personal development

the spiritual significance of winter solstice

This year the Winter Solstice falls on December 21. This event signals the official beginning of the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere. During the Winter Solstice, the Sun appears to stand still at the southernmost point of the equator, also known as the Tropic of Capricorn. Finally, it will begin to start its journey north again. The Winter Solstice marks the longest and darkest night of the year and the shortest day of the year with the least amount of daylight. The dark triumphs over the light, however, this signifies a turning point!

While Nature is at its most quiet and peaceful form, we humans often find ourselves at our busiest during this time. This is a soulful time to let go of all the busyness of the holiday season (shopping, merrymaking, socializing, etc.) and go within so we can be present for the return of the light.

In a spiritual sense, no matter your religion or tradition, this is an ideal time to embrace your inner self and reflect on who you are and where you’d like to go. This is a perfect time for reflection, introspection, and setting new intentions. Honor your stillness and know yourself at a deeper level. Now is a great opportunity to go within and understand your emotions, motivations, passions, and desires. This is a crucial step to manifest the life you wish to live.

In her website Explore Deeply, Chloë Rain writes, “In winter everything lies dormant in the silent earth, it is a sacred time of rest and reflection before the awakening and the slow build toward brighter days. The energy of winter is that of going within. It’s the fruitful darkness and silence out of which our soul’s yearnings and new inspirations can eventually emerge. As we consciously link our awareness to nature’s cycles, our understanding of our own personal growth cycles begin to deepen.”

In Latin, the word ‘solstice’ is made of two roots: sol – meaning “the sun,” and sistere meaning “to make stand.” Winter Solstice is one of the most powerful points of the year as the axis of the Earth pauses, shifts, and moves in the opposite direction. For three days around the solstice points, we experience the power of the standstill point and the shift of direction. The sun standing still is a powerful metaphor for the energy available to us at the Winter Solstice to change the direction of our lives with intention and build on this energy as we enter into the new year. After experiencing the longest night and darkest day, the nights grow shorter and the days grow brighter until the Summer Solstice.

In the spiritual context, we can say that the window of heightened energy on the Winter Solstice is a gateway to the realm of infinite possibility. Hence, this is an incredible, unprecedented opportunity to tap into new levels of love, light, and the divine blessings of the Higher Power, that are now available for you to call forth and manifest in your life.