“...This is the solstice, the still point
of the sun, its cusp and midnight,
the year’s threshold
and unlocking, where the past
lets go of and becomes the future…”
—Margaret Atwood, in “Shapechangers in Winter”
When my family moved into our Vermont home, I built a small cave into the mossy hill in the backyard. It’s just big enough for a candle and a small offering. On the Winter Solstice, I place a single votive candle in this sacred cave to symbolize the light of the new year, cradled in the Earth, waiting to be reborn. I say a prayer asking for good health, prosperity, and understanding and peace throughout the world.
My family and I spend the evening of Winter Solstice sharing stories, food, and good company amid the warm glow of candles. This is sacred darkness; quiet, reflective, expectant, comforting—together, we make our way through this longest night.
When morning comes, I try to witness the sunrise. Sometimes it blazes over the hilltop, sparkling on the crystal ice-covered branches. Other times, the morning dawns beneath a blanket of clouds. However the Sun arrives, it heralds the eventual lengthening of the day, and I know that Spring and Summer will come again.
This cycle of growth and decline, waxing and waning, appears throughout nature: from the turning of the seasons and the phases of the moon to the dark and light of each day. Similar patterns appear in our own lives: there’s an ebb and flow in our relationships with others, in creative work, learning, and even spiritual practices. We experience periods of activity and engagement and also times of rest and drawing-back.
I’ve found it helpful to think about parts of my life as cycles or spirals instead of a single, often meandering path. These cycles aren’t just happening to me, or to you. We engage with these cycles though our own choices. We volunteer. We advocate for changes we want in our communities. Sometimes, we let go of something that no longer serves.
During the sacred darkness of this Winter Solstice, may we reflect on our journeys and express gratitude for the experiences of the past year. May we decide which things we need to carry forward with us, and which things to set aside—perhaps for good, or maybe until we’re ready to pick them up again.
Prayer
May the renewing light of the Solstice remind us of the sacred spark within ourselves and each other. May we make our way together through the cycles of our lives.