Some Interesting Winter Solstice Info

What actually is the winter solstice? The word solstice literally means "sun standing still." At the moment of the winter solstice, the path of the sun in the sky over the past six months has reached its furthest southern position and now turns northward.

I read an interesting article in the National Post yesterday in regards to this upcoming Winter Solstice on Tuesday December 21, 2010. This solstice will coincide with a full lunar eclipse in a union that has not been seen in 456 years. This occurance holds special significance for spiritualities that tap into the energy of the winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year and associated with the rebirth of the sun. The Wiccan Church of Canada says that "it is ritual of transformation from darkness into light." The Wiccans also would see great significance in this unique coupling of the masculine energy of the sun and feminine energy of the moon. The last time this happened was in 1554 (according to NASA). The eclipse will start just after midnight Tuesday with the main event starting at 1:30 am and lasting until 5:30 am.

Another interesting article I read was in Yoga Journal. This time of the year generally finds us in a hurried and harried state as we shop, decorate the house, travel and participate in other energy sapping activities. This schedule can often find us feeling depleted, getting ill, anxious, or depressed. According to Taoist philosophy and traditional Chinese medicine, the frantic schedules that we seem to participate in fall out of sync with the earth's natural cycles. People, on average, generally have less energy to burn during the winter but are running as though we are in our summer cycle.

Taoist philosophy conceptualizes universal balance in terms of yin and yang, which are complementary forces that govern the universe. Yin characteristics are cool, wet, slow, feminine, and quiet, whereas yang is the opposite: warm, dry, fast, masculine, extroverted. Winter is actual the yin season, and is a time for storing and conserving energy.

In agrarian cultures, people spend the shortest, darkest days indoors by the fire, eating warm, slow-cooked, nourishing food and sharing stories with their families. The incongruity between winter's restful, introspective, yin nature and the frenetic way many North Americans spend their holidays can contribute to seasonal affective disorder, depression, exhaustion, and other manifestations of what is known in TCM as shen (or spiritual) disharmony.

"Winter solstice which is four days before Christmas, is the darkest, most yin day of the year" "Instead of turning inward, we're celebrating with excess and yang activity. This artificiality creates stress, and many people dread the season as a result."

To stay balanced during winter it is important to conserve your yang energy. Restorative yoga, tai chi, qigong, and walking are best suited for yin season, as they safeguard your energy reserves. " Eating cooked, spicy yang foods provides another good way to replenish energy or yang-strengthening soups: slow-simmered stews, beans, roasted root vegetables, and warm drinks. Add yang spices such as garlic, ginger, black pepper, cloves, and basil to increase the warming effect. Minimize your intake of yin foods such as raw vegetables, salad greens, and cold drinks.

Find some quiet ways to celebrate the holidays and you may have more time and energy to connect with close friends and family. Replenish in this quiet, nurturing yin nature of winter.

We will be offering our annual Candlelight Yoga on the winter solstice at the studio on Tuesday from 7-8:15 pm. All proceeds from this event are being donated towards the new building of the Kawartha Lakes Humane Society. Please call for further information.