Winter Solstice Greetings To All ~

I always get confused when winter solstice arrives because all I want to do is put my pajamas on, pour a cup of tea-and cozy up in our little nest of a home. I so enjoy the solace and quiet of these dark days.  But the external world is gearing up for bright lights and big city energy. We are suppose to go to this show and that party and then of course the big holiday family affairs. It requires so much energy to fulfill all the social obligations.

These longer dark days of winter set the tone for inward focus-or what I see as an opportunity for self-reflection and rejuvenation. I think of winter as curling up in fetal position in the great womb of Mother Earth.

• Fox, badger, weasel and mole are all deep in their burrows.
• Snake is even deeper than that.
• Rabbit is tucked under the thicket and ramble
• Squirrels are making deep nests in the tree crevices-(made from our prayer flags).
• The birds are giving their nests a fluff and puff too…re-feathering and some new twigs

The animal people know things.

I vote we have a winter holiday that is a week long and its called “Stay In Your Nest” Days.

For reals!

I think we would all do well by each other and ourselves, if a little time out from all things was declared.

Kind of like the quarantine during the pandemic-but minus the fear, the masks, and its only a week long.

It would be so good. The level of human anxiety would subside greatly-and the environment would respond to all of the quiet.

We are creatures too- and we need time to ground down and return to our nests to replenish ourselves.

Take bear for example. Right now bear is deep asleep in its den.

We need to be like bear. Hunker down and rest.

The Great Creator gives us clues as how to navigate this earth walk.

Whatever nature is doing-we need to adjust accordingly.

And at current time the ‘ask” is to be Still.

Solstice means still point.

 

So we need to move more toward our yin energy- a more quiet and slower lifestyle.

Rest and Digest.
Take time to process life while at this still point on the Wheel Of Time. Winter Solstice is the time to move into the deep quiet of ourselves.

There lies my confusion.
I am suppose to find stillness now-
Instead-I am doing way more shopping, schlepping and slurping than I normally do.

• And I am not in my Pj’s by 6
• And I am not sipping as much tea as I wish.
• And I am not hibernating in my still point.

Bear medicine is the Way right now.

Retreat to our caves.

• a dark, quiet, solace.

Replenish our mind, body and spirit.

• rest, relax, rejunenate.

Nature is doing this all around us: hunkering down, going inward, allowing for the darkness to envelope us.

But alas, my vote for “Stay in Your Nest Days” as our official holiday has not yet come to pass. Instead we are stepping into the High Holidays and a New Year Celebration. Bright Lights and Big City energy.

So, my thought is that until we can collectively agree to follow the wisdom of Mother Earth, we could- each of us- on our own-individually- take time at this dark season to hunker down and find your deepest quiet-by ourselves- for a few days.

Meditate. Chant. Read books. Journal. Write. Draw. Paint. Contemplate.

Observe nature. Speak little.

Try to unplug.

• No cell phones
• Computers
• Head phones
• TV
• Social Media

Nada.

For a few days, find some time to yourself or with your essential people only.

In the dark quiet, we can hear the wisdom of our inner elder.
We can begin to shed our old skin-
And emerge in the new Light of spring-
Rested, renewed and ready to go forward.

Because- remember-after the still point- the Light returns.
Always.

May you wear your pajamas before 6pm and may your Holy Days be Peaceful.
Much Love,
Katrina