Winter solstice rituals & living seasonally through winter

Including journal prompts & rituals to mark winter solstice

Simply noticing then living more in alignment with the seasons isn’t something I’ve always done.

At the height of my busyness and hustle culture taking a moment to appreciate the seasons didn’t my mind. I lived in an eternal summer. There was a few years of constant doing, which of-course, led to anxiety, a dysregulated nervous system, and in the end, a deep knowing that something needed to shift.

It’s been a gradual process of going inwards which ultimately made me curious about the natural world… It really didn’t happen overnight.

I’m sharing this because sometimes these rituals can make us feel uncomfortable when we’re new to them. We can show up to them with perfectionist tendencies or guilt we’ve picked up from our society that demands constant productivity.

Know these things don’t have to look or be perfect.

Or maybe more simply seasonal living is new to you, maybe you want to slow down but don’t know how, or the concept of marking the shortest day as a celebration isn’t something you’ve done before…

Basically, I’ve been there.

There’s been so many learnings and more un-learnings that have come with this path to live slower and more intentionally, and these things can feel uncomfortable!

It’s taken years for me to have the capacity to pay more attention to the seasonal shifts and how they feel in my body. It’s a practice, something continual that changes every season.

It all felt messy at the start. You show up with nervousness, a sense of the unknown, but equally there’s that hope and excitement that you might be onto something that gives the world a sense of enchantment that you haven’t experienced before.

Friday the 19th of December (2024) marks Winter Solstice. The solstices and following the Wheel of the Year have become markers I find so much comfort in. For me they’re a celebration of nature, a reminder of how interconnected everything is and a chance to explore what I may need more or less of in life.

The key theme for Winter Solstice is surrendering. It’s the longest night of the year, but equally the promise of lighter days to come!

It’s the renewing of the life cycles, and a reminder that the start of something new isn’t rebirth, it’s actually death! To welcome something new into our lives, we have to shed something else in order to make space.

It’s a chance to release and let go of what’s no longer serving us.

We’re seeing this so much in nature at the moment, the trees have shed their leaves to conserve energy and animals going into hibernation.

These moments of rest and recuperation give us that energy and chance to surrender, enabling us to feel a sense of renewal as we come into the lighter months of the year.

Rituals To Mark Winter Solstice

There are so many things you could do to mark the winter solstice. It might simply be a case of noticing the time the sun rises or sets, lighting a candle or taking a nature walk.

Despite busy festive calendars and the pressures we can face, this time of year is less about doing doing doing and more about being, resting, and going inwards. I know it can feel almost impossible when there’s so much going on, so I wanted to share some simple ways you can mark the solstice this year that hopefully give you a chance to ground and re-centre (even if it is just a quiet few moments!)

• Lighting a candle and just sitting for 5 minutes

• Watch the sunrise and sunset

• Light a fire

• Make a simmer pot (this recipe sounds delicious)

• Think about ways you can offer light and warmth to others

• Journal on how you’re feeling (I’ve listed some prompts below)

• Practice Yoga with the intention of stillness & presence

• Gather with friends and enjoy food

• Eat with just candle light

• Take a walk to watch the sunrise

• Practice Yoga Nidra for deep rest

• Allow yourself to stay in bed a little longer and notice how warm and cosy it is

• Schedule in some quiet moments throughout the day to pause

• Practice a 5 minute grounding meditation

This year I’m back in North Wales so I’m planning on doing a morning walk (hopefully to watch the sunrise 🤞) with some family, a Yoga Nidra practice when I get home and some journaling.

Rest, Reflect & Renew…

If you want to feel a sense of connection and be a part of a guided ritual, I’m hosting a 90 minute workshop that brings in elements of celebrating the Winter Solstice ✨ Designed to support you to reflect on the year that's passed, take a moment to rest, reconnect with your values and feel that little more prepared as we embark on 2024.

The session is on Tuesday the 19th of December at 7pm-8:30pm (a replay will also be available)

BOOK YOUR SPOT

Expect a safe and welcoming space (via zoom) to rest, be guided through mindful movements, journal, and finally to close I'll guide you through a Yoga Nidra practice to help you set an intention (Sankalpa) for 2024.

This workshop is for you if...

• You want an evening to rest and reset amongst the busyness of December

• Would like to mark the Winter Solstice happening on the 21st of December

• You're usually anxious about the New Year and want to feel more grounded

• You'd benefit from reflecting on the year and thinking about how you can show up in a way that supports you in 2024.

• You want to feel a sense of connection, calm and celebration ❤️

The event will be hosted via zoom and a replay will be available within 24 hours after.

The event is welcome to all levels, whether you’ve been practicing Yoga for years or are a complete beginner. The movements suggested will be mindful and with all levels in mind. All you will need for the event is a yoga mat/ exercise mat, comfortable clothing, a blanket, and a journal.

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Journal prompts for Winter Solstice

If getting cosy with a cuppa and journaling is more your thing, here’s some journal prompts with Winter Solstice in mind…

1. What challenges have you faced this year and what did you learn?

2. What would you like to let go of?

3. What are you proud of yourself for?

4. How can you lean into winter and bring rest & stillness into your day?

5. What are you ready to gently start cultivating as the days get longer and the light starts to come back?

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If you found this post useful or enjoyed it I would be so grateful if you shared it or restacked it. It helps more people find the Slower Space community… Thank you x

This is actually my final post of 2023! It’s honestly been the best 6 months on Substack and my first year self employed. The community and sense of connection on here has filled my cup and felt supportive in so many ways - so thank you for being a part of that!

I’ve scheduled in a solid chunk of time out to rest and will be returning in the new year…

Wishing you a nourishing, restful couple of weeks ❤️

Jodie x