Thursday, December 22 2011
Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice (“solstice” literally means “sun-standing-still.”) occurs when the Sun enters Capricorn, and it is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest day in the Southern Hemisphere. At the solstice the Sun stands still for three days.
The Winter Solstice is a natural time for inner reflection, for taking stock and celebration. It helps us attune
to the natural rhythms of creation. It is also about home and family, kindness and light, love and friendship. The television, when on, is full of recipes and holiday movies (my daughter, and I love them!).
This year the Solstice is exactly on December 22nd at 5:30 UTC (Universal Time), in USA at 12:30 AM Eastern Time.
Celebrate the return of Light by:
- Do a fire-gazing meditation
- Gather some photos of your ancestors and light a candle in honor of them.
- Blow the energy of love and abundance into a crystal and give it to a friend as a gift.
- Created a painting or a mandala to honor the spirit of the Winter Solstice.
- Click here for Yule Ritual Ideas or why not create some rituals of your own?
- Listen to music to align and connect with the rhythm and deeper meaning of the season. Some ideas are: “Deck the Halls,” “The Longest Night of the Year” by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Winter, Fire, and Snow love it, In The Bleak Midwinter by Loreena McKennitt.
- Bake some Yule Moon Cookies; below is the recipe
Yule Moon Cookies
1 cup butter
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. grated lemon peel
1/4 tsp. salt
1 1/3 cup flour
1 1/2 cup grated almonds (blanched)
1 tsp. vanilla
Icing:
2 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 Tbsp. water
Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy and light. Add grated lemon peel, salt, flour, grated almonds, and 1 tsp. vanilla; mix thoroughly. Place dough in bowl. Cover and chill thoroughly. When the dough is well chilled; or the next day, roll out dough to 1/8″ thickness and cut with moon/crescent cookie cutter. Place 1/2″ apart on un-greased baking sheet. Bake in preheated 375° oven for 8-10 minutes.
Icing: While cookies bake, combine confectioner’s sugar, vanilla and water. Spread over the tops of cookies while still warm, but not too hot, as icing will melt. Thin with additional drops of water if glaze is too thick. Allow cookies to cool.
Yield: 10 dozen cookies
Remember that life is the ultimate adventure and a continual blessing. It’s time for you to explore, discover, walk your truth and live your gratitude in each present moment.
Happy Solstice!
Marisol
You can contact me at shamanicsoulz@yahoo.com
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