Anthony Oyo, from Consciousness Awaken, shares his thoughts on the opportunity that Winter Solstice provides for us to slow down and create the opportunity to take stock and meditate as part of a process of reflection, or simply to relax and to ground ourselves.
This year, 2023, the Winter Solstice occurs in the UK at 0327 hrs, on Friday 22nd December. It marks the point at which the Northern hemisphere is the furthest away from the Sun than it gets all year, affected by the Earth’s tilting axis, so we get the least daylight hours and its cold. Conversely in the Southern Hemisphere this day is Mid Summers day, marking the point when the sun is closest, the daylight hours at their longest and its warm. The polar regions experience continuous darkness or twilight around their winter solstice.
As humans we often associate Stone Henge with the Solstices and Equinoxes. It is believed that ancient peoples, e.g. the Druids, conducted ceremony at this site on these key days. In modern times this still happens, but in a slightly different way, as shown in the pictures above. The first picture shows what we probably have in our minds of an empty majestic Stone Henge site, with mysterious mists over Salisbury plain in the distance. The second photo with the sun rising on the Winter Solstice, was taken by me about 4 years ago, presenting an inspiring moment just after the sun has risen. The final photo shows the daylight reality of that morning, when my 100’s of fellow companions had gathered to capture our own experience of this event. Every experience is valid, and its great that we get this level of access to the stones, even if it’s only for a few days a year. Somewhere in the middle of the crowd are a group of Modern Druids and others conducting ceremony and worship. Great stuff!!!
Stone Henge and Surrounds
Stonehenge is part of what appears to be a vast sacred landscape, stretching for many miles in each direction, especially across Salisbury Plain and including a number of special sites, such as Avebury, Silbury Hill, West Kennet Long Barrow, the Sanctuary and Windmill Hill, the White Horse at Alton Barnes in Pewsey Vale and Cherhill White Horse, as well as numerous tumuli/burial mounds across the whole area. These are said to date back to the Neolithic (10000 BCE – 2200 BCE) and the Bronze Ages (3300 BCE to 1200 BCE) . For more information on these sites check out my review of Avebury, by following the Meditation Link above .
Winter Reflection
Since prehistory, the winter solstice has been a significant time of year in many cultures and has been marked by festivals and rituals. It marked the symbolic death and rebirth of the Sun; the gradual waning of daylight hours is reversed and begins to grow again. Many ancient monuments, including Newgrange in Ireland and Stonehenge, are aligned with the sunrise or sunset on the winter solstice.
In ancient times this was probably very linked to nature, crops and survival and the impact of the seasons, especially in colder climate areas and the peoples’ associations with their God’s impact on the seasons and their fortunes in life. Today this time of year provides the same opportunity for reflection. This is a chance to slow down and rest and reflect on what has happened in the last 12 months, and process that gently .. without to much self judgement. I believe that in life, the Universe gives us opportunities, so all that really matters is how we respond. As we follow nature into this slower, almost hibernator-like period, until Spring returns and especially over the Christmas to New Year period when many people are working less, we can consider the consequences of the responses we made and what we have learned from that, and then looking forward, we can start to visualise what the next 12 months could look like. A common tool used in Life Coaching is to project yourself to this time next year, Winter Solstice 2024, and visualise what you are looking back on in the previous 12 months. What sort of events have happened in your life, perhaps goals of certain outcomes you want to have achieved by then. Take sometime to visualise them, perhaps write them down first in your journal, and meditate into the FEELING of having achieved them. What will that bank of past experiences feel like, in 12 months time? You can use the Meditation offered below, to help you get into the right head space.
In terms of your spiritual journey and practice, take the time to reflect on areas you would like to focus on in the next 12 months. Maybe more depth in your meditation practice, perhaps attending a retreat, maybe something outside of your comfort zone … which is always good for growth! Maybe there is conversation you need to have, that you have been putting off, with people around you about how important your spiritual practice is to you. Maybe that book you bought in Glastonbury 6 months ago really does need reading. Sometimes it can be overwhelming when you list all the things you would like to do, which often acts as a barrier and people don’t do anything. So if that’s the case, then perhaps FEEL into your list, and choose one thing. The one thing that FEELs right to start with, and do that. Whatever you do, do something. The guided meditation for relaxation available through the link above, may help you relax and get into the right headspace for your reflection. It will also guide you to access to Resources to support your Spiritual Journey.
As they say in the world of the arts … “Just Have Fun With It”!