Winter Solstice Rituals

Winter solstice, the moment when the shortest day embraces the longest night... Marking the beginning of the cosmic winter, this epoch brings together the quietest and most peaceful energy of the year with our essence, exhorting us to retreat into our sacred immanence.

As the remnants of the past are washed away by the fading autumn winds and give way to a clean palette, the sun winking at life heralds a year full of hope and freshness that we can color as we wish.

This year, the Winter Solstice falls on December 21 in the Northern Hemisphere at 16:48 Eastern Standard Time (EST) and 10:48 Central European Time (CET). For some of us, this milestone, signaling the first day of winter on the astronomical calendar, may just be a foreshadowing of colder and gloomier days. But in fact it is just the opposite... After we experience the longest night and the darkest day, Mother Nature will slowly emerge from her cocoon as the nights grow shorter and the days grow brighter. And as our souls resonate with the metamorphic power of the universe, the world will prepare for the new life. That’s why today is the day when, since ancient times, we embrace the tranquil energy of darkness with our inner light and celebrate the resurgence of our soul as they unite with nature...

Here's how we can connect the sacred energy of the winter solstice with our deepest self. Let’s celebrate the Sun’s birthday together as we step into the new year.

What is the Winter Solstice?

Since the Earth rotates obliquely on its axis, the angle at which it receives the Sun’s energy rises and falls throughout the year. For the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice marks the time when the Sun reaches its lowest point on the horizon. It occurs between December 20-23, when the North Pole experiences the shortest and darkest day of the year, while the South Pole enjoys the longest and brightest day. As such, this day marks the astronomical beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere and summer in the southern hemisphere. Afterwards, the change of seasons to summer in the north and winter in the south takes effect.

At the Winter Solstice, the Sun stops its southward rotation and assumes a ‘stand-still’ appearance. The term solstice also derives its name from this powerful phenomenon: from the Latin term “solstitium”, meaning “the sun standing still”... Then it reverses its direction to north and starts rolling again.

The winter solstice arrives at a very specific time of the year when the Sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. In 2022, this moment falls on December 21 at 21:48 (00:48 in Turkey) in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

The Spiritual Value of Winter Solstice 

A Reminder of the Truth of Darkness

The winter solstice, the longest and darkest night of the year, enfolds us with the most serene and immanent energy of the year. As the sounds echoing under the sun give way to the peaceful silence of winter, it gives us room to be in solitude with ourselves and connect with our essence. Everything from our past we’ve buried in the depths is revealed in this vast dimness, inviting us to confront our own shadows.

And as Brené Brown says, “Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness can we discover the infinite power of our light.”

Just as winter is inseparable from summer, night from day and Yin from Yang, darkness is a fact of our existence. Yes, in the light everything can seem joyful, bright and flawless. But in truth, nothing’s perfect... Perhaps that's why the silent darkness is beautiful; accentuating the uniqueness of imperfection, revealing the true beauty as it is. Just like our inner light shines in the ether of our Self... It’s in such stillness that we can best turn inward and reveal the inimitable reality of our quintessence.

If our positive thoughts and feelings represent the light in our being, our negative sentiments symbolize the darkness within. These feelings, whether good or bad, are the very elements that make us who we are today... To ignore and hide is tantamount to denying our own power.

The winter solstice gives us the inspiration and courage we need to face our own darkness. It allows us to accept past thoughts, feelings and experiences we've been glossing over and relegate them to their place in our new chapter.  Perhaps some have fulfilled their purpose in our existence and are ready to say goodbye to our being, while others are waiting for us to transform them into a new form that suits our nature.

Once we manage to see ourselves as we are, with all the light and dark, our inner divine wisdom will reawaken and illuminate us with the creative potential within on the path to our goals...

Highlights the Value of Retreat for Renewal

The winter solstice, when the sun is seemingly dormant, is the last time when life retreats into her deepest sanctuary. After this day, the Sun will shift its direction and rise towards the north, illuminating our days more and more. Slowly and gently, nature will awaken from her deep slumber and finally life will reemerge with a brand-new face.

It is this perfect synergy of winter solstice with nature that emphasizes the value of retreating to rejuvenate...

Nature needs a restful stillness to give breath to new life. First, she must bid farewell to the leaves and flowers she’s so lovingly nurtured until now. And when she shakes off and cleans her canvas, she must sleep a little longer to nourish the new life. So do we... In order to cleanse ourselves from yesterday’s remnants that no longer define us, we must first show self-compassion, rest for a while and gather strength. Only this way can we internalize the creative energy to be birthed in our soul as the light shines back on us. And just like how the magnificent Sun can change its turning direction, we can bond with the transformative master at our core and turn our lives in the direction we aspire to.

Winter solstice may inspire us to calmly reconnect with the brilliant sage in our soul and welcome the new life that shines within...

Some Rituals We Can Perform on Winter Solstice

Throughout history, cultures around the world have organized festivals and rituals to celebrate the winter solstice, the day when the “Sun is reborn”... 

