Winter Solstice

The sunsets sneak up on us these days and we wait for the sunrises. These are the long dark days of winter in Wisconsin. We are so busy with holiday festivities maybe we don’t notice. I don’t mind the early sunsets. I get excited to turn the Christmas lights on and enjoy the excuse to start a fire early. Soon it will shift again and the days will start to get longer. I pay more attention to these natural happenings as the sun and earth move than I use to.

The Winter Solstice, the day with the least amount of natural light, is December 21st. Some just wish it over as they yearn and even need more day light. It is hard to get out the door for the day in pure darkness. The Winter Solstice is also believed to be a time to renew energy and for self reflection. I appreciate the Winter Solstice as an opportunity to pause before the holidays. A dark winter day providing me those extra moments to pause and notice the pink painted sky as the sun rises late and sets early, to notice the energy of the earth and sun being so far a part on this winter day. I pause to consider the magnificence for a moment of our earth, the sun and our galaxy and how it all works together with such consistency and beauty. I look to this day as an opportunity to consider consistency and balance in my life.

What if we intentionally pause on the Winter Solstice before the holiday business and open our hearts to just love this Christmas? What if we let go of the expectations and judgments and we meet our families with only love? What if the Winter Solstice connects us to nature’s beauty for a moment filling us with wonder? And in that state of connection to the beauty that surrounds us, what if by taking some moments of quiet for ourselves we are able to be present for our family and friends. We are able slow down the pace and provide a safe place to be together. What if we allow the energy of the earth and the sun in their perfect dance to balance us this Winter Solstice. What if we pause for just a couple minutes during the darkness of this Winter Solstice?

If you want to learn how to pause with me please join us for the “Evolve” retreat on Jan 10th, 2020.

I wish each of you a moment of pause this Winter Solstice and a very Merry Christmas.

Our imperfect little tree this year.