Long Soulstice Meditation

The winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year. We move into more and more darkness during the fall, and the solstice marks the shift back towards the light, and the gradual return of the sun. It's also the official start of winter, which makes it the perfect time to turn inward, to reflect on what's happened during the year behind us, and look forward to what's coming in the new one before us. This winter solstice meditation will help you do just that. It includes a brief journaling session at the end. So please make sure you have your pen and journal or paper handy. Let's begin. Seated in your comfortable position, close your eyes. Relax your jaw. Soften your face. Release your shoulders and let your arms go slack. Let go in your chest and belly, hips heavy and legs soft. Supported and calm, relax your body. Now bring attention to your breath. Let's start to breathe on purpose. With your lips gently closed, jaw relaxed, start a slow, easy rhythm with your breath, inhaling and exhaling through the nose. No rush. Just breathe. Notice the way your body moves with your breath. Inhale, feel your body expand. Exhale, feel it settle and relax. Now let's lengthen the breath. Draw it out. Slow it down even more. As you inhale, slowly count to six. Then the same as you exhale. An even count of six to lengthen your breath. Stay with the count and focused on your breath. Inhale for six and exhale for six. Keep these slow breaths going as you focus on your heart space. Bring your awareness to your heart. The beat of your heart. The blood in your heart. The love in your heart. As you breathe, be with your heart and your love. Allow it to expand and fill your whole body. Inhale love, exhale love. Imagine yourself standing in a field of snow, a wide open field covered in fresh, beautiful snow. The sky is clear. The air crisp, the sun low in the sky. See the gorgeous colors painted on the sky as the sun sets. See the way the golden light makes everything rich and lush as the sun descents. What thoughts, images and sensations come to you, standing here in the soft sunset light? The light leaves the sky, and now it's night. The darkness of deep winter settles on the field. There's no moon, no city lights, only soft starlight. Stand here, now alone in the darkness. What thoughts, images and sensations come to you, standing alone in the dark? Now feel the energy and presence of your higher power join you in the dark, snowy field. Your chosen God standing beside you and taking your hand. Feel this loving presence sink deep into your heart and then spread into your whole body. Your loving God has a message for you here in the darkness. Listen, hear and feel this message from your God specifically for you. Your God is still with you as dawn breaks in the eastern sky. At first, the light is subtle and weak, but then it grows. See the light getting brighter and brighter as the sun returns. All the darkness is gone now. The sun is back in the sky, powerful and bright. Your God is still here beside you in the light. Stand now, fully enveloped in light and love. What thoughts, images, and sensations come to you, standing in full of love and light? Staying just as you are, comfortable and still, with your eyes closed, become aware of your breath. Bring your focus back to your breath. The breath moving in and out of your body. Take a slow inhale and let it go. Bring your awareness back to the sound of your breath. Listen to your steady breathing. Now become aware of your body. You are seated and comfortable, breathing. Keeping your eyes closed visualize the room you are in. Connect to the space around you. Take a nice long inhale and let it go. Now gently open your eyes. Go right to your journal. First, write down what you saw or felt during the sunset part of the meditation. Doesn't have to be complete sentences, just write. Now write down what you saw and felt alone in the darkness. Next, write down the message you received from your loving God while in the darkness. Maybe it was a feeling or sensation, maybe a word, phrase or image. Record what message came to you. Next, write down what you appreciate about your relationship with your God, and how you'd like to strengthen this relationship over the coming year. Breathe slowly as you write this. Record the words with genuine intention and feel the love in your heart and light in your soul. Now write down three things you want to let go of moving forward. What can you leave behind in the darkness? Record three things you want to release and leave behind