Winter Solstice

Today is the Winter Solstice, also known as Yule, which signifies the end of Autumn and the beginning of Winter. It is the day in the year when the axis of the earth means that it is the shortest day and longest night and so the days are getting longer through to the Summer Solstice. 

This slow beginning of more sunlight is a great time to plan the sowing of the seeds and look to next year's harvest. Whether this is around the actual growing of food or in my case more around plans for my business and family, I love this time of year to rest, recuperate, relax and have that space to plan, reflect and regroup.

I also love that falling a few days before Christmas this festival and space doesn't get tangled up in the consumerism of presents and over-indulgence. Instead, people celebrate using candles, setting intentions for the coming year and mulled beverages. Simply lighting a candle or sitting around a fire can honour the light and dark in all of us.

For me, it is a reminder that although there is light and dark; day and night; good and bad; male and female and so many other dualities, actually all of these things live on a spectrum. It isn't as clear cut as night and day as there is dusk and dawn; what is good to one person can be bad for another and vice versa. These things are not definitive.

So today is a day to honour transitions and growth with compassion and understanding. The Winter Solstice is a time to take it slow and enjoy the fact that nights are going to gradually get lighter from today. And it is a great time to look inward to our plans for the coming year with excitement and wisdom. And realise that things are always changing and growing.