And so, we arrive at Solstice, a powerful energetic gateway and brief pause between endings and beginnings. This moment marks a threshold between the dying and rebirth of the Sun’s light, reminding us that even in darkness the light will always return. Over the past few days, the energy has been drawing inward inviting us to align ourselves with nature to celebrate renewal within the darkness. This is a quiet moment of stillness to slow down, pause, go within and listen to the whispers of our soul.

Winter Solstice Energetic Gateway

Solstice is a potent and sacred energetic gateway occurring twice a year in June and December. It marks a power point on the Wheel Of The Year when abundant celestial potential flows out.

Solstice holds spiritual and magical power. It is a time when our soul whispers become clearer and the heightened energy makes it easier for us to access guidance from the refined energetic realms.

The Ancients were aware of this and celebrated the day with powerful ceremony, designed to shape the consciousness and expression of their society.  Much of the ancient meaning has been lost in modern celebrations. But, when you understand the Solstice esoteric meaning of rebirth and renewal, this energy can be used to expand creative power and generate transformation in meaningful ways through the rest of the year, in both your own life and that of your world.

During Solstice the doorways to the Higher Realms are ajar and the veils that separate the worlds thin. Under this influence we become more attuned to the energies around us as well as to other dimensions.  When we consciously attune with this Power Portal, we can open strong and clear engagement with our True Nature, our Highest Self.

Solstice: Conscious Transformation and Evolution

Today’s Solstice offers us a moment of integration, where Heaven and Earth, time and eternity, Matter and Spirit align.  This meeting of energy and matter provides a conduit through which limitation, restriction and false thinking can be transformed and released, allowing new awareness to emerge and grow.

This is a turning point in the cosmic cycle which guides us to slow down and go within.  The energies support our introspection to reflect on where we’re at, and whether our actions and dreams are in alignment.  We can use this moment of confluence to make intentional decisions and conscious choices to carve our way forward.

Whether you are experiencing the Winter or Summer Solstice, whether it’s time to release in Winter or create in Summer, this moment supports you to receive deep insights and deliberately create opportunities for conscious transformation.

This energetic turning point opens a potent portal of time to disrupt your pattern of everyday living. Take this Solstice moment to focus light on your pathway for the upcoming year.

Solstice and the Zodiac 

At the June Solstice the Sun moves into the sign of Cancer, the crab. This is a time to bring our focus to how we use our emotional potential.  It is a time to ‘feel’ and to honour those feelings without judgement. Practice compassion and patience with both others and yourself and whenever you feel hurt seek out the lesson it holds.

Within our physical body our pineal gland plays an important role at Solstice.  The pineal gland is associated with the Third Eye chakra and is considered the organ of universal connection and the seat of consciousness. It possesses the ability to help us awaken and transcend into a higher state of being. 

The pineal gland enables the intuitive Third Eye which receives cosmic energies through the Crown Chakra, to link the physical world to the spiritual and inter-dimensional realms beyond time.

This tiny gland is sensitive to light and darkness and is directly influenced by sunlight.  At Winter Solstice it helps awaken our dream state, activate our clairvoyant gifts and ignite our imagination. 

Honour Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year.  This is a time before the return of the Light when daylight is at its weakest and darkness reigns supreme.

At this time of the chrysalis, we are invited to go within and enter the dark depths of the soul.  Solstice serves to remind us that we are an integral part of the cycle of Nature.

Known as both Solstice and Yule to the Ancients, Winter Solstice celebrates the rebirth of the Sun.  It honours the first, tiny spark of life nestled in the darkness of the womb, in both nature and ourselves, which will later give rise to the new.  As with Summer Solstice, Winter Solstice also celebrates the light, however at this time, in its polarity of darkness.

This is a sacred time of inner reflection in which to embrace the night, practice meditation and make space in your life for new beginnings.  It is a time to invite healthy abundance and growth into your life.

Winter Solstice is a time to withdraw from the busy-ness of life and to take a well-deserved rest.  It is a potent time to be alone with your thoughts and intuition to rediscover your Inner Light.  Sit with who you really are, your True Nature, and gain strength from within.  You don’t need to investigate or journal what emerges, just to surrender and BE with your feelings.

Solstice, whether at the height of Summer or mid-Winter honours the light and this can be represented practically with fire. Flickering candles or a roaring bonfire reminds us of the warmth and life-giving light of the Sun.

Solstice Ritual for Grounding and Awakening

Just as the natural world responds to the energy and light at Solstice, we too can feel the energetic shifts when we tune in. Set aside time today or tonight to do this simple Solstice ritual to connect with the Earth, Spirit and nature.

Find a quiet, dark space where you can be alone.  If possible, retreat to somewhere calm and quiet in nature, the forest, the beach or your own garden, where you can immerse yourself in these potent Solstice energies to harmoniously tune into the rhythm of the Earth.

Light a single candle to invite in the Light. Settle, relax and ground yourself with steady, deep breaths. After a few breaths, take your awareness to your feet and notice your connection with the earth.  As you engage with that connection feel the energy rising from the Earth through the soles of your feet and travelling up through your whole body.

Bring your awareness back to your breath. Observe your feelings as they emerge in the darkness.  Don’t engage with them, simply observe and then release them.  Open yourself to consciously receive whatever it is you need to move forward through the coming year with clarity and grace.

As you maintain your connection with the Earth place your hand on your Heart Centre and become aware of your connection to Source.  As you merge with both Earth and Spirit notice the bridge you have created between the two, the rainbow bridge. Know that YOU ARE this bridge and that both Matter and Spirit reside within you.

As you continue to breathe become conscious of the rhythm of your breath bringing gentle, restorative and healing energy to recharge you.

For a few more minutes just sit and enjoy the feeling of rejuvenation and renewal.

Embrace the Return of Light

Winter Solstice is a moment of pause which doesn’t demand any grand gestures. It’s enough to simply pause, rest deeply, reflect, dream and open yourself to inner growth.

This is the time for a fresh start, so declare that you are open to new and inventive ways to grow.  Then get out of your own way.  Be observant and watch for the intuitive sparks the Universe sends in your direction.  Remember these messages will be subtle and may appear in many different ways.  Be ready to take action to nourish your inner light of creativity as you move forward towards Spring.

Disclaimer

All information and opinions presented here are for information only and are not intended as a substitute for professional advice offered during a consultation. Please consult with your health care provider before trying any of the treatment suggested on this site. 

© Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health, 2012. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Catherine Bullard and Happy Holistic Health with appropriate and specific direction to the original content