Almost every culture from Swedish, African, Japanese and Italian, to Persian and Peruvian regard the significance of Mid Winter night or the Winter Solstice. This is the longest night of the year, and the shortest day. It is a time for shedding the darkness of the past year and thinking of manifesting the future dreams. The solstice is usually between the 21st and 23rd. During this auspicious time it may be good to stay in, light candles or fires in the hearth, and write down goals and aspirations to come.
The Story . . . Sisters Calling
So I was at home tonight with my daughters and their friend. I was being a bit of a grump. I had a tough day being a chauffeur, tutor, and cook to my kids in addition to some work earlier in the day. Carrying the heavy firewood from outside reaffirmed by single status. I was just about to get to cleaning the dishes that were stacked up in the sink, when my fellow rose sister called and said "come, please come to a winter solstice ritual down the canyon!" I hesitated . . . "my hair is wet, my kids are wild, and I have dirty dishes in the sink. I can't" I said. "Oh come sister, you need to be here I feel it" she said. " . . . ahhh well I guess . . . okay what the heck. Let's go girls!!" We all jumped in the car and went racing down the canyon . . . down the road to where the ocean meets the hills. Up the stairs we went to a lovely fairy's house named Hayley who gave us mulled wine (sparkling water for the lasses) and had us anointed with her incredible oils that she distills herself. We then wrote down on a piece of parchment all the negative things we want to release, had our feet rubbed by another fairy named Jessica, and then dipped our feet in water that was infused with roses and herbs. The parchment was then burned by a candle surrounded by earth that would be buried back into the land. Having a few moments by fire light, magical oils and just connecting back to an ancient tradition totally transformed my perspective. I left feeling serene. Sometimes we need to go with the sisters calling. We can always wash the dishes tomorrow . . .