The winter solstice, falling on Monday, December 21, indicators the shortest day of the 12 months and the longest night time. In some ways, this annual occasion represents a gateway: an ending and a brand new starting.
This 12 months, the solstice falls on the identical day as the Great Conjunction—when two planets, Jupiter and Saturn, will come so shut that they will appear as one in the sky. Jupiter represents newness and exploration, whereas Saturn represents guidelines and traditions, and the 2 opposites will come collectively to shut out 2020.
The winter solstice stands out as the darkest day of the 12 months, however it’s historically been celebrated as a time of sunshine. Many cultures consider that the archetypal Mom gave beginning to the solar on this present day: It is when the Egyptian deity Isis gave beginning to Horus, the solar god, and the Greek Leto gave beginning to shining Apollo. Within the matriarchal religions, the day marks the rebirth of the goddesses Persephone, Besana, Amaterasu, and Solar Girl.
Listed here are a few of my favourite winter solstice rituals for acknowledging the darkness whereas celebrating the sunshine:
