Winter Solstice: The Darkest Day

Dec 21, 2024 Prompt: What does the Winter Solstice mean, from a spiritual perspective?

What is the Winter Solstice?

 Surely, it is a celestial event—a positioning of the Earth in relation to the Sun at its farthest angle. It is the darkest day, the coldest of nights. The Sun is so paramount to life on Earth that even the slightest changes in angles or celestial distances are felt acutely.

Especially in the Arctic, the solstice is felt most profoundly. The Sun dips below the horizon, never shining its warmth on our longing faces. But what does the solstice mean from a spiritual perspective? When we go into hibernation, like the great bear does every winter, what is this time for our soul and spirit?

To me, winter is a time of quiet. I listen for sounds in the forest, but I hear nothing—not even the leaves rustling in the wind, for all the trees are barren of foliage. The songbirds are silent, the snow still. I look up and admire the immense blackness of the sky. The darkness isn’t ominous or oppressive; it’s more like a blanket, draped gently among the trees, quieting the forest. With twinkling stars overhead, it is the epitome of peace.

I am alone, calm. I can hear my thoughts and the sound of crunching snow beneath my feet. The solstice is this gift of sanctuary, of restoration—a time when all living things slow down. Even the trees send their sap deep into the Earth, retreating inward for the season.

 The darkness can be intimidating, even frightening. What’s out there? I wonder. I don’t know. It could be anything. My mind might race to monsters, if I let it. But I choose not to. If there is a monster lurking in the darkness somewhere, and it finds me, I will meet it. And with that resolve, the fearsome shadow dissipates.

Though the Sun doesn’t fully rise, a soft lavender glow brightens the sky. Alpenglow, a phenomenon that only occurs in the winter, is a joy to behold. The sky is painted in pink and purple hazes, delicate clouds, and magenta-tinted mountains. The day is reborn—oh, so softly. The gentle light awakens me, like a flower slowly unfolding, a sprout pushing through the dirt. The freshness of this soft light bathes me in peace, in blues and lavenders.

 In this time of rebirth, I feel the promise of spring. Each day after the solstice grows warmer as the Sun returns to the sky. We are left with a pending decision: what will we do with these days as they lengthen? Harnessing the energy of the returning Sun, life on Earth flourishes. Rivers flow, forests thrive, and animals return to fill the world with abundance. 

For now, I rest in my winter cocoon. With each dawn, my strength grows. I feel the excitement in the air—the dawn of latent potential. The sanctuary of peace and the healing, restorative nature of soft blue skies nurture me. My spirit brews, grateful for the darkness.