the return of the light. The Winter Solstice, on December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, marks the shortest day of the year. We have arrived at the point in the year when the darkness has expanded to its fullness and must now bow down to the sun. It is a time of hope and a time to dream the life you wish for into being. 

The sun, reborn at the Winter Solstice, is like a new moon: the first few days of the moon’s waxing cycle the new moon is not yet visible in the sky; in the same way, at the winter solstice, it is not immediately evident that the light has returned. Winter stretches out before us, the sun is low in the sky and casts long shadows, and summer still seems a far-off dream. However, although it is not apparent to us yet, the earth’s energy has shifted from darkness to light, moon to sun, yin to yang, water to fire, inner to outer, and from contemplation to action.

Below are some Winter Solstice meditation questions (from chapter eight of the Yoga Through the Year book) to help you to prepare for the dawning of the light at the solstice:

• The sun is reborn at the winter solstice. What is being reborn in me at this time? 
  
• What are my hopes and dreams for the coming year?
  
•  What do I want to achieve during the growing season?
  
•  Which projects do I wish to prioritize to make best use of the expansive energy of this lighter half of the year?
  
•  What am I passionate about? What lights my fire?
  
• What actions will I need to take in the coming months to make my dreams manifest?
  
•  How will I stay in touch with my inner wisdom while taking action in the world?
   
  

More than ever we all need hope to dispel the darkness and gloom that has been so prevalent during this pandemic year. We are reminded at the Winter Solstice that the light will return, spring will come, green shoots will appear, and life will blossom again. So, over the coming weeks create a space in your life, a cradle, ready for the Sun to be reborn at the Winter Solstice. What is being reborn in you at this time?

See Also:
How to Use the Seasonal Meditation Questions
Finding Wisdom in the Darkness