I love December, not just because of the anticipation and excitement of the holidays, but also because of the energy of the universe at this time of year. The winter solstice energy.
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 the past, and to make changes within yourself. The solstice is essentially tied to a personal awakening.
Although the winter solstice actually happens very quickly at the end of December, I’m celebrating the change all month long. I’ve cleared my calendar (as much as I can) to ensure that I have ample time to go inside personally, professionally, and spiritually to reflect, restore, and redirect from a place of deep knowing.
The Science of the Winter Solstice
The winter solstice, also known as midwinter, occurs when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the winter solstice is the day with the shortest period of daylight and longest night of the year, when the Sun is at its lowest elevation in the sky.
The winter solstice occurs during the hemisphere’s winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the December solstice (usually 21 or 22 December) and in the Southern Hemisphere; this is the June solstice (usually 20 or 21 June).
Since prehistory, the winter solstice has been seen as a significant time of year in many cultures, and has been marked by festivals and rituals. It marked the symbolic death and rebirth of the Sun. The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is in the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days.
An Opportunity to Honor & Acknowledge the Past and the Future
Essentially, the winter solstice is the beginning of the returning to the light, your light. Now’s a perfect time to look at your calendar and schedule some time for yourself to be quiet, rest, and reflect on this past year and contemplate what you will create for yourself in 2020.
Cheers to new beginnings.
Let’s Connect
If you enjoyed this article and would like to stay connected, sign up for my email list here.
Sandra Lassiter
Sandra is a business and life coach who specializes in helping clients who are craving a change but feel stuck where they are. Sandra helps them discover a new vision of the future and follow through on their ideas with enthusiasm and confidence. With a diverse background that spans more than three decades, Sandra combines her educator’s perspective, business acumen, life coaching skills, and everything she’s learned along the way to help her clients make bold moves that advance them forward in their careers and in their lives. When she’s not working, Sandra loves practicing yoga, traveling, cultural experiences, and enjoying the desert southwest.