HOW TO DO A SOLSTICE RITUAL:

Grief is an inner journey as much as an outer journey. One way to mark and honor this is to do a solstice ritual. This has many benefits, not the least of which is giving us something else to focus on besides all of the grief triggers that can come with the holidays. 

The winter solstice has long been thought to be a time of powerful intention setting and manifestation for the year ahead. A Solstice Ritual honors how far we have come this year, encourages us to release what no longer serves us, and gives positive encouragement to engage in life by dreaming big about the many possibilities for the year ahead. It offers us positive encouragement, intention setting, and focus on positive possibility- all things that the research proves significantly increase inner happiness. 

A solstice ritual involves the writing of 3 things. Speaking them aloud after you have written them is even more powerful: 

1. Write about or make a list of all of the accomplishments you have achieved during the year. Include these categories: Mental wellness, Health & Fitness, Self Care, Profession, Social, Family, Spiritual. Note: accomplishments are not about arriving somewhere- they are about heading yourself in a positive direction. They are inner as much as outer- for example, “I let go of some resistance about a frustrating or upsetting life circumstance. I was more tolerant toward myself. I tried a new fitness app. I took more walks outside. I reached out to my in-laws more.” We are looking for any way in which we moved in the direction that will give us more overall peace and happiness in our lives. Read this list aloud and honor yourself for this real and challenging journey and all you have made of it :).
2. Make a list of things you are glad to be letting go of and plan to leave behind this next year. “I’m glad to be through the intensity of initial grief. I release the stress of an intense work year. I release my negativity toward myself." This list can be read aloud and burned or thrown away as a symbol of release if it feels appropriate.
3. Write out or make a list of all the things you hope to be and embody next year at this same time. You can create an ideal scene for where you want to be, and, more importantly, how you want to be feeling, “I am sitting, surrounded by family, in my sun filled living room, feeling grateful for all the gifts I have in this life, including…” Describe or list the scene, the people in it and in your life, all of the positive changes that have come about, and how you feel- about yourself and your life. Read this aloud, light a candle to symbolize your intentions and dreams for the new year, and keep it burning during this darkest night of the year

Enjoy🤍 

3 TIPS FOR HOLIDAY GRIEVING

1. Identify one feeling or value you intend to embody throughout the holidays (for example, kindness, grace, generosity). Hold this as your grounding principle and guidepost.
2. Engage in one soul feeding activity per day. This is the thing that really makes your own individual heart sing, and is connected only to you (for example, dancing on the beach, singing in the shower, writing, walking in nature, painting, making jewelry).
3. Engage in one activity that tends to and acknowledges the wound of your grief or connection to your lost loved one. It can be journaling, looking at photos, writing a letter, doing a favorite shared activity with intention.

This kind of self care honors the brave and beautiful path

 you are on.🤍