THE MEANING OF WINTER SOLSTICE
The Triumph of Light over Darkness.
The longest night of the year is coming. A moment to deepen ones own connection and friendship to the invisible worlds and the depth and darkness of our precious soul and shared reality with the natural world. Let us discover what it means to meet this annual moment and what can unlock in us, when we pass through this portal.
For quite some years now, I have experienced a profound shift in my personal journey: moving from celebrating conventional annual festivities to embracing the cyclical wheel of life. This has truly been a game changer in how I perceive the natural rhythms and cycles. I started to attune myself to follow the energetic invitations that are opening in the natural world. I started to experience myself way more connected and attuned - to the invisible as well as to that which is alive, animate and unshaken throughout millennia and generations. That means for me that rather than focusing on the traditional celebration of Christmas for example, I immerse myself in what I call the Dreamtime, the 12 Holy Nights (Rauhnächte). Instead of celebrating Christian Easter, it is the Spring Equinox that holds deep significance for me each year.
In recent years, I have invited my friends, family, and those who work with me to join me on this path. And they too have become inspired and begun to recognize the powerful magnetism of these ancestral dates. These moments are not just dates on a calendar, but actual portals waiting to be crossed. The key is to see them, and then take the leap of faith to step through them, at the right time and in the right way.
Now, let us dive into the Winter Solstice—its meaning and some ritual inspirations. If you feel drawn to explore this world more deeply, I invite you to join DREAMTIME, the next Invisible Worlds study program, which is inspired by European Mysticism. This program offers a profound journey through the threshold time between years, guiding us to integrate the past year and open our vision and dreams for the year ahead.
Death, Rebirth and Renewal - a turning point in the natural cycle and the human heart
“As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.”- Carl Jung
The winter solstice, occurring annually around December 21st or 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere, marks a significant celestial event with deep cultural and historical roots. This event signifies the longest night and the shortest day of the year and it has been observed and celebrated across different civilizations for millennia.
In ancient times, the winter solstice was perceived as a turning point in the natural cycle, symbolizing death, rebirth, and renewal. For many early societies, the solstice represented the triumph of light over darkness. The Celts, for example, celebrated the rebirth of the sun with the festival of Yule, a time of feasting, revelry, and the lighting of candles to honor the returning light. Similarly, in ancient Rome, the festival of Saturnalia was held to honor the god Saturn, and in Egypt, the solstice marked the rebirth of the sun god Ra, with the ancient pyramids aligned to reflect the sun’s return.
In the Northern traditions, the solstice was also seen as a time to connect with the rhythms of nature and the cosmos. It was a moment for reflection on the year past and for setting intentions for the new cycle ahead.
And I wonder: have we forgotten how to honor the darkness? How to slow down, how to grieve, how to sit with the darkness and how to listen to the silence? And how to return to community, gathering around the fire, sharing stories, tales, and dreams of what is yet to come. The darkness, both within and around us, is a communal space. It is an ecological, cyclical space. It is personal, as well as collective. And most importantly, it is essential. If we seek wholeness, we can not bypass the darkness.
Carl-Gustav Jung says:
“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.”
For me, the winter solstice is a portal of ATTUNEment.
The winter solstice is a moment when the individual psyche aligns with the cyclical nature of the animate world. Weeks of darkness are now culminating in the longest and darkest of all nights. Time stands still, and a portal opens to the threshold between years.
After the solstice, the sun returns from the underworld and slowly and silently, the light triumphs over the darkness, and the days begin to lengthen again. This is both a celestial and earthly event—an individual, personal experience within our psyche, as well as a collective one. It is an ancestral moment, a literal date with our ancestors as the solstice has always been celebrated, across millennia and across all cultures. Christmas came much later on the human timeline.
Let us return to the origins, which are not man-made but arise from the interplay of cosmic movements and the natural world. There is real medicine to be found in observing these movements, attuning to them and resonating back into deeper rhythms and cycles.
Cultural and Spiritual Practices
Spiritual practices around this time often emphasized themes of introspection, renewal, and a deepening connection to the natural world, as the shift from the dark days to the lighter ones symbolized hope and the gradual return of life.
The Yule Goat
Celtic and Neo-Pagan Traditions: Yule, celebrated by the Vikings during the winter solstice, was a three-night pagan festival. It symbolized the return of the sun as daylight slowly began to lengthen. Originating before the Christianization of Scandinavia, the word "Yule" is believed to either come from Odin's name or refer to the cyclical "wheel" of the year.
For the Vikings, Yule was a time to honor the dead, as the boundary between the living and the deceased was seen to blur during this transitional period. Even today, people in Scandinavia visit cemeteries and light candles to remember loved ones.people who follow neo-pagan practices still celebrate the winter solstice with rituals similar to Yule and honoring the rebirth of the Sun. This celebration is often seen as a reminder that even in the coldest, darkest part of the year, life continues to renew itself.
The Yule goat was a key symbol in Viking Yule celebrations, linked to Thor, the God of Thunder. In Norse mythology, Thor’s goats pulled his chariot across the sky, creating the sound of thunder.
Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere
The winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere occurs around June 20th or 21st, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs as the Earth’s axial tilt positions the Southern Hemisphere farthest from the Sun, resulting in the least amount of daylight. It marks the turning point when the days begin to lengthen and the Sun’s path slowly ascends, bringing the promise of warmth and light. For cultures living in this part of the world, the winter solstice holds a unique energy—a time of reflection on the darkness and cold, but also a moment to honor the gradual return of the Sun and the balance between light and dark.
Indigenous Traditions: In many indigenous cultures of the Southern Hemisphere, the solstice has been a time for honoring the Earth’s rhythms. For example, in Australian first nation traditions, the winter solstice is associated with dreaming and storytelling, as well as ritual gatherings to honor the spirits of the land and ancestors.
Andean Traditions: In the Andes, the winter solstice is particularly significant due to the region’s strong connection to agricultural cycles. The winter solstice is happening, right in the moment when we are celebrating summer solstice, and vice versa. Our winter solstice in December is the summer solstice in the Andes. In the Inca tradition, the winter solstice (known as Inti Raymi) was a major festival honoring the Sun god, Inti. The solstice marked the moment when the Sun began to return and was often celebrated with rituals of gratitude, offerings, and prayers for a prosperous harvest. While the solstice itself occurs in the winter, the emphasis was on preparing for the return of light and the revitalization of the land.
Māori Traditions: In Aotearoa (New Zealand), the Māori people traditionally mark the winter solstice with ceremonies that honor the stars and the natural world. This time of year is associated with Matariki, the rising of the Pleiades star cluster, which signals the beginning of the Māori New Year. Matariki is a time to reflect on the past, remember ancestors, and set intentions for the future. Though Matariki generally occurs a few weeks after the solstice, the solstice itself is seen as an essential part of this period of renewal.
TURN TO THE INVISIBLE // RITUALS THAT YOU CAN DO DURING SOLSTICE
Create an altar or renovate the one that you have
Fire Ceremonies: Lighting a fire to honor the Sun’s return is a common ritual in many cultures. On the winter solstice, you can build a fire, whether outdoors or indoors, and offer thanks for the warmth, light, and life it provides. The fire can be used symbolically to release burdens from the past year, providing space for new growth and transformation as the Sun begins to rise higher in the sky.
Reflection and Rest: As the winter solstice is a time of stillness, it is a powerful moment to take time for reflection and rest. Embrace the quiet of the longest night to go within, meditate, and journal. The solstice represents a pause before the energy begins to build up again, and it can be a time to honor the need for deep rest and restoration.
Cleansing and Releasing: Many people use the solstice to cleanse their space, mind, and body. You can create a ritual bath with herbs or essential oils that represent renewal and transformation. Of course, smudging is key in these days! Best is to work with local herbs that carry the purpose of cleansing (in Germany for example: artemisia vulgaris which you can harvest around late August-beginning of October). Cleansing rituals are very powerful these days, to release old energy and make room for new beginnings as the days slowly begin to lengthen.
Solstice Feasts and Community Gathering: In some traditions, the winter solstice is a time to gather with friends and family for a hearty meal to celebrate the return of light. Seasonal foods such as root vegetables, warming stews, and rich soups can be shared, symbolizing abundance and nourishment during the colder months. Gathering together to share food and stories is a time-honored way to strengthen community bonds and reflect on the year.
Some questions to ask yourself during this portal time of Winter Solstice (it's best to take notes on paper):
What feels most alive in you at this moment in your life?
What shadow aspects have been coming up in the past weeks?
What is a fear, a doubt or a concern that is present in this moment?
What can you trust on? (a good one to start with is: “I trust, the return of the light and that the days will get longer again.”)
What seed do you want to plant in the rich, dark soil of this longest night of the year ?
JOIN THIS INVISIBLE WORLDS EPISODE
For the turn of the year
25.12.2024 - 22.01.2025
Based on pagan mythologies of the liminal time between the years
The days and nights at the end of one year and the beginning of the next have always been a time of transition, introspection, and vision seeking. According to pagan tales and myths, during this period, the boundaries between worlds dissolve, veils to the "unseen" and the invisible worlds lift, and a space opens for reflecting on the past and dreaming of what is to come.
It is the moment to consciously weave the threads of our future. What wants to emerge in your personal unfolding? What does the world need? Let me accompany you on this journey so that your vision for the new year is clear and your actions and thoughts intertwine with the greater web of life.
JOIN THE EXPERIENCE!
Cultural perspectives on pagan rituals
Nature mysticism
Conversations about the qualities of this time
Fairy tales and myths, pagan origins of this tradition
contemporary reflections for navigating this treshold time
Dreampractice and aesthetics
>> REFLECTIONS
Dreamwork and journaling
Integration of the closing year
Reflection and integration of the past year through various exercises
Formulating and refining a vision for the new year
>> THE FORMAT
3× Zoom meetings for community, exchange, and deep dives
3× Zoom yoga and meditation classes
Self paced journey through weekly content with extensive videos, instructions, texts, and literature on the week’s theme
Community chat for the entire group, for those who want more exchange and inspiration
As part of this journey, you’ll also receive a DREAMTIME JOURNAL with daily prompts and reflections
Bonus material for further exploration