Luca is ready for the holidays!

This time of year is jam-packed with festivities, family, and friends.

There’s a special kind of magic in the air, especially being here in NYC…

The sparkle of the decorations, the surprise of a tree or menorah in an unexpected place, colorful lights, and yes, the sound of Johnny Mathis holiday songs.

I love Johnny Mathis!

Amidst all the preparations and celebrations, we’re about to experience the last winter solstice of the decade.

The winter solstice marks the transition from fall to winter, and has been celebrated and revered by our ancestors for centuries.

It’s been said that during the winter solstice, the moon gives birth to the sun.

Talk about magic.

Today, December 21st, at 11:19pm, we move into the longest night of the year here in the Northern Hemisphere, and the darkest day.

It sounds ominous, but the extra darkness isn’t a bad thing – in fact, it adds to the spiritual significance of the solstice.

I love the idea of connecting deeply to our ancestral path by honoring those who have gone before us.

How can we do that?

Here are a few rituals I’ve done over the years to celebrate the winter solstice…

• Burn a candle in a mason jar all day long.
• Write out the things I’m letting go of and burn the paper. 
• Create a vision board of my hopes for next year.
• Massage my feet or hands with essential oil, put on my warmest socks, and sit with a cup of tea, blanketed by the darkness. 

When we celebrate and honor the winter solstice we pay homage to our elders, past and present, and we’re reminded that the wisdom of nature is our constant guide.

From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, winter is the season of yin energy, which represents the quiet, passive parts of ourselves.

Yin energy helps balance the often-overwrought yang side, and is vital to our well-being.

Nourishing our yin restores our energy and combats aging by making the body more supple and relaxed.

The season of yin is also a time of introspection and reconnection with oneself.

Letting our bodies rest allows the subconscious to open up and receive a special kind of restorative magic. It’s a very different energy than any type of conscious healing.

There’s a Tibetan concept, drala, which translates to “above the enemy.”

I don’t know what enemy they’re talking about, but my understanding is that drala represents an indescribable feeling of connection, fueled by a felt sense of relaxation.

Drala is one way we connect to the subtle energies of nature.

You know those moments when you experience a dramatic sunset?

That’s more than just a visual experience. There’s drala there.

This time of year, I find drala as I admire the starkness of the trees. With no leaves, you can see the shape of each branch resting against the backdrop of the gray sky.

For me, this is a reminder to reflect on what we want to shed and create in 2020, our celebrations from the past year and decade, and what we’ve already let go of.

What thoughts, ideas, practices, and energies do you want to bring with you as we enter this new decade? How are you celebrating the solstice?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, and any rituals you love doing.

Leave a comment below with your reflections.

I’m wishing you a beautiful winter solstice and happy holidays!

Warmly,
Michele