Winter Solstice 2023
To our ancestors, this period of growing darkness gave way to various rituals and celebrations, honoring the dark and the return of the light. All festivities and rituals were focused around the gradient aspect of light, and ultimately the return of the Sun. Darkness is just one side of the scale, yet it always is light that remains, and this is the beauty in our relationship to solstice.
No matter where you reside in the Northern Hemisphere in the winter, the earth tilts and its position to the Sun is visibly noticeable. To our ancestors, this period of growing darkness gave way to various rituals and celebrations, honoring the dark and the return of the light. All festivities and rituals were focused around the gradient aspect of light, and ultimately the return of the Sun. Darkness is just one side of the scale, yet it always is light that remains, and this is the beauty in our relationship to solstice.
Colder, darker days encourage us to curl up with a good book, ideally next to a window that breathes in the dying day sun or near the warm glow of candles. The winter sky allows us the opportunity to view the cool light of the stars that hang in the evening hours longer than the summer sky. The darker evenings inspire us to light a fire or a candle, and enjoy the warmth it produces. We are never far from light, though in the shortened winter days, it seems we loose touch in some ways that we take for granted in the dog days of Leo when the sun spends a great deal of time in the sky and inspires us effortlessly. For now we keep greater company with the Moon, her lunar reflections, and memories.
This solstice, let us remember that light is a gradient, and this also implies to what lights us up and feel connected in the world. The light is never fully extinguished, but at times harder to access. It still burns, albeit slowly. Capricorn season, the zodiacal region that ushers in the winter solstice, is a cardinal earth sign, ruled by the sign of Saturn. It is a sign associated with slowing oneself down, realigning goals and proceeding forward with a sound and structured game plan. It knows how to sacrifice that which constrains in order to get further ahead down the road. It can easily hold a big picture of the goal, eyeing the endzone, and yet also patiently moving through each step meticulously knowing this is the way. New Year’s resolution fall under the guise of Capricorn, a sensible and logical cheerleader who asks for specific tradeoffs that benefit long-term goals. His spirit is less tinsel and champagne, and more steel forging contracts with time and constriction. This in a sense is wintering. We turn inward, we reflect on where we have been in past seasons and prepare ourself to be renewed along springs blooms. We have future goals, plans, commitments, sacrifices that help move us closer to the ideal image the Sun beckons.
This Winter Solstice, the Sun and Moon aspect each other through a waxing gibbous phase. The Moon is looking to bloom fully and illuminate herself in Cancer. In Cancer, she is in domicile, and at this solstice she is exalted. These are the two most perfect positions for our lunar queen to shine brightly and efficiently. I have been learning the art and science of candle making, studying different wax, vessels, wicks. All these factors add up to whether a candle utilzes the wax efficiently and safely. Like a perfect candle, poured into the ideal vessel, with the correct wick and wax composition, the Moon moves herself into the most effective position. This month, as we build towards growing our own light and really allowing it to shine, maybe we can analyze our own vessel, our own wick, and substance. Is there anything we can alter, modify, reposition to allow our own light to burn brighter at the surface.
December 22, 2023 the days begin to grow in light, it is a slow progression and so are we. No rush, tiny adjustments, but keep moving along the scale towards maximum light.
I have decided to spend the day of the solstice making candles, to honor the ever present light. What are your traditions or plans this year?