For many of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice means one thing: a few long, cold, dark months are ahead of us, with seemingly no end in sight. (“Oh bother” as Winnie the Pooh likes to say.) Nevertheless, let’s explore how we can benefit further from this annual event.
Each year, the winter solstice falls a few days before Christmas and New Year’s Eve. This isn’t just a fun coincidence; in fact, there’s a much deeper meaning there. According to some experts, “The spiritual and energetic significance of the winter solstice is multi-layered, but the most direct relevance is that it symbolizes the birth of the sun.” The birth of the sign is representative of the birth of Jesus.
Even if you aren’t particularly religious or spiritual, this applies to you as well! The winter solstice is a time of quiet energy, where you get the opportunity to look within yourself and focus on what you want and need. It’s an excellent time to set goals and intentions for the coming year, to examine and let go of our past, and to make changes within ourselves. The solstice is essentially tied to a personal awakening–I love that potential!
So in light of this (no pun intended) I enjoyed finding this beautiful meditation on my “Insight Timer” app by Bethany Auriel-Hagan titled ‘ Christmas Calm’.
Welcome and Merry Christmas. There’s something special about Christmas energy. There’s an essence to it–a blend of hope and faith and the possibility of miracles. And there’s a deep resonant peace that just soothes the soul. It is my honor to be with you here in this Christmas energy to guide you gently into the gift of Christmas Calm.
As you settle, give yourself playful permission to notice all your busy thoughts. Notice all the things clambering for your attention. Imagine that all those thoughts are like birds fluttering around in your mind. And then imagine that you can open your mind like a window and let all those feathered thoughts go winging away out the window, leaving your mind empty and still.
Taking a deep breath, exhale completely coming more fully into this moment. Your mind is quiet, body relaxed, allowing yourself to sink just a little deeper into the surface beneath you. Feel your shoulders drop, your thighs relax. Let go of your belly–then just breathe. Just for this moment, letting go, allowing yourself to slide easily beneath the business of the Holiday easing slowly into the quiet that lies deep beneath the Season–slipping into the true essence of Christmas.
Take a deep breath, feel yourself open and welcome Christmas Calm. Savor this soft, simple energy of peace. And from this place of deep calm, quiet stillness and peace, invite your soul to show you an image of something beautifully peaceful. Hold that beautiful, peaceful image lightly. Breathe and let beauty and peace wash over you. As the energy of beauty and peace washes over you, let your heart open to the gentle reminder that you are safe, that you belong and that peace is within you always.
And as you move through the rest of this Holiday season could you let everything that you find beautiful and peaceful remind you that you are safe. Everytime that you see something beautiful and peaceful, could you let it remind you that you belong and that peace is within you always? This is the gift of Christmas Calm here in the deep quiet of Christmas energy–a simple reminder that you are safe, you belong and peace is within you always.
Namaste Warriors (the light within me honors the light within you)!