winter solstice 2020

Years of shifting to a more meaningful and deeply-connected life, my city-girl Self longs to become more connected with nature's rhythms and lessons. One aspect of this connection is in building meaningful, spiritual rituals to celebrate the shifts in Earth's seasons, such as the Winter Solstice. Especially as a parent creating guideposts for my children, I know such connections to be a healing and magical celebration for the soul. (For this reason, I am eternally grateful to have deeply-meaningful rituals built into their school life for celebrations such as Winter Solstice).

What a wonderful year to truly hone this connection to Winter Solstice-- though perhaps coincidental to fall on the same day.....such is the year of 2020! --with a possibility of seeing the Star of Bethlehem for the first time in 400 years! My mind's eye evokes images of wise men journeying to Jerusalem following that miraculous star and finding the baby Jesus.  This is a celestial event caused by the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn-- the two largest planets --appearing to shine as one brilliant star (or Christmas star), that we may be able to witness shortly after sunset, low in the southwestern sky.  A bit of kismet to bring 2020 to a close and to kick-off a wondrous depth of spirit that is the Winter Solstice.

Here is my short list of ways I am honoring the Winter Solstice:

• Watch for the Star of Bethlehem. Joy of miracles!
• Light candles through the house as darkness falls. Ahh, the warm and delicious fragrance of beeswax.
• Candle-gazing meditation. I do this often with my kids yoga classes and it is soul-alighting!
• Relish in stories of Others' Winter Solstice traditions..... (see next as I "feed 2 birds with 1 scone")
  
• Reach into my own roots as a nod to the roots of trees and the work now being done underground in the warm Earth.  Here's a two-for as I sought Winter Solstice traditions from my mom-- her story and our roots. :) In Korean tradition, the Winter Solstice comes with red bean porridge. The color red is a symbol of good wishes and warding away evil spirits. I do remember this dish in my childhood but I don't remember it connected to the Winter Solstice. Delicious, warm (porridge), and creating safety from my roots. Grateful.

Plus, leading up to this day, the yoga studio where I teach spent 11 days guiding our clients to connect with their inner sun-energy, their warmth and extrovertedness, and their inner digestive fire.  Movement along with an embodied concept of our own inner fire (through meditation) sparks the warmth and wisdom innately within each of us.  "Everybody is a candle, but not everybody is lit". --Karena Virginia & Dharm Khalsa in Essential Kundalini Yoga. 

Happy Winter Solstice, Friends!

​I would love to hear your Winter Solstice stories and traditions. And let me know if you see the star tonight!

Much love, peace and gratitude for our amazing, natural world!