Winter Solstice and the Year Ahead

As we move toward the solstice, many of us notice a natural pause. In the northern hemisphere, the days grow shorter as we say goodbye to autumn and enter winter. In the southern hemisphere, light and heat are increasing as summer arrives. Wherever we are, we are also moving through the holiday season, which often carries both pleasure and stress, connection and fatigue.

This time of year tends to invite reflection as we find ourselves looking back over the months that have passed. Some moments stand out clearly, while others feel blurred or unfinished. There may be pride, grief, relief, disappointment, or a quiet sense of having made it through something difficult. We often feel several of these at the same time.

The solstice offers a powerful symbolic threshold. It marks a turning point in the cycle of light and dark, reminding us that change is already underway, even when it is not yet visible. We may not know exactly what the coming year will bring, but through reflection, we can sense what feels ready to be released and what is asking to be welcomed.

Rather than rushing into resolutions or goals, this moment invites a slower kind of listening. When we pause and settle, the body often knows more than the thinking mind. Breathing, softening, and allowing attention to drop out of urgency can help us sense what truly matters now. Sometimes what wants to be welcomed is not a plan, but a quality such as steadiness, kindness, courage, or rest.

This season can also highlight the cumulative impact of stress. Although the longer nights invite slowing down, in fact many people notice increased pressure and too much to do which increases fatigue, or emotional sensitivity during the holidays. Recognizing this as a nervous system response rather than a personal failing can offer a kinder perspective. We can acknowledge what was hard without judging ourselves for how we responded.

Inquiry offers a way to know ourselves, not to fix or improve who we are. We slow and meet our experience with honesty and care. Questions such as what supported me this year, what depleted me, and what helped me return to myself can open meaningful insights. Equally important is noticing what we want less of. Letting go may be less active than welcoming, but no less powerful.

As the new year approaches, what feels nourishing and sustainable? This may involve boundaries, creativity, connection, or simply more space to breathe. What we welcome does not need to be dramatic or ambitious. Small, steady shifts change us over time.

Gathering with others in reflection can deepen this process. Shared presence reminds us that we are not navigating these transitions alone. Listening and being listened to can help settle the nervous system and clarify what feels true. In this shared field and listening to each other, inspiration and insight often arise naturally.

The solstice, in all its variations across the globe, invites us into rhythm and relationship with something larger than ourselves. It reminds us that cycles continue, that rest and renewal are part of the same movement, and that each turning carries possibility.

Join us in our Sunday class this week for reflection and sharing.

Taking A Breath, Softening Into Stillness of the Season
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