4 step Winter Solstice Ritual to Recognize, Release, Realign, and Restart

Moving into the winter season (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere) brings an opportunity to celebrate the longest night of the year and to honor the transition into this season with ritual and intention. By ritualizing a practice to celebrate the winter solstice, we not only welcome the longer days of light it brings, but we also enter this new season with clarity, energy, and an openness to the transformation that it may bring.

Cultures around the world celebrate the Winter Solstice. From a large gathering to watch the sunrise at the pre-historic stone circle of Stonehenge (if you can't make it in person, you can watch the livestream on the English Heritage Youtube channel), to the Winter Solstice Lantern Festival in Vancouver, Canada where thousands take to the street to light up the night. I particularly like the Japanese tradition of taking a hot Yuzu bath, known to be healing to the skin, and to also bring good fortune and ward off bad luck.

As a meditation teacher and ritual-lover, I have created a 4 step winter solstice ritual to do at home, or with friends. This ritual will allow you to enter the winter season feeling grounded and connected to yourself, with a clean slate (in your mind, body, heart, and energy), and it will leave you having set tangible goals for this season in 4 essential areas of life: health and wellness, career and success, relationships, and happiness.

4 Step Winter Solstice Ritual

To prepare for this ritual, create a cozy and quiet space for yourself. Have paper and something to write with ready. Light a candle or the fireplace, and allow some quality time to work through each of the steps.

Step 1. Recognize

In order to move into the winter season from a grounded place, it is important to first reflect and recognize what came to fruition for you in the season before, the Autumn. Some questions to spark this recognition: Are there certain moments or memories that stand out to you? Did you go through a life transition or experience transformation in some way? Did you work hard on a project, or have a relationship evolve? Were there moments of sadness and joy? Did you learn something new about yourself?

You can write these reflections out, or just think them through, whatever feels best for you.

Step 2. Release

It is essential to release, forgive, and set free any self-limiting beliefs, actions, and energetic connections that no longer serve you in order to move into a new season with ease and harmony. For this step of this ritual, get out a piece of paper and write out everything you are ready to release in your mind, body, and heart.

Follow this quide:

When it comes to your mind, your thoughts, what are the self-limiting beliefs that do not support you in self-love, in having meaningful connection with others, or are getting in the way of you creating the life that you desire?

When it comes to your body, your physical health and wellness, is there anything you are holding onto that needs to be let go of? These could be stored emotions, actions, or habits that are hindering your overall physical wellness.

For your heart, what are you holding within your heart that is ready to be set free?

Once you have written out your responses to each of the above, take a pause, and when you are ready, tear up that piece of paper and let it go (you can also burn it, but safely, of course). Celebrate this release!

Step 3. Realign

Since you have recognized and released, you are ready to energetically realign with this moment. Place one hand over your heart, one over your abdomen, and feel yourself just breathing. 2 minutes of vagal breathing is enough to reset your nervous system. For this practice, slowly inhale through your nose to the count of 4, pause and hold your breath to the count of 2, exhale for 4, and again pause and hold for 2. Two minutes is sufficient, but continue until you feel your body calm and centered.

Step 4. Restart

In the final step of the ritual, you get to write and explore what you want to manifest for yourself in this winter season. Take out that paper and pen once again and write what you want to create in these four categories of life: health & wellness, career & success, relationships, and happiness.

But here is the most important part of this goal setting, we are making it mindful. As you are writing, use this script: In this area of life (name the category), and by the Spring Equinox, I want to create and cultivate (what is your goal in this category). I am doing this because (how will it make you feel, what are the positive emotions it will bring to you). And, the person that I am going to support me in this goal is (name the person).

This mindful way of goal setting is on purpose. It allows you to create goals that are realistic within a time frame, it aligns your brain with the emotions of the goal, and by having an accountability partner you are 95% more likely to achieve it.

Keep this goal setting piece of paper in a place where you will see it often. Let it be your reminder of what to focus on and what you are working towards this season. And remember to celebrate every step, every win, and every wall! Life brings an ebb and a flow, the seasons bring an opportunity for change, through ritualizing this practice, you invite personal growth and transformation.

I will be teaching a LIVE version of this Winter Solstice Ritual on the app Insight Timer on December 21st, 10am PST, click here to join.

Please comment below your goals, I would love to support you on your journey!