Bright blessings, I've updated this article to include Winter Solstice dates, associations, and more! I hope you enjoy! ~dl
Today marks the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. Today is the official start of winter and the return of days with increasing sunlight.
For many cultures, the winter solstice is a time of celebration and a reminder of the natural cycles of the earth. Times have been busy and dark, but our hopeful future lingers in the next season, just around the corner.
This is a time to gather with our loved ones, reflect on the past year, and look forward to the new beginnings of the coming season.
What Is the Winter Solstice?
The word "solstice" comes from the Latin words "sol" (sun) and "sistere" (to stand still). The solstice is a moment of celestial alignment when the Earth's axial tilt is farthest from the sun, which is what creates the longest night and shortest day of the year.
This astronomical event has been celebrated for thousands of years through Yule, Saturnalia, Dongzhi, Shab-e Yalda, Goru, and more indirectly, Christmas.
I always find it ironic that that coldest days of winter are still yet to come, despite the sun's return. It reminds me that when we are going through dark nights of the soul, the blessed future we are working for is already on its way, even before we can feel or recognize that positive changes are already occurring.
Growth is rarely immediate. It takes time for seeds planted in darkness to break through the soil and bloom. In the same way, when we are going through dark nights of the soul, the blessed future we are working for is already on its way, even before we can feel or recognize that positive changes are already occurring.
Winter solstice reminds us to never give up hope, and to keep moving forward, as the seasons always change, and winter always turns to spring.
Just as the sun pauses and turns toward longer days, you can also take this time to reflect on what you’re ready to leave behind and what you want to nurture in the coming year. Your healing journey mirrors these natural rhythms.
How to Celebrate Winter Solstice
If you’re looking to honor this magical season, here are some nonreligious, spiritual ways to connect with the energy of the winter solstice:
Create a Yule Altar: Decorate with evergreens, candles, pinecones, and symbols of the sun. Place evergreen branches to symbolize resilience, a gold candle for the returning sun, and snowflake obsidian for grounding. Add any personal items that hold meaning for you, such as a journal or a photo representing your intentions for the year ahead.
Light a Candle: Symbolize the return of the sun by lighting a candle at sunset and reflecting on your personal power. You can also join us for our online Winter Solstice candle lighting.
Host a Gathering: Share a cozy evening with loved ones, filled with storytelling, warm drinks, and gratitude. I really love the tradition of a Secret Santa gift exchange... but what if Santa stays secret?! You can make gifts by hand, share cookies, or share Etsy wishlists.
Practice Walking Meditation: Bundle up well and walk outdoors in silence as you quietly meditate on themes of release, renewal, and gratitude. I'm a huge fan of labyrinths and I often look for one to walk in at this time of year. There is a famous set of labyrinths at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, although I've never been. There used to be a secret labyrinth in the city on a cliff overlooking the ocean, but it comes and goes over the years as people steal the stones, and others put them back.
Reflect on The Year: Pull out your yearly planners and photos, and reflect on each month of the past years. Journal around what you wish to let go of from the year and what you want to invite into your life as the days grow longer.
Although this isn't really a typical intention-setting time, I feel that nourishment and reflection allow for more abstract truths to arise. Feel into what you'd like to experience or feel in the coming year. Here are some journal prompts:
"What lessons did this past year teach me, and how can I honor them?"
"What do I want to leave in the darkness of this solstice?"
"What light am I ready to call into my life?"
Take a Nature Walk: Connect with the quiet beauty of winter by walking through a forest or park, noticing the stillness and subtle signs of life. Sit on benches. Take photos of natural life. Just be.
When we peel back the layers of Christmas shopping, hustle, and the rush of completing year end deadlines, there's a quiet beauty to this time of year. Begin to regulate and calm your system, so that you can enter the new year properly. And hey, it took me several years of practice to slow down the pace and offload the responsibilities of the winter season so that I could ground properly and reduce burnout.
Winter Solstice Dates and Times (2024–2035)
To help you plan your future solstice celebrations, here are the winter solstice dates and times for the next decade:
2024: Saturday, December 21, 1:20 AM PST / 9:20 AM UTC
2025: Sunday, December 21, 7:03 AM PST / 3:03 PM UTC
2026: Monday, December 21, 12:51 PM PST / 8:51 PM UTC
2027: Tuesday, December 21, 7:36 PM PST / December 22, 3:36 AM UTC
2028: Thursday, December 21, 1:24 AM PST / 9:24 AM UTC
2029: Thursday, December 20, 7:14 PM PST / Friday, December 21, 3:14 AM UTC
2030: Saturday, December 21, 1:06 AM PST / 9:06 AM UTC
2031: Sunday, December 21, 6:58 AM PST / 2:58 PM UTC
2032: Tuesday, December 21, 12:50 PM PST / 8:50 PM UTC
2033: Tuesday, December 20, 6:42 PM PST / December 21, 2:42 AM UTC
2034: Thursday, December 21, 12:34 AM PST / 8:34 AM UTC
2035: Friday, December 21, 6:26 AM PST / 2:26 PM UTC
So based on this, the longest night of 2024 will actually occur on Friday, December 20, 2024, the night leading into the winter solstice early Saturday morning. You can create your celebrations at the astrological time, or anywhere within this 3 day range for an energetically effective celebration.
