The Stillness of the Solstice

Dear Friends,

The world keeps turning and we’re back at the solstice. We will come to the shortest day of the year on Wednesday, December 21. The solstice itself is but a moment (3:47 pm Central Time). It’s that point at which the Northern Hemisphere is tilted as far away from the sun as possible. From there, we’re headed back to the light. The solstice is that transition point between our tipping away from the sun and our re-orientation towards it. It’s like the planet has exhaled completely and is about to inhale again.

Soon enough, the days will start to get longer and we’ll see more sun.

Good news, indeed!

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the term “solstice” comes from the Latin words sol (Sun) and sistere (to stand still). To those early astronomers, the angle of the sun and the earth appeared to stand still during those deep, dark days of December.

So much else is in stillness in the Northern Hemisphere as well. We have a dusting of snow where I live. It’s already very cold. There is no green anywhere. Seeds and roots and bulbs rest underground, gathering the nourishment that they will need for those days of increased sunshine. The natural world is resting in the stillness of the solstice.

Our man-made world isn’t still or silent now. It regales us with messages of action and activity. We can follow the noise. Or, we can take a break from the busyness of our days and look for sustenance in the silence.

Nature invites us to turn inward, to find rest. Our yoga practice can help us find this stillness within - the stillness that mirrors the one found in nature. It is in this place that we can find deep rest and deep nourishment. We can take a moment to exhale completely before we take that next inhale.

The world keeps turning. We're back at the solstice.

Let's take a breath together.

Love,

Nina G