Solstice Meditation for Banishing the Winter Blues Solstice, Gateway to the Sun As we approach the longest night of the year, we can be cheered by the prospect of enjoying a few more minutes of light each day afterwards. The Winter Solstice is our gateway into the return of the sun. That still leaves a lot of darkness between now and spring, and many people struggle with this lack of sunlight. Finding moments to enjoy sunrise or sunset can be a nice way to honor this time of year, and helps us reconnect with the cycles of nature. Sun tracking may not always fit our schedules, which are often already jam-packed during the holiday season. Plus, in my part of the country, overcast skies also contribute to our yearning for the sun. When covered by clouds, it is hard to tell whether the sun is even on the move! Healthy Candlelight This is where fireplaces and candles can have a helpful role. People in far northern countries wouldn’t dream of going through the winter without a supply of candles. They keep candles lit throughout the house, not just when entertaining, but simply to sustain their spirits. Of course, we need to exercise good fire safety practices while keeping candles burning. For example, during a power outage in my house years ago, a badly placed candle flared up and actually set a toothbrush on fire. Toothbrush fumes are really nasty! Speaking of fumes, choose your candles with care, looking for clean options with unleaded wicks. Cheap, foreign-made candles often contain lead and other metals, which can pollute your home. Avoid scented candles, as well, because they are liable to emit toxic fumes from synthetic chemicals. Even some that are made with essential oils may contain undesirable fixative chemicals (see “Are Your Candles Emitting Toxins?” on the Global Healing Center website for more). Your best bet are beeswax or soy candles, that clearly state what their wicks are made from. You may have to pay more for these choices, but it is definitely worth it in terms of indoor air quality. Himalayan Salt Lamps If candles just aren’t practical for your life circumstances, consider investing in a Himalayan Salt lamp or two. Their cheerful glow resembles firelight, and they don’t use much energy. Made of salt crystals, they exert a good influence in your environment: they are highly organized structures, capable of giving off healthy, negative ions when heated. Visualize Your Bioluminescent Self You can also celebrate light by doing an “inner light” meditation. You may have heard of bioluminescence—the ability of some organisms, such as fish and algae—to emit light. Well, it turns out we are also mildly bioluminescent, just not visibly so. I find this inspiring during the darkest seasons. We can expand on this understanding, to visualize ourselves as light beings, whenever we wish to shift our emotional and mental states. Any time we engage our imaginations, we also activate energies called the Extraordinary Flows, or Radiant Circuits, which contribute to our ability to experience joy, playfulness, and spontaneity. So, if you feel stuck in oncoming winter’s ice and darkness, or simply wish to amp up your inner light more, try out the following meditation.
1 Comment
1/19/2018 10:14:05 am
These inner light objects are really beautiful. I'd love to own of these in my home someday. I think that it would best fit my balcony, with its beautiful look. The scenery would greatly complement these lights back in my home. I wish that you could post the place where you were able to buy these lights. I'm sure that my Mother would love these lights.
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