REFLECTION

Over the past eleven months, I have truly enjoyed sharing philosophies, science, and the spirituality of design with you. For this final month I would like to invite you to experience a Winter Solstice Ritual. There are many approaches, I find this one particularly grounding as it takes 13 days of commitment.

The Winter Solstice, coming up Sunday December 21, is the shortest day of the year and is the marker of entering into winter. The following days, as we move toward increasing cold (in the northern hemisphere), we also increase the warmth of light. For all of history there have been rituals to celebrate this time, often seen as a time of rebirth. There are various cultural sites around the world, such as Stonehenge, where the sunrise on the solstice aligns with the structure, affirming the importance of this date over time. I hope you are able to make space to experience the ritual below:

Winter Solstice Ritual

Write down 13 wishes on separate slips of paper. One for each month of the coming year, plus one extra. Don’t overthink it. These can be big (moving to a new home, financial abundance) or small (learning to bake a yule log or being more patient when getting the kids ready for school).

Write in present tense, as though they’re already reality. Make them clear and strong like ‘ I will be as calm as Buddha, as strong as Athena!’ It might feel a bit over the top but if you don’t shoot for the top you won’t get there!

Fold them up so you can’t see what’s written, put them in a bowl or basket, and mix them up.

Beginning December 21—the winter solstice, pull one note each night without opening or reading and burn it. Light a candle, hold the paper over the flame, and watch it go. (or toss it into a fireplace or even tear it up into pieces and throw them out.) Whatever is on the paper is given over to the universe, the goddesses, your own subconscious to do its mysterious thing. Let go of it and trust that this wish will unfold on its own.

On New Year’s Day, there will be one final wish. That’s the one you handle yourself. The one thing you’re not delegating to the cosmos. The one you’re committing to actually work toward.

Wishing you a holiday season filled with joy, Happy Winter Solstice!