Winter Solstice
For those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice arrives on December 21st. It marks the shortest day and the longest night. Seasonal changes and shifts are important times in Chinese Medicine. The symbol of Yin and Yang is the basis of Chinese Medicine - a concept of dualism - where opposite are seemingly contrary forces are complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world.
Yin is depicted in the dark of the figure, and Yang, the light. Though they are opposite one can not exist without the other. They provide context for the opposing force - without dark, there is no concept of light, without cold, there is no concept of heat, without stillness there is no concept of movement. In the symbol, there is also a small circle of Yang within the Yin and a little circle of Yin within the Yang, which implies that nothing is completely Yin or completely Yang. Each aspect contains the beginning point for the other, where neither Yin nor Yang is absolute, flowing, and changing all the time.
The Winter Solstice is a representative of this philosophy. On the Solstice, Yin is at its peak. It is the shortest day of the year with the longest night of the year. In this exact moment of the transition from Yin to Yang, there is believed to be a mysterious blending of the Yin and Yang that opens the possibility of new creation and rebirth.
The seeds of Yang begin to germinate and the days incrementally grow a little longer. Winter is still considered Yin time - even growing seeds require plenty of time in the dark soil to grow strong and steady. It is the time of stillness. To sit deep within ourselves and embrace introspection. Ironically the holiday season brings forth Yang-type activity. We have a million things to do, people to see, shopping to do, and lots of holiday travel. This Yang-type energy can be depleting, so make sure to give yourself space in your busy schedule for rest and time alone.
May this winter solstice be a reminder to honor your mind, body, and spirit. A few ideas on how to do this:
Make time for self-reflection - journaling, meditation, and rest.
Nourish yourself with warm healthy food.
Enjoy an Epsom salt bath.
Mindfulness activities like breath work, yoga, tai chi, or qi gong.
And most importantly give thanks for all that you have.
The Winter Solstice is considered the seasonal night of the soul. Spiritually, it’s a time to honor both the light and the dark that resides within each of us. It’s a great day to take a piece of paper and write down all the things that you would like to let go of. When you are finished, throw them in a fire - transforming the darkness into light. After “letting go”, set intentions for the new season ahead. Write down ideas, things, or a practice that you would like to bring into your life. The Winter Solstice is an ideal time to rest, reflect, and decide what you want to manifest in the New Year.
