Although the winter season is already underway in the mountains, the official, celestial transition from Autumn to Winter happens a little later on our shortest day ~ the Winter Solstice.
Solstice happens twice a year in June + December. In Summer it marks the day when the sun appears highest in the sky giving to us our longest day. In Winter it marks the day when the sun appears lowest in the sky giving us our shortest darkest day of the year. This year, Winter Solstice occurs on Sunday 21 December, so being the official start of Winter.
For a few days surrounding Solstice, the Sun has a wee pause along its celestial path (as viewed from Earth). It appears to stop + stand still before reversing direction. Hence the name ‘Solstice’ which is Latin for ‘Sun stands still’.
Isn’t it fascinating that in the utterly vast workings of our Solar System (one of many solar systems in this Universe) there are patterns of synchronicity creating cycles + seasons that our little blue planet thrives on. All of Nature thrives in these seasonal cycles ~ growing, blooming, fading + hibernating. We thrive in these cycles too, if we allow it.
In Summer life is dynamic, we move around more (circulate) + strengthen our bodies ~ In Winter we conserve energy, practice stillness + strengthen our minds.
When you lose touch with your inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself.
When you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world
Eckhart Tolle
It’s easy to lose ourselves in the world around us.
Hectic schedules, responsibilities, stress + hormones aside ~ we are living in hurried +unsettling times! We have wars, genocide, inequality, societal prejudice, abuse of power, inflated economy + deflated mental health. Compound this with acknowledging societies’ impact on the planet; of our unsustainable expectations + methods; of our responsibilities to our future generations to take steps to protect our wildlife, biodiversity, water, air quality + the balance that sustains human life on Earth ~ It’s so easy to lose ourselves in the world + lose touch with our inner stillness.
A practice of stillness ~ being still, even for a few moments, to tune inwards + simply listen deeply ~ observe what comes up without trying to work anything out ~ is a practice of inner connection that puts us on the road to making a positive impression on the world around us.
So one of the best ways to stay balanced as we enter Winter is to follow the Sun + do as it does. Take daily recovery breaks from the festive pace + allow yourself to stand still like the Sun.
Read on for guidance on practices that will help you infuse mindfulness into your festive season + welcome this winter with some free thinking + a stronger mind.
Winter Mind Gym ~ Guidance + Practices
We look towards brighter days + the gradual return of the sunlight in our mindfulness practices. The following practices can help us to recalibrate our inner compass so we are better able to direct ourselves to a lighter brighter year ahead.
Try to use the 30 days following Solstice to tone a mind that is more open to new ways, new ideas, new vibes + fresh action. Try any, all or a combination of the following mindful practices. It’s great to add candles to symbolise the anticipated return of the sun + brighter times as its light gradually grows from it’s dimmest setting on Winter solstice.
1. Concentrated Stillness
In a comfortable seat, close your eyes. Set a timer ~ for as little as 3 minutes. If it’s hard, practice with 3mins daily until it becomes easy. If/when it’s easy, add 30 seconds to the timer the following day.
After 15 festive days you could be effortlessly practiced at strengthening + concentrating your mind ~ for up to 10 minutes. After 30 days ~ meditating like a pro!
Here are some suggestions of things to concentrate on while sitting still (choose only ONE for each sitting)
- Listen deeply ~ Listen for sounds in the silence ~ notice the variables near + far + loud + quiet;
- Follow each breath in + each breath out.
- Pick any place on your body to concentrate your attention + feel for sensations (I like to concentrate where the nose meets the upper lip – like a clip on moustache). Tips: If you feel like your mind is very busy, pick a place to concentrate on that’s away from your head (eg. belly or chest or thighs); If you feel like you’re in an emotional/feeling space, pick a place away from your chest + belly + concentrate on your face or head (eg. clip on moustache or between the eyebrows or crown of your head)
- Count down from 30 to 1. Restart if you make it to 1. Restart if you get lost.
When you notice that you’ve drifted off + lost concentration (which you will) just put your attention back where it was + roll with it.
2. Thirteen Candles Meditation
Source 13 candles (I like to use tea lights) + clear a surface to space them out on. 12 of them represent the year gone by (1 candle for each month) + 1 candle represents the present moment.
Light them Up:
Light a candle for each month of the last year, from last winter solstice to now. For each candle review the key milestones, experiences, events, actions + reactions of the month that the candle represents. Bring to light with each candle for the year gone by, at least one memorable moment or as many as come to mind (such as achievements, successes, adaptions, compromises, reactions, flops + failings). Say them out loud as you light each candle + watch them come to light.
Blow 12 Out:
As you blow out the 12 candles for each month past let go of any preconceived ideas, opinions or beliefs you have in relation to all that you reviewed for the past 12 months. Gather the memories, insights + learnings that remain + be grateful for all of it.
Keep one candle Lit:
Focus on the light of the one candle that remains lit ~ the candle of now.
Gaze at the heart of the flame (tip of the wick). Bring a fresh outlook to light with an intention to approach 2025 with fresh eyes, a kind heart, strong mind + a dreamers imagination or whatever approach fits for you. Imagine your ideal world – a blend of your own health + happiness, needs + wants + that of your family + friends, your community, your natural environment.
What do you want to see, feel, do in 2026? Focus on that. Note down any insights, thoughts or ideas
Reviewing important aspects of our life at Solstice is also a key step in winter mindfulness. As the Sun’s power grows + strengthens towards summertime, so too will our clarity of mind begin to grow + light up our intentions for 2026.
3. Candle ritual
Light a candle every morning to symbolise the transition towards longer days + shorter nights. Watch the flame as you start your day + imagine it lighting up your headspace, your intuition + imagination or simply brightening up a dull day. Gaze at the tip of the wick for a few minutes, try not to blink too much + allow the eyes to water perhaps. When you’re ready to close your eyes, sit with the visuals that remain behind the eyes. When those visuals fade, begin to visualise the whole candle, then yourself looking at the candle, then visualise the space that you are in + anything else that comes to mind.
Candle gazing meditation ‘Tratak’ is nice way to focus our concentration + said to be a great practice to cleanse the eyes + develop your ability to visualize ~ an excellent tool to strengthen the muscles of the mind
4. Reflections + Free Thinking
Use the dark evenings around the Solstice for some stillness + inward reflection on the bigger picture stuff. BE CURIOUS as to how your attitude, awareness or responsibilities may have changed or developed over the last year in relation to:
- what’s going on in the world at large;
- what’s going on in your community neighbourhood + natural environment;
- your friends, family + loved ones
- your own wellbeing + what you appreciate + want to preserve in your personal life.
Set a timer for still time. Each time you use your still time for this contemplation.
NOTE down any insights, reflections, sentiments, ideas or lack of without trying to make sense of any of it.
Go to your mind gym with an open mind, open to potential + possibility that these meditations in stillness may enable you to see better – empower ideas – visualise hopes + potential for the year ahead.
Read more Winter Balance, Yoga Nidra + Meditation musings + in the Blog.