Would you like to live with more coherence, resilience, and joy?

     Seasonal changes are great metaphorical guides! Winter solstice, especially, helps us find ways to take advantage of brief days and very long nights: Rest more. Take time to go within. Be in the quiet. Relish the time to reflect and observe.

     As the last of the leaves fall, floating gently to the ground and decomposing into mulch, we can let them remind us to let go. It’s only when we release what’s no longer useful, just like our trees, that we make space for new growth.

     As mosses and lichens fatten with rains, as grasses expand from seeds to tiny shoots, we can reflect on how we might fill and expand into greater softness, new growth.

     As the tiny beginnings of tree buds form—not yet opened, waiting, full of energy—we can feel our own stirrings within: what mysterious and unknown aspects of our lives will arise? Where will our dreaming bring us?  How might you call the light back into your life?

     Light, that metaphor for aliveness and radiance, is a symbol of hope and optimism. It’s connected to life and vitality. Most of us are yearning for some of this, whether we are cozy in our houses or carrying our belongings on our backs as we seek safety. We cannot live without hope. 

     You’ve heard me talk about this in various ways, and I cannot emphasize enough the power of Earth medicine to guide and shape your life, your hopes, your larger purpose. Just as animals are our companions, so—if we open to this—are trees and creeks, stones and creatures. When the hummingbird’s wings buzz above us, and we see it drinking nectar from the pale pink manzanita blossoms, or we hear a fox barking in the night, our hearts open! When the rains come after so much drought, our bodies relax and relish the damp. When we find a heart-shaped stone, we can connect with our own loving hearts. These encounters remind us of the world beyond our skins, the possibilities of being connected in this amazing, living world.

     Our indigenous brothers and sisters who stay close to the flow and rhythms of nature show us how to draw in the energy of brilliant sun, of trees reaching deep into Earth, of water flowing around barriers, of winds clearing the air. They source from their understanding and interconnections to move through the world with grace and heart. We can too. 

     Shamanic and Earth-based wisdom offer powerful tools for digging out of emotional holes and exploring ways to shift energy and consciousness. When you are a solitary learner, or just want to check out how these practices work, my book, videos, interviews, and blogs all focus on guiding you step by step with what works. If you are ready for support in your healing, dive into one-on-one sessions with me to find wholeness, heal trauma, and learn the tools that will help you thrive.

Ceremony for the Solstice

     Here's a simple ceremony to honor the change, and dive into the dark: 

     Gather your friends and family. Turn off all the lights. Sit in the dark until the kids get antsy, and wait a bit longer, feeling what it's like to be in the dark together! Tell a story, that oldest form of group entertainment, or make up one together. 

     Still in the dark, nvite each person to light a candle. As they hold their light, with that beautiful softness shining around them, listen. Let each person share what they want to light up in themselves, and in the world.  If you have a fireplace, light your fire, bringing warmth and flickering light back into the room. Let it be a time of shared reflection, a time of quiet within. 

I wish you a beautiful solstice, preparing for dormancy, rest, and the beauty of change. I know you will carry and radiate as much light as you can in these dark days. I hope you will fill your heart over and over to spread hope and lighten the lives of all those you touch!