Winter Solstice and the Winter Season (revised)
I originally posted this on December 20, 2018- but decided to take a look at it again, and make some modifications. I hope you enjoy it, this first day of winter, 2023.
Many of my pictures display my love of the sky. I am often mesmerized by the movement of the daytime sky and the stillness of the evening sky. In a prior post I wrote- the sky is like a silent sea. That statement still resonates with me. Although the sea is something of immense beauty, the colors one witness in the sky, as evident in this picture, are perhaps even more incredible. Another bonus, the sky is available for all to see, unfortunately, the ocean is not. Gaze upon the sky this winter season.
The winter solstice started as a pagan holiday. Like other traditional religious holidays, they too have pagan roots. I don’t find fault in attaching religious holiday’s to something that was pagan because it represents a change, a recognition that a particular practice is no longer acceptable, and now we do ‘this’ instead, a new way. The Way that changed humanity was Christmas. We celebrate Christ’s birth on December 25th, not the actual day Jesus was born but it was some ritual in ancient history. The church substituted a pagan practice with the recognition of Jesus’ birth. His birth-date is unknown and irrelevant. What is true is, he was born and his arrival is what matters.
The words Winter Solstice reverberates with a sense of calm and quiet. It is a time when the days are the shortest of the year. It signifies a time to retract a little and maybe reflect a lot. For some, it is an opportunity to regroup and reorder your life. It can be a time when you are more inclined to be still and allowed to be indoors and retreat. Maybe not for long, but hopefully just long enough to replenish your soul after the holiday rush.
Winter Solstice falls on December 21, but I think we should embrace it as a ‘season for restoration’. It’s a mindset I think we all need. It doesn’t mean we withdraw and hibernate, but just as we should fill our physical body with healthy activities, we need to fill our souls with peaceful thoughts and rest.
Societal norms tend to drive us towards tasks of accomplishments negating the philosophy of rest. I know the concept sounds almost impossible for some, especially if you work full time, but maybe there are aspects of your life you could change? The rather obvious-Instead of watching TV you read or write in a journal. Might I suggest collecting your thoughts from the holiday’s of things that you enjoyed and are worth repeating or things that need to be removed from your schedule next year? I always assume I will remember the prior holiday season, but much is forgotten in the hustle and bustle of this time of year, so our brains are not registering and storing events, even as they occur. Perhaps the process of writing your thoughts down, while still fresh in your mind, will allow you to purge some unnecessary clutter? Write down and purge. It’s like getting rid of those attachments in your cell phone- leaving extra storage for new content.
I don’t think we should equate being quiet or still with slacking or procrastinating. Our bodies and our minds need time for peaceful rest and the winter season is the perfect time to start a new ritual. We live in an industrious society. We are always trying to stay one step ahead. If we don’t, we feel as if we will fall behind and unable to catch up. But life is a journey, not a race. Approaching each day with a sense of gratitude will help improve the view of your world and those you can influence.
Although I am not a huge fan of the cold, I do like that the winter season allows me to feel like I can be a bit of a hermit. I look forward to quieter days as I reflect on the year gone by and anticipate the year ahead. I will continue to forge ahead with great expectation, but perhaps be more considerate of the need to rest.
I hope you take some time to refresh your soul. As the New Year approaches and you start to think of New Year resolutions, do consider incorporating some deliberate mindful rest. Try and gaze at the winter sky and see the variation of dimension and color.
May the wonder of the evening sky create in you a sense of peace this winter season!
