The celebrations and significance of Solstice
A TIME FOR SOUL GROWTH & REFLECTION
The Summer and Winter Solstices are a time of powerful energic influence on our personal and spiritual growth.
At the Summer Solstice we have the most light of the year as the sun climbs to its highest point in the skies. It’s a time of renewal and abundance. A time of high energy, soul expansion, life force and creativity. We are being compelled to open up to the light for the release of any density that may be surfacing for us.
The Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere usually falls around the 20th to the 21st June. The word “Solstice” is derived from the Latin words Sol + systere, meaning ‘sun’ and ‘standing still’.
At this magical time of year, the sun does seem to be standing still in the skies.
SUMMER SOLSTICE IS A TIME OF GATHERING AND CELEBRATION
The Summer Solstice signifies the time when the Earth is ripe, and fertile. We are reminded of our ability to co-create abundance for ourselves.
It is a time of gathering and offering gratitude for the abundance that we have experienced in our lives. It is a celebration of the light, a connection within and a time to review and celebrate all of our personal achievements.
Many celebrants mark this time with festivities of gratitude to the land and her offerings. Fires are lit, feasts are organised, rituals and ceremonial practices are held.
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THE WINTER SOLSTICE IS A TIME FOR REFLECTION
Whereas the Summer Solstice is about abundance, growth, connection to source and honouring the divine within ourself and each other, the Winter Solstice is a quiet time of introspection.
It is a time for reflection on what has been and what will be. It is a time for gaining clarity and moving forwards with new aligned intentions.
At the Winter Solstice, the sun has reached its lowest point in the sky. The Earth is welcoming the return of the light and the rebirth of the new sun.
Some ancients, fearing that the light would not return, would perform vigils and rituals in his honour.
The old year is seen as dying and the Earth is looking forward to the rebirth of a new one.
THE SYMBOLOGY OF SOLSTICE
At this time of year, homes were and still are decorated with holly, ivy, mistletoe and pinecones, etc. Bringing in the elements and nature’s bounty remains an important part of this Winter celebration.
Gold and silver decorations were symbolic. The colour gold represents the sun and our masculine energy. Silver represents the moon and the feminine principle.
Log fires and candles represent the return of light.
The intentions that were set at this time have inspired the Western tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions.
MANY CULTURES AND TRADITIONS WELCOME THE LIGHT
Many traditions and cultures throughout time have celebrated the Light.
Western civilizations have, for centuries, celebrated the Solstice, also known as Midsummer. It is still regarded as one of the most powerfully magical days of the year for spiritual growth and healing.
Many of these ancient traditions continue, as people gather at the sacred sites throughout the world at the Solstice to celebrate the light and divinity within.
In Ancient and pre-Christian times – people were deeply connected and aligned to the Earth, nature and her elements. Mother Earth played a significant part in their daily lives in terms of the seasons, cycles of growth and hunting/gathering practices. But there exists a deeper truth to these celebrations.
The ancients such as the Mayans, Essenes, Druids and ancient Egyptians understood, honoured and were deeply connected with nature’s cycles and their spiritual significance & energetic impact.
The Solstices were and still remain very auspicious and symbolic events.
Many temples and structures were built to capture the sun’s alignment and for sacred ceremony. For example, the head of the Sphinx at the Great Pyramid of Egypt was built so that at the pinnacle of the Summer Solstice, the head is crowned by the rising sun.
Hundreds of sacred sites align with the Solstices. For example, Glastonbury Tor, the Stonehenge and Avebury stone circles and the dome of Tara in Ireland are some of the main ones in the UK and Ireland.
The Winter Solstice has been linked to many religious and cultural festivals, such as Diwali and Christmas. Many significant religious and spiritual teachers were supposedly born close to this date, which shows the significance of the Solstice for many.
A FIRE CEREMONY FOR DEEPER CONNECTION AT SOLSTICE
· In a quiet space light a fire or candles to represent the light.
· Still the mind, go within and tune into your heart.
· Feel gratitude for all your beautiful gifts and achievements of the year.
· Give thanks to Spirit & the Universe for their loving support.
· Intuit what needs to be released – write it down.
· Put your intentions in the fire.
· Welcome in the new beginnings that change will bring.
· Be open to receive and let there be light in your life!
The Winter Solstice or Yule is on Monday 21st December at 10 a.m GMT this year (in the Northern Hemisphere).