Winter Solstice: A Time For Reflection
Winter is my favourite season. I’m not sure if this is a byproduct of living in Los Angeles for 10 years with its four shades of summer, but nonetheless, I’ve welcomed this new love into my life and look forward to it every year.
Come December, we are on the cusp of a New Year and for many of us, we look forward to New Year's resolutions, goals and manifestations for the year ahead.
But instead of this constant ‘what’s next’ and forever moving forward, I like to stand still with the Sun on the Winter Solstice and take the time to reflect on the year that’s come to pass.
The Winter Solstice provides a moment to embrace stillness, turn inward, and reflect on what we’ve learned and released. As the shortest day and longest night of the year pass, we’re reminded of the value of rest, reflection, and renewal. In this post, I’ll share simple reflection tips and practices to help you make the most of this quiet, meaningful season.
Why the Winter Solstice Is the Perfect Time for Reflection
Celebrating astronomical events such as the Winter Solstice can help us mark time and bring meaning to our lives. It can help us understand our journey here on Earth and be a reflection for our Soul’s growth and transformation.
The Winter Solstice is a precise moment in time, often falling between December 21st and 22nd, though that date can vary from year to year. In the Northern Hemisphere, it occurs when the Sun reaches its most southern point, creating the shortest day of the year. Here in Northern Canada, the Sun glides close to the horizon on the Winter Solstice. The light can appear as an unearthly golden tone, embracing us as we navigate the shortest day of the year.
The light, colours, and the overall energy of Winter Solstice invites us inwards. Sunlight has been drawn into the Earth and things on the surface can feel quiet, slow and reflective. We know that the stored energy will eventually make its way up through the roots of the plants, trees, and flowers come Spring. But until then, we have a period of rest - a period of reflection.
Winter Solstice Reflection Practice
There are many themes to embrace come the Winter Solstice, but for now let’s focus on the theme of reflection.
While astronomy shows us there’s a precise moment and day for the Winter Solstice to occur, I like to embrace it over many days, reflecting, meditating and celebrating all that has occurred in the moons, months and year that’s past.
Journaling
One of the best ways to dive into this reflection is through journaling. To help you get started, I've put together some simple prompts to spark your thoughts and get the wheels turning.
With these prompts I like to look at the year honestly. I don’t hold back or try to sugarcoat the year. Nor do I just focus on what didn’t work: I like to look at it all. I celebrate the wins, I look at the things that stayed the same and why. I ask myself why some things didn’t work out and what I can do to improve.
In practicing self-honesty with myself I can find room for growth. This can be helpful when looking at what I want to work on in the year to come. So let’s get started, grab something to write with, embrace the darkness of the season and bring some light to the mind through the warmth of candles or a lit fireplace. Make your favourite beverage and settle in.
Quick Breathing Reset for Deeper Reflection
Before you begin writing, I invite you to take a few deep breaths. Allow your breathing to slow and deepen in a way that feels comfortable and natural for you. Feel the pause of this moment, letting yourself arrive fully in the space you’ve created. When you’re ready, you can begin exploring the prompts and reflecting on your year.
Winter Solstice Reflection Prompts and Journaling Ideas
These are my own personal journal prompts I use every year. I keep what I wrote on my computer. Sometimes, when I feel I’m ‘losing track of time’ or can’t remember what happened in a specific year (hello, pandemic years!) I can refer to this document and refresh my memory on all that happened, and on all the ways I grew or didn’t.
Here are the journal prompts I use every Winter Solstice:
How was my psychological health this year? Were there beliefs, mental blocks, or patterns that I was able to shed or transform? How did these changes show up throughout the year? What improved, what didn’t, and what might need a little more TLC?
How was my physical health this past year? Were there any challenges? How did I handle them? How was my fitness routine?
What did I study this past year, and did I enjoy it? Were there subjects I wanted to explore but didn’t make time for? What did I enjoy learning about the most, and did anything I studied help improve any area of my life?
How were my finances this past year? Did I achieve the goals I set for myself, and if not, why? What areas could I improve or pay more attention to in the year ahead?
How was my spiritual practice this past year? In what ways did I grow, and where is there room for improvement?
How was my work this past year? What accomplishments or breakthroughs did I experience? Did I achieve the goals I set, and if not, why?
Take the time to reflect this Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice provides the perfect opportunity to slow down and create space for renewal and growth. These reflection prompts can help open that space for gratitude. It's rare to pause and celebrate the good things in life, but when we do, our hearts naturally fill with appreciation, no matter how big or small.
As we observe the sun’s journey across the sky and with it the changing seasons of our own lives, may we find peace, understanding, and gratitude for all that these past 12 months have taught us. Taking this time to reflect and give thanks also sets the stage for what’s to come in the New Year.
If you'd like deeper support clearing energy blocks or accessing your Akashic Records for personalized Solstice guidance, explore my energy healing sessions or Akashic record readings. They're tailored to help you align with this season's light. And as the days begin to lengthen, may that light grow a little stronger each day.