Saturnalia was a week-long Roman festival dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture and time. Yule, a Pagan tradition that is still practiced today, celebrates the coming of the light with ceremonies and rituals with the Yule log burned in the fire, the symbol of the sun on earth. Iranians recite poems and do charity work with friends and family on ‘Shab-e Yalda’ night, while the Chinese farewell the past year and share good wishes for the coming year with their families during the Dong Zhi festival. And in Europe, many people flock to mysterious Stonehenge, dating back to 3500 BC, that perfectly catches the Sun’s rays between its tall stones.

We also can celebrate our connection with the natural world and the light’s coming back to our lives in ways that are in tune with our spirit. With this in mind, below we share some rituals you may find useful:

Start the New Year with a Clean Slate

On this winter solstice, we can cleanse and purify our own space, like Nature sweeps away the old life from her surface.

We can clean the corners of our home that trap old and tired energy, accompanied by our favorite calming music. And say goodbye with gratitude by setting aside everything in our lives that has outlived its usefulness and no longer “gives us light” to donate. Decluttering our homes will create space for positive energy to flow, both in our space and within us. To increase this flow, we might also burn incense that resonates with our aura, such as sage and lavender. Let us visualize our incense destroying bad energy along with our intentions. Then open a window and metaphorically witness all the negativity flying away.

Unite with the Refreshing Power of Water

During the Toji festival celebrating the winter solstice, the Japanese perform warm bathing rituals with yuzu fruit to promote health. In Hawaii, traditional bathing rituals known as Hiu Wai cleansing are also practiced.

Drawing inspiration from these traditions, we may consider experiencing a relaxing and purifying bath ritual. We can prepare a winter solstice bath by adding citrus oils that symbolize the energy of the sun, rose petals that reinforce our self-love, and other herbs that make us feel light. And just like the traditional ritual of releasing negativity into the water, we can send our stress and worries away with the water. 

For a more holistic and transformative bathing ritual to honor the divinity of winter solstice, you may consider experiencing a ‘Temazcal’ ritual in the Spa.

Say a Proper Farewell to Our Past

To free ourself from the remnants of our past, we should let them go properly. Otherwise, the resentments, regrets and longings that accumulate inside us can leave permanent scars on our souls. We can create a circle of mourning, alone or with our loved ones, in order to leave the pieces of our past that no longer serve us on the darkest day and let in the light with more hope and love. We can animate our circle with fire, the symbol of the sun on earth, or surround it with elements that represent our past. Let’s think about what has happened in the past year, its impact on our sense of self and its place in our new life. And let us bid a fond farewell to the parts of ourselves no longer belong to us, in gratitude for what they've brought to our existence. If we wish, we can sit in guided meditation and write down our feelings to reflect on and accept our grief.

Celebrate the Light Within

On the winter solstice, all societies honor the new life brought by the reborn sun and the connection of our inner light with nature. Inspired by these celebrations, we can light candles in our space or create an altar with items dedicated to our future and surround it with candles. If you have a fireplace or can create a fire circle outside, you can also build your altar this way.

To welcome the future with love after saying goodbye to the past, let’s light our candles and watch how the flames flicker with the silent frequencies of the universe, illuminating our little world. Sit in meditation and visualize the radiant power of the sun returning to us, flowing from our head to our whole being. Feel our inner light awakening and spreading compassion throughout our entirety, like nature coming out of her cocoon and back to life. And focus on our hopes and intentions for the coming year, knowing the sun will slowly re-shine.

Feel Our Connection to Nature

The winter solstice is a powerful event that affects the entire universe. Wherever we are, whatever we believe in, we experience this event together with all living beings, at the very same time. 

With this awareness, we can walk or sit in meditation in our own space or in the still nakedness of Mother Earth. While doing this, let’s think about the correlation of the seasons, the moon, all the energy that surrounds us with the sun and the universe. Just as Mother Nature compassionately accepts all her creations and their vanishing in every season, let us lovingly accept all aspects of our existence and allow our soul to be renewed. Remember that our inner self is always alive and with us, just like the immortality of natural world. And let us visualize becoming one with other beings experiencing the same feelings at the same time as we do. Remembering people in the southern hemisphere are waving farewell to the light that’s returning to us, let’s offer gratefulness for this unconditional sharing.

Welcome the New Year with New Intentions

The day after Winter Solstice, the days gradually begin to get longer and brighter while the sun rises again and shines back on us. In Feng Shui, light is believed to be the embodiment of positive energy. Indeed, as the days grow longer, our hope for what life can bring becomes clearer.

After digesting the serenity of the darkness, with the encouragement of the positive energy that the sun will bestow, we can reflect on our intentions and wishes for the coming year. Let’s write down how we want to grow in our inner and social world, the direction in which we wish to ‘transform’. The next day, we may wake up to the first rays of the day, feel our souls being affirmed by the happiness of the light and repeat our intentions in the warmth of the sun beaming down on our faces. 

Winter solstice honors the past and celebrates the return of hope for new life to our world, as our planet experiences the first slow return towards more daylight. So let us welcome the encouraging, inherent power of darkness on this day, the last time our year is this far from the light. Let us be grateful for the wisdom of the day that teaches us the need to retreat, a precious aspect of renewal. And as we embrace brighter days, let us rest and make room for the creative transformation of our essence.

May your inner light shine bright like the Sun and your intentions come to life...