9 ways to keep your soul warm during the Winter Solstice!

Winter Solstice (or Midwinter ) is this coming June 22nd, 2023. It's the pagan celebration of the light returning.

It's the longest night of the year in the Southern Hemisphere (it’s polar opposite in the Northern Hemisphere) and it marks the onset of Winter.

This is a time to celebrate that more light is on its way! It’s time to start waking up, but in a different way from the Summer months.

Many people struggle during the darker days (myself included!), by having to stay inside a lot more, be less physically active, inspired and the weather is brrrrrr, so much colder!

Due to changes in the amount of sunlight we’re exposed to and weather temperatures, you may experience more flips in your mood. This is due to the changing levels of the happy hormone serotonin, which is stimulated by sunlight via our eyes.

You may also experience changes in your sleep patterns too (due to the hormone, melatonin which is stimulated by darkness). I know I’m much more Sloth-like in the mornings!

I usually find this is quite an inactive period in general but this is for a reason – and a season! So lets talk about how to work with it.

It’s generally not a good time to be setting concrete fixed plans or to place too much pressure on yourself to get things done.

It’s also not a time to completely stop or give up on all that you have been doing either. You may feel like you’ve lost your sense of purpose otherwise.

What can you do? examples include:

*Keep moving on the inside! Pop on your favourite dance track and dance your way about the house!

*Keep moving on the outside! Get some sunlight and schedule a brisk and enjoyable exercise routine, even if it’s just a 15 minute walk in the morning and evenings. This will help to keep your mind, body, energy levels refreshed and alert (and help secrete those feel good hormones mentioned earlier!)

*Keep yourself warm, with comfy and snuggly clothes

*Start a mandala – colouring a part in each day until Spring arrives!

*Arrange a catch up with friends to go see a movie, or sit by a warm fire outside / or inside!

*Keep hydrated and look after your skin with extra moisturisation

*Start a ‘feelings’ mason jar - a great way of releasing and to give space to what's going thought your thoughts and feelings

*Start an 'ideas and inspirations' mason jar - so you don't feel stagnant, keeping that golden creative energy flowing

*Eat, bake and cook meals using seasonal vegetables and fruit – keeping yourself well nourished

*Write and/or print out some affirmations and choose one to read every morning or carry around with you

*Take time and make the time to reflect how you're feeling

Oils & Crystals

Oils you could use at this time include; Ylang Ylang, Cinnamon, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Lemon and Clove.

Crystals you could meditate with, hold, look at or wear include; Garnet, Citrine, Emerald, Ruby or Bloodtstone.

For other tips read the Shifting to Drifting in Winter article….

“Winter is a season of recovery and preparation” ­- Paul Theroux

Blessings,

Sara x

*It’s not about getting things perfect, it’s just about having a go.*