Indigenous folks follow the cosmos and cycles. The natural world is where we get our teachings from. Think of the seasons, particularly the winter. When the snow is on the ground is a time for us when we tell our stories. Winter Solstice can be seen as our new year.
I like to use our natural cycles to create wellness plans, and intentions, or to review our lives in full. What has worked, what could be done differently, or what do we want to bring into our lives? There is always time for this reflection. We can certainly do this each month by honouring the moon phases. The new moon is about bringing intentions, and the full moon is about closing and reviewing – and for some what we want to let go of. I can talk more about this another time.
Since Winter Solstice lands this year on December 21st, 2023. I wanted to share some ways to bring some light to the dark. Solstice is about being the shortest and darkest day of the year. It’s a time when we go inward and care for ourselves and our families. For me, it’s a time when I do less and take care of the shifts that come with the change of season. For many winter is exciting and for others not so much. Either way, we can certainly look forward to having longer days ahead.
What are some ways you can celebrate the solstice?
1: Always good to feast our ancestors. Make a meal and invite loved ones over. Talk to the food and honour it. Then make a little plate and share it with the ones who are among the stars.
2: Reflect on the past year. Where have you been up to the last year? Look at the blessings in your life and look at ways you have seen your growth. Who left you this year and who came into your life? It’s a good time to set up new possible outcomes for this season. Grab yourself a beautiful journal.
3: This is what I am going to do this season and that is going to be decluttering my living space. So when Spring is here. I can declutter again. LOL. Our homes are our sacred spaces where we share our home. When our space is clear – so is our mind.
4: Drink our medicines! Our ancestors knew the healing benefits of tea. Even though it’s winter, there are still medicines to be harvested. I picked Usnea this past weekend and have been drinking that. Pray over the tea and ask the medicines to activate the medicine so that it can heal on a “cellular and generational level”
5. Connect with your community and do ceremonies. If you don’t have that connection YET… Then create a ceremony at home. No worries if you don’t know what to do. Your spirit can guide you. Bring in the elements: Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. Light a candle, have a glass of water to pray over, and bring in your feather (air), and some sage (earth). You can use bay leaves as well. I love to write on the bay leaves and burn them. Make an offering of tobacco. You can make tobacco ties and then tie them to a tree.
6: Go and collect some bird treats and hang them in a tree. This is where you can hang your tobacco ties.
7: Many cultures celebrate the solstice. It has its roots in most cultures. The natural world has been guiding us since time immemorial. Many do yule logs, decorate the tree, and make blessings and intentions. You can create your own traditions. Use the white man’s smoke signal and Google activities for the winter solstice.
I hope that you can be like the bear (mukwa) and go within and celebrate your sacredness. Our lives are always a work in progress or maybe just perfectly imperfect. Bring out your drums and sing! Light a candle and dance around it.
May the sacredness in me see the sacredness in you!
Miigwetch,
Chantelle