Let's Remember To Slow Down
The meaning and invitation of the Winter Solstice according to Mayan Cosmology
Just a few days ago I was in a Solstice and Equinox workshop, deepening my understanding of the Winter Solstice and its effects on us, its meaning, and the opportunity it brings us.
I was filled with two different emotions.
First, relief because it confirmed what I was already intuitively picking up on and doing since the beginning of this month, and second, a sense of urgency to excitedly yell out “Why aren’t we moving at nature’s pace?!”
Like a beautiful flower slowly opening its petals, one of the beauties that has slowly revealed itself to me about working with Time as something that is pulsing with life, is that keeping time (I’m talking about Mayan timekeeping here)heals us because it brings us back to the basics; living our lives according to nature.
I’ve come to observe that living our lives according to nature and its rhythm is in itself a medicine for us on all levels.
Physical. Emotional. Mental. Spiritual.
The Meaning of the Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice comes to us to remind us of that. Right now it is a time to slow. the. eff. down…
I’m going to repeat that.
Right now is a time to slow down.
To breathe, to review, to remember, to let go, and to prepare the territory of our lives until it is actually time to plant the new seeds.
Now isn’t really the time to do so much as it is to feel and to be. Unless you’re living in the Southern hemisphere of course, that’s a different story.
Within Mayan Cosmology, the winter solstice is one of the four energetic portals that opens each year and that connects us to one the four universal creation forces that uphold this Universe. When this portal opens, we have the opportunity to connect to that specific Universal life force pillar.
In the Mayan medicine wheel the Winter Solstice situates itself on the element of water in the direction of the South. I would take this as a sign that it is indeed a time to review what needs to be cleansed, purified, and washed away in order to make space so that we may plant new seeds with clear intention come the Spring Equinox in March where it situates itself in the East with the element of fire.
Just observe nature right now.
It’s cold out, it’s windy, it gets dark earlier… all signs and invitations to go within. No signs that say, “Go! It’s time to be active and hyper-productive.” Of course, many people still do the opposite and go all in on setting New Year’s intentions, which I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, but, I do believe that by synchronizing to nature, and remembering that we are a part of nature and her wise movements, we can begin to find a much friendlier flow in our relationship to life and all its happenings.
So, during this time, I want to invite you to slow down, to make a conscious and intentional effort to go within. To know that this is a time to “clean house”.
Review your heart. How is it feeling? What might you still need to accept, let go of, forgive, and honor to make room for whatever new energy wants to arrive into your life next year when the fresh spring energies awaken?
Review your mind. Where are you feeling limited? How are you speaking to yourself, to others? What needs to be cleaned up there?
Review your physical space, your home, your body. How might you make more room there?
And from there, as you cleanse and purify, give thanks. Give thanks for all of it. Every bit of what you have lived in this cycle of time since the beginning of the year.
Celebrate, and connect to this purifying energy so that you may make space for those beautiful seeds you wish to plant next year.
Mini Solstice Ritual
While I love an extravagant ritual and celebration for these sorts of cosmic events, it’s nice to remember that to connect to these potent energies we don’t need much.
If you’d like to do something simple, here’s a little practice you can do on the Winter Solstice happening on Sunday, December 21st at exactly 9:03 am CST.
In the Mayan Cholq’ij count, it will be a 7 Q’anil day. Q’anil is the seed, the ripening of life, the sustenance we are given by Mother Earth. It is a day to give thanks for all the blessings we have received in the past and to ask for our own good ripening as a human being.
The practice:
Gather some materials: a few beautiful flowers, seeds, a nice recipient with water, your incense or sacred smokes (sage, palo santo, rosemary, etc.) and a small candle that’s preferably either white or yellow.
Create an altar for the Solstice as you begin to reflect on your year using your materials mentioned above.
When ready, light your candle and begin to contemplate that which you want to begin letting go of and cleaning up to prepare your land (your mind, body, and spirit) for the new seeds you will plant next year. As you do this, see yourself giving all of this to the flame of your candle.
Close your eyes, connect to your body and to your breath, and simply set the intention to receive the energies of this blessed Winter Solstice. Meditate for a few minutes, always coming back to the breath, always coming back to gratitude.
When you’re ready, you can close your ritual with some reflective journaling: What are you purifying and letting go of? What do you wish to plant?
If you do this ritual, I’d love to read what reflections came up and what you’re most grateful for. 💛
If you feel nourished by ritual, contemplation, and finding inspiration in nature’s rhythm and time, I host a bi-weekly cacao circle every other Sunday at 9 am Pacific.
We meditate on the energy of the day and connect as a community while sharing a cup of cacao 🤎
All sessions are recorded if you can’t join live, and you receive access to the full archive upon signing up.