Restoring at the Winter Solstice
As the wheel continues to turn the earth tilts the Northern Hemisphere to the furthest point away from the sun today, making it the Winter Solstice (or Yule to those of us who observe the old ways). At the Autumn Equinox we transitioned from a collective Life cycle to a Death cycle, the first part of which was all about releasing. Today, at the Winter Solstice, we commence Part Two of our Death cycle during which we recover and restore through to the Spring Equinox when we initiate a Rebirth cycle and plant new seeds of intention.
what is Yule and Why Does it Matter?
Yule, which is the name the Germanic tribes of Europe gave to the Winter Solstice celebration, is probably the most well known of the seasonal festivals for its appropriation as Christmas, but unlike Christmas which is observed on a fixed date (25 December), Yule is celebrated in a less linear fashion on the Solstice which usually happens around the 20/21st on the longest night of the year.
Often the Solstices are called Midwinter and Midsummer, which is misleading because they actually mark the first days of winter and summer according to our modern calendar. These titles are a throwback to ancient times when the earth was understood in the context of just two seasons: winter, or the dark period, and summer, the light period.
Fire and candles play a significant role in Yule rituals due to the myths which told of the darkness being escorted out and the light ushered in at this time. We may recognize the overlap between the folklore and the Christian idea that Jesus was the “bringer of light.” Also, Yule is observed as a festival of rebirth and renewal since the sun starts its return, offering us hope, comfort and the promise of new beginnings in this dark period.
Although it may feel like the winter months are the darkest, the days between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice are actually the shortest and darkest for after the Solstice the days gradually lengthen. Despite the cold, if we stay present enough we can notice that each day we experience a few more minutes of daylight than we did the day before. Personally, it’s these moments of presence that have made living more seasonally so beneficial to my mental health.
By flowing with nature’s rhythm and observing the eight Wheel of Year festivals (called sabbats) I have the opportunity to pause and notice the seasons shifting every six weeks. I notice those extra few minutes of daylight when I wake up in the winter, making it easier to pull myself out of bed. I notice the produce looking exceptionally luscious around harvest season instead of mindlessly buying berries in a plastic container. I notice the crisp coolness on the breeze as a harbinger of autumn’s arrival.
Whatever is going on in my life at a given moment, I can take a few seconds to notice something beautiful happening. That’s why it matters.
Sunset at Stonehenge in England on the Winter Solstice
When Resting is Uncomfortable
As we shift into the second half of our collective Death cycle, we’re asked to slow down and rest. Personally, I think Death cycles and winter months are the hardest for people to embrace because we don’t feel comfortable slowing down. Our nervous systems are perpetually overstimulated and our blood is coursing with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Trying to rest in these states is like slamming the brakes of a car barreling down the highway at 80mph.
Frankly, the suggestion of resting can be deeply activating to someone who can do nothing but dream of a day when their body lets them switch off. To a trauma survivor, their inability to rest can feel like yet another reminder of how they’re different from others.
Instead, I invite us to consider the idea of restoring and recovering rather than the yuletide cliché of resting. Yes, it’s necessary in the winter to conserve energy - that’s the point of hibernation after all - but what purpose does rest serve other than to restore our resources? To transmute our exhausted bodies into replenished, vigorous creators who will be reborn in the spring.
“Once we stop wishing it were summer, winter can be a glorious season when the world takes on a sparse beauty, and even the pavements sparkle. It’s time for reflection and recuperation, for slow replenishment, for putting your house in order.”
Katherine May, Wintering
Ways to Restore Energy
What is restorative will look different for each of us, but in general, any practice that leaves us feeling more peaceful is restorative. Personally, the things I find most restorative include:
EFT ‘tapping’ (I’m tapping on at least one of my acupoints all day every day)
Hot showers
Brisk walks near the sea involving plenty of cold sea spray on my face
Books, books, and more books (TV drains my energy)
Emotionally open and honest conversations with friends
Visiting historic homes and country estates
Slow mornings which usually means no talking before 11am if it can be avoided
Notice that most of these aren’t necessarily what may be considered restful. While that may be true, they are all experiences that replete instead of deplete my physical, emotional, and spiritual energy. What practices or activities leave you feeling restored? This is the season to prioritize them above all.
The Beauty of Death Cycles
The word that I often hear people use to describe the winter landscape is “barren.” Do the barren trees in the dead of winter not possess their own striking beauty? Bereft of their verdant foliage, the architectural forms of branches can be admired. Does the vibrancy of cardinals not become even more striking against the sparse branches they perch on? Does the frost not sparkle on the ground in a way that makes us feel like we’re walking on magic?
Where and when we lost our sense of awe in the presence of beauty is beyond me, but what I do know is that in many ways Death cycles are even more beautiful than Life cycles. Maybe it’s just me, but I find the technicolor death process of autumn leaves far more spectacular than monochrome green. I find juicy, burgundy winter rosehips just as alluring as their summer counterpart, the fragrant rose. How did our experience become so one-dimensional?
Depending on where we live we’ll experience certain seasons for more time than others. Many of us, myself included, spend more of our lives in Death cycles, living in the darkness and cold, than we do in the light. Why spend the majority of our time resisting nature, wishing it away, when we could be redefining what we consider beautiful and nourishing? I believe that living seasonally and flowing with the rhythm of nature is about reclaiming presence, pleasure, and peace wherever we can find it. To experience these feelings in abundance it’s necessary to restore our bodies and nervous systems when nature provides the opportunity.
“Plants and animals don’t fight the winter; they don’t pretend it’s not happening and attempt to carry on living the same lives that they live in the summer. They prepare. They adapt. They perform extraordinary acts of metamorphosis to get them through.”
Katherine May, Wintering
Next Steps
If you feel called to learn more about healing, releasing, and restoring - or about embracing the non-linear path - feel free to book a free 20 minute Discovery Session so we can chat about how Integrative Therapy may serve you.