From a time long ago when Druids and Wizards ruled the Earth, King Arthur united the English under one king, and Merlin the Wizard protected the first king to bridge the Pagan and Christian cultures. Now that would take a mighty powerful Wizard.
I journeyed to England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland in search of the ancient Celts and found them at Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Edinburgh, the Giant's Causeway and Newgrange, the ancient Irish tomb where the sun hit the center on the equinox. I stood in the center of that tomb.
And today I honor you - all God's creations.
What Does
the Winter Solstice Mean Spiritually? It’s Celebrated in Tons of Religions and
Cultures
Dec 18 2017
For many of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice
means one thing: a few long, cold, dark months are ahead of us, with seemingly
no end in site. While the winter solstice might not be something worth
celebrating to you, to others, it's an extremely spiritual day full of sacred
rituals. In fact, to some, all of that extra darkness isn't a bad thing at all
— it actually adds to the spiritual significance of the day. The winter
solstice has so many spiritual meanings that make it so much more than
just the shortest day of the year.
For many cultures around the world, the winter solstice (which
falls on Dec. 21 this year) marks an important milestone. It's the shortest day
of the year and the longest night of the year, and signals a powerful
transition point between seasons that is impossible to ignore. Because of this,
it has been celebrated
and revered in ancient civilizations, indigenous cultures, and various
religions, all of which have their own rituals for taking advantage of the
unique energy.
According to Forever Conscious, "The winter solstice celebrates the
longest hours of darkness or the rebirth of the sun and is believed to hold a
powerful energy for regeneration, renewal and self-reflection. In Pagan times
the winter solstice was referred to as Yule and was a celebration of the
Goddess (Moon) energy. It was believed that on this day, the moon would give
birth to the sun." That certainly puts a slightly more magical spin on
things!
Each year, the winter solstice falls a few days before
Christmas and New Year's Eve. This isn't just a fun coincidence; in fact,
there's a much deeper meaning there. According to Alokananda.com, "The spiritual and energetic
significance of the winter solstice is multi-layered, but the most direct
relevance is that it symbolizes the birth of the sun." The birth of the
sign is representative of the birth of Jesus. Alokananda.com says, "The
birth of these higher beings at this time of the solstice was symbolic of the
birth of the spiritual sun within, that we are not separate from the creator,
as we have been conditioned to believe to feel that we are less than divine
beings." That's where the religious aspect comes in.
If you aren't particularly religious or spiritual, you might
feel like this has nothing to do with you. Actually, it does! The winter
solstice is a time of quiet energy, where you get the opportunity to look
within yourself and focus on what you want and need. It's a time to set goals
and intentions for the coming year, to examine and let go of our past, and to
make changes within ourselves. The solstice is essentially tied to a personal
awakening.
Feeling inspired to embrace a more spiritual take on the
solstice this year? One way to celebrate is to take part in Christmas
traditions, if you celebrate the holiday. The holiday is actually strongly
based on Pagan beliefs, which are also strongly tied to the winter solstice. If
you aren't a religious person at all, though, you can still take part in the
spirituality of the day. There are so many rituals that are linked with the
solstice, and honestly, they might bring a whole new meaning to new year's
resolutions. It might feel overwhelming to pick just one, but there are a few
options out there anyone can take part in.
Take
Advantage of the Natural Light
In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice marks the
shortest day of the year. It will probably be black outside by 4 p.m., which,
let's admit, can feel a little bit depressing. So it's no surprise that, for
many cultures, taking advantage of the light they're given is so important on
this day. Try to get outside while it's light out to connect with nature. Take
a walk, go for a hike, bundle up and enjoy your coffee while sitting outside
for a little bit. You won't have much time, so take advantage of it while you
can!
Light
Your Way Through the Darkness
A lot of common solstice rituals include candlelight to get
through the extra darkness of the day. Mystic Mamma suggests making glass mason jar lanterns
with candles to light all day. Mystic Mamma also suggests that once the sun
goes down, turn off all the lights and spend a moment or two in darkness. Once
you've honored the sun's light in your mind, you can light some candles on your
own, or with loved ones.
Set Up a
Fire Releasing Ceremony
The winter solstice can be about looking inwards and getting
rid of the past you don't need to hold onto. Mystic Mamma suggests making a
fire (outside or in a fire place!), and gathering with loved ones (you can
obviously do this alone too). Grab a piece of paper, write down the things you
want to let go of, then toss the paper into the fire as a symbol of release.
Celebrate
with Friends and Family
An important part of celebrating the solstice has always been
showing your love to the people closest to you, like friends and family members. Circle Sanctuary says, "At the heart of
Saturnalia was the custom of family and friends feasting together and
exchanging presents. Continue this custom by visiting, entertaining, giving
gifts, and sending greetings." Make the solstice feel a lot more cozy by
having people over for a small, casual party.
Disconnect
and Focus on Yourself
Probably the most important spiritual meaning of the winter
solstice is that this is a time meant to reflect and recreate yourself. You
should spend at least an hour doing that on Dec. 21. Light a candle, keep the
lights off, and embrace the darkness. Turn your phone off, and don't even think
about using a laptop or your TV — not even your smart watch! Take some time to
think deeply about yourself, your past, and what you want for your future. This
is a time where you aren't harsh about your decisions, and you really let
things go. Could there be a more perfect way to enter the new year?
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