It's the Winter Solstice!

by Robert Wilkinson

The Winter Solstice occurs today, December 21, at 4:23 pm PST, 7:23 pm EST, and 12:23 am GMT December 22. Thus for everyone east of Greenwich, the Solstice occurs on December 22. (As I noted in a comment stream, it's 11:23 am Dec 22 in Melbourne, Australia, for my readers down under.) This is the shortest day of the year, and from now on the Solar force will get longer and stronger, a welcome relief for those of us who need lots of sunshine to keep our dispositions equally sunny. It is a special time for me, where I do a specific ritual every year that seems to yield great results. If you're interested, read on.

This is not a very elaborate ritual, but it's very powerful in its simplicity. First, I make a list of everything I want to leave my life in the coming year. Then I either find a disposable object associated with each thing (or person, or personal habit) I want to see leave, or I draw a picture that represents those things, people, or habits. Then I burn each individual picture in a fire, one at a time, while saying goodbye to each of those. (I make a duplicate list to check the next year to remind me of what I wanted to see leave.)

I also make a list of things I want to see come into my life in the coming year. I try to make it realistic, but also allow my imagination to bring forth what might be or could be, even if improbable. After all, it's supposed to be fun! I play with possibilities, and write them down, without getting hung up on specific forms. This is about content more than form. Then I draw pictures symbolizing those things, and burn them, one by one, in a fire, welcoming those things to come. I also make a duplicate list to check the next year.

Over the years I've done this ritual, I find very often that every single thing I want to leave actually does leave. And, I usually see most if not all that I want to appear show up in the following year. Even when one or both lists falls short by a thing or two, overall I've seen great progress year after year.

It's also very interesting to note how my lists have changed over the years, with some concerns falling away and new things presenting themselves according to my intention. And sometimes, when I have not received what I thought I wanted, it became clear why it wasn't good or necessary for me to have that which I thought I wanted.

So in this time of transition from the old year into the Winter of the new, take a moment to note what has left your life the past year, thus creating space for that which is more appropriate to your evolution and well being. Then take another moment to welcome in something better than you've known up to now, putting it in the Spiritual atmosphere so that Divine Mother can bring it forth for you in the coming months. And if you feel like doing a Solstice ritual, whether this one or another, open to your greatest good and highest possibility of happiness, and you just may find a measure of that in the coming year. As they say, Mahalo, Aloha, Namaskarams, and Happy New Year!

Comments

[Carson]

Robert,

Thank you for your energy and your wisdom. I am glad that Spirit allowed me to come across your writings and positive Being in the past year (despite lack of ritual).

It was funny to see how Time's person of the year was: You...suggesting the voices that created a forum for themselves through the more socialized and second evolution of the internet. Your blog, along with several others are more important than we all realize. May these be the seeds of the great turning.

May you live a wonderful life filled with everything you deserve. And may the year of the Fire Boar and Jupiter in Sagittarius shed new light on the beauty of the invisible.

Be well and Namaste Robert, along with all who check in here often,

Merry ________ Season,

Carson

[Robert]

Hi Carson - Yes, I'm glad you found the site, as what you've posted so far is thoughtful, sensitive, and may be useful for others who visit here. I must admit I've never considered that I was the person of the year, or even part of the "second evolution of the internet." That's fairly high praise (I think! ;-)) Truly we live within the Great Turning, though mostly we think in short time bytes rather than decades. Thanks for your kind wishes, and I will second them. And my namaskarams to you as well, and all who come to this house.

[abacus]

a very merry christmas to you and yours, namaste !

[Robert]

Hi abacus - My namaskarams to you and your loved ones as well, and of course Merry Christmas and Happy New Year(s)!

[Jenny]

Robert thank you once again for a truly inspiring article illuminating the essence of our amazing planetary dynamics, whilst giving us DIY toolkit to help us to integrate them into our chaotic lives.Congrats on being voted person of the year, I've only just red it on your site. It's wonderful and you get my vote. Please keep sharing your down to Earth wisdom with us, Jenny.

[caliban]

I have this huge brush pile. I was waiting for snow cover to provide the needed moisture for containment so it doesn't spread. I've definitely got the snow cover now. I do believe tonite is the nite. Thinking of the fire, the intentions start to flow. Thanks for the inspiration.