Does a solstice ritual sound familiar? Fun? Weird? A little woo-woo?

Awesome, because a solstice ritual is all of those things!

What is the Solstice? And Why Celebrate?

The winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year. The winter solstice marks the beginning of the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere, when the sun reaches its most southerly position.

Having been through *many* “dark nights of the soul” throughout my lifetime, I appreciate the rest and reflection of this time of year. Acknowledging the eternal partnership of light and darkness and our place within it. The cycle of life and death, reflected in the seasons.

Hope in knowing that the light will return, even when it feels like darkness will last forever. THIS is what I celebrate. Even when I have felt most in the dark, I have seen glimmers of light. Pinpricks of hope. It is a worthwhile practice to help reframe winter depression, as well.

My Solstice Ritual #1: The Intention Word

I don’t do New Year’s resolutions. I do my solstice tradition and receive my intention word for the year.

I first heard the idea of choosing an Intention Word in December 2016. I was in a group that wrote about the finding and seeking of joy. I remember choosing my first word: Nourish. I wanted to learn how to nourish myself; not physically necessarily, because there is more than one way to starve.

Over the last several years, these have been my Intention Words:

2017 – Nourish

2018 – Open

2019 – Power

2020 – Healing

2021 – Roots

2022 – Anchor

2023 – Heartbroken

2024 – Rest

These words have each been inscribed on a rock using black or purple Sharpie, each rock placed together in a clear wide-mouthed jar that sits on a shelf where I see it every single day. They are tangible markers of my journey into healing.

This is a funny idea, choosing an Intention Word. I have found that the Word chooses me.

This isn’t a goal or a To Do list or a set of plans to achieve. This is something deeper.

To find your Intention Word, you’ve got to let go of your analytical, questioning, skeptical, and even cynical thinking side and open up. Let that mind let go and wander. With deep breaths, let the chest relax and the heart soften.

My Solstice Ritual #2: The Labyrinth

I receive my intention word each year on the winter solstice, when I walk a labyrinth located in The Grotto, a beautiful and serene park and place of worship here in Portland. A place of green and cool and calm and quiet. A place of listening.

We walk and whisper through the garden on the Grotto’s second level, on the top of the cliffs. We arrive at the labyrinth and fall into silence, aware and preparing. Then we walk, around and within and without, not able to discern the end from the beginning.

Walking a labyrinth sounds woo woo, but not as much as you might think. Labyrinth walking is a practice, like praying or meditating, allowing thoughts and feelings to come and go while concentrating on each foot taking a step. One step at a time, around and in and over itself, the path with no clear exit that seems to suddenly resolve itself.

Release and Receive

I’m looking forward to the labyrinth so hard this year. In years past, I have had some idea of what my next intention word might be. I have been wrong every year (LOL). So this year, I do not have any idea or speculation.

While walking the labyrinth last year, I incorporated the practice of releasing something. One of my mentors told me once that when we release something with intention, it’s important to invite in what you want instead. Last year, I released one of the burdens I was carrying and invited in light and my intention word to be revealed.

Winter solstice is between December 20th – 23rd each year. I take the day off and make it an event, a time to release and receive, to rest and renew as the earth rotates through the longest night of the year.

And every year, while November slides into December, I look forward to the labyrinth and what I might discover.

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