If you would like to celebrate beyond that time, use the time/portal work taught in Reiki 2 Training to attune to the Solstice, pre or post solstice.
Winter Solstice Associations
For magical practitioners it can be helpful to know and work with the rich symbolism and associations of Winter Solstice. In an age where so many of us live in cities and have stepped away from the cycles of earth living, the associations can deepen our understanding of this sacred time.
I often work with whatever associations I feel particularly called to that year, and then I do research about those associations. There are fantastic stories, healing properties, and lessons that give us a better sense of the holiday itself. Here are some common themes and correspondences tied to the solstice season:
Themes: Embracing the darkness; seeds germinating in winter soil, reconnecting with your inner wisdom; letting go of the old; the catharsis and stillness after grief; learning to trust the unseen growth happening beneath the surface; recognizing the ebb and flow of life and finding peace within cycles of change; boundaries as the sacred container for creative incubation; finding warmth and strength in gathering with loved ones; gratitude and appreciation as a spell of light; resilience, renewal, hope, patience, introspection, and rebirth
Colors: White, gold, red, green, silver, deep blue
Symbols: Yule log, evergreen trees, candles, holly & Ivy, mistletoe, snowflakes
Crystals: Clear quartz, citrine, garnet, obsidian, emerald, snowflake obsidian
Herbs: Holly, mistletoe, frankincense, myrrh, cedar, pine, rosemary, cinnamon,
Animals: Deer, owl, raven, bear, fox, and the mythical phoenix
Elements: Earth(grounding) and (solar) fire
Foods: Warm, hearty dishes like root vegetable stews, stuffed winter squash, pomegranate salad, roasted chestnuts (my Aunt's favorite), nuts, spiced cider (also known as Wassail), mulled wine, spiced tea, eggnog, and baked treats (honey cakes, yule log cake/ bouche de noel), preserves, dried fruits & nuts (pull out that Nutcracker!), round sun-shaped breads, and gingerbread.
Food itself becomes a ritual of nourishment and grounding, aligning with the Solstice themes of renewal and abundance.
Candles, with their soft glow, symbolize the return of the Sun and our ability to nurture light even in the darkest moments. They are by far the most popular player on the associations list. These associations are like keys, unlocking the meaning behind seasonal traditions so that we can embody deeper wisdom and presence in the season.
A Solstice Meditation
Imagine you are a seed resting deep in the winter earth. All around you is stillness and quiet.
Slowly, you feel the warmth of the returning sun reaching down into the soil. As it warms you, you feel your roots growing stronger, preparing you to rise into the light when the time is right.
Place your hands over your heart, take a deep breath, and visualize a golden light filling your body. As you exhale, imagine the light radiating outward, connecting you to the energy of the returning sun. Set an intention for the light you want to welcome into your life as the days grow longer.
Now begin to move, dancing in whatever way your body leads you. Feel the light growing within you, and your vital core being rejuvenated as the sun pour down into your body no matter where it is in the cosmos.
A Personal Reflection on Winter Solstice
As we embrace the winter solstice, take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the season and the warmth of the people around you. For me, this season is a time to reconnect with gratitude for the simple joys in my life. Here in Northern California the weather's nice but I still find myself seeking out a nice crackling of a fire. It brings up good memories of watching my stepdad start our hearth in the winters when I was young.
The laughter of friends feels that much more bright in the intensity of the dark season. Some years I am able to get away to the snow up north, and there's nothing more magical than watching it fall in silence.
I don't care what mainstream culture says, winter is a time to slow down and honor the cycles of rest and renewal.
I'm so glad that you've been a part of Healing Heart Reiki! And thank you for reading my blog. Your energy, connection, and presence are gifts I cherish deeply, and I hope this season fills your heart with light and love.
Happy winter solstice!
❤️ Dailey
DAILEY LITTLE is a healing practitioner, transformational life coach, ordained Priestess, and teacher who founded Healing Heart Reiki to help others navigate life with joy. She offers private sessions, and teaches classes in healing and mindset from a magical peaceful corner of the world in Northern California. For more info see: www.SantaRosaReiki.com
Comments