Midwinter Blessings

Hello! Today is my favorite day of the year. There’s something extra magical about the winter solstice for me. I took yesterday off to celebrate as I’m working today.

I went to my favorite temple.

The creek. :)

It felt like it might snow, but it didn’t. Not yet, anyway. Yes, it was flipping cold and I loved it! I’ve mastered the art of layers and was all toasty inside. I find it super-invigorating to be outdoors in the winter.

I sat on a rock for a bit, attuning with Nature’s energies and listening to my inner advisor.

This is a great time for reviewing the year that’s gone by, getting clear about the new year to come, and examining beliefs in order to decided which ones we want to modify to better align with our current values.

I thought about how I want to feel in 2025 and fully embodied that emotion. Much as I imagine an actor does, I inhabited this version of myself completely. As tends to happen in times like these, everything that was not compatible arose to the surface.

You know- the resistance, the limiting beliefs, the programming, the conditioning. All the nonsense about what is and is not possible that I don’t adhere to in waking life, but nonetheless continues to lurk in my unconscious.

Once I had a clear picture of what needed to be released, I started the uphill climb back to the trailhead. Every step was a prayer encompassing my willingness to surrender these blockages.

I prayed for Divine support and guidance, to be shown the way to my optimal future, and for ease and grace during this period of letting go. I know that I will continue to have help on this journey and part of my message was to let go of thinking that I need to do everything on my own. Yes, please!

I continued my celebration with a hearty lunch, a nap, and some time on my BioMat with a fun book. I put dinner is in the InstaPot and drew a super-hot bath. I just received a castor oil pack wrap and took it out for a spin. People say they sleep really well after applying one to the abdomen. To top it all off, a friend came over for some tea and a chat.

A day full of many of my favorite things, including honoring the wheel of the year and this important turning point. From now until the end of the month, it’s an opportune time to release everything that is not compatible with where we want to go.

Imagine going on a backpacking trip to your desired destination. You’d only want to carry what serves you along the way and not the burdens you’ve been dragging around since 1987 or even yesterday.

I’m letting go of the do-it-all-myself mentality and people pleasing tendencies. Experience tells me that sometimes relationships come to an end when you no longer tolerate another’s lack of consideration for your feelings or boundaries. And, really, is that the type of friend I want to hold onto? Not so much.

I’ll add that it’s important not to judge and criticize ourselves for these outdated beliefs. They served us at one time. Once we recognize that a thought pattern doesn’t fit us anymore, we can discard it like a pair of worn out shoes; no commentary necessary.

So now, I’m curious. Who else has solstice and/or end of the year customs? What’s your process for closing 2024? What’s in your backpack that you want to leave behind to lighten your load?

Happy solstice! May we all receive and magnify the blessings of the season.

Edit: It actually did snow yesterday! Here’s the view from my sunrise meditation perch