Happy winter solstice

Wishing you wild beauty and goodness on this seasonal moment

Hello and Happy happy winter solstice to you.

Today is a day full of darkness, for we have come to the shortest day of the year here in the northern hemisphere, and yet, it is also the day which marks the beginning of the suns return. In the southern hemisphere, it is the summer solstice which knocks at the door at around this time.

There are so many ways in which we can celebrate the beauty of the winter solstice, and it can be lovely to lean into what feels right for you. Whether you want to celebrate the darkness, that in its richness and restfulness holds the language of the invisible, the wordless - the seeds, our feelings, the incredible bacteria, the stars, our dreams, formations, alchemy, the roots and the minerals.

Or the light which calls us to stretch out, be seen, warm up, grow outwards and unfurl.

Tijana Lukovic

I like to celebrate both dark and light, for neither can manage without the other, and nor can we manage without either of them.

I like to honour the darkness by sitting in its depths, by sitting in the forest and listening, by curling up and reading tales of the night. And slowly over time, to light lanterns and fires, and to call in the light, to honour its birthing and honour the balance of all things.

It can be too easy to see the light as a saviour, as the opposing force of darkness and categorise them as good and bad. I feel it’s worth looking at our relationship to both, and rewilding those relationships if one of them is negative, this can be done by remembering more connective stories, by learning the purpose of both and understanding how they are both beautiful, needed and vital.

Tijana Lukovic

Some of the things I do alone, or with family and/or friends -

make lanterns in the day and take them out into the night.

Gather round fires and tell earthy stories of recovery, rest and hope.

Leave out gifts for the deer and the other more than humans amongst the trees.

Sing songs.

Tell eachother, or write down what we would like to unfurl into our lives once the light has become stronger and the days warm up in time to come.

Go somewhere beautiful to watch the sunrise with a flask of warm winter herbal brew or cocoa.

Give small gifts to loved ones that represent something they want to grow in their lives in the form of books, writing things, sketch book, journal, maps, compass, knife, fire lighter, torch or whatever is right.

Make a cosy bed on the earth and lie on the earth in the complete darkness, away from streetlights, away from any light and just absorb the velvet pitch night.

Drink mulled spiced drinks looking into the night.

Some people from winter solstice night, will only eat simply, and be on a sort of vigil, watching the sun slowly return, and celebrate its full birth at christmas by feasting, gathering and celebrating.

Light candles

Sometimes it is enough just to acknowledge it quietly to yourself, go to bed super early and whisper a word of welcome to the light in the morning.

Whatever you do, may it bring you much beauty and warm your heart.

Much warmth and love to you

Brigit xxx