Winter solstice: Embracing deep rest and replenishment
Winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Humans, throughout history, have had a deep connection with the cycles of the Earth, the moon, and the seasons. Winter solstice has often been a time of deep reflection and preparation for the upcoming lighter months.
Journey Inwards
In this time of darkness, we can focus on going inwards. Our society often encourages us to push ourselves, shut down our body’s needs, and focus on productivity. What this means is that rest, replenishment, and deep introspection can easily become deprioritized. This experience of disconnecting from our needs can lead to exhaustion, burnout, and depletion. You might feel too tired to have sex, too overwhelmed to have a deep connection with your partner, or too drained to connect with your joy, passion, vitality, and creativity.
The following journaling questions can help you to check in with yourself around your relationship with rest and living in alignment with your needs:
How do you feel about rest?
Do you eat when you are hungry? Drink water when you are thirsty? Sleep when you are tired? If not, what gets in the way?
How do you feel when you slow down? (guilty, overwhelmed, anxious, happy, grateful, etc.)
What practices could help you to honor your body’s needs? Your emotional needs?
What honors your sensuality and sexuality?
Intention Setting
As you reflected on your relationship with rest and replenishment, what did you notice? You might have realized that you have been disconnected from your needs. Or perhaps you are nourishing yourself and resting, but want spend more time awakening your creativity, sensuality, or desire. This time of year can give us an opportunity to set intentions for the upcoming seasons by connecting with our inner wisdom.
The following journaling questions can help you to set intentions for these upcoming seasons:
What energizes you?
What intentions would you like to set for this year?
What would help you feel balanced in your life?
How can you honor your body, sensuality, and energy?
This time of year, with the holidays, can bring up many emotions and dynamics. Connecting with the symbolism of the winter solstice can be a support; guiding you back to yourself and honoring your body and authenticity. I hope that the darkness of this solstice provides you with the opportunity for deep stillness, rest, and replenishment as you enter into these next weeks and months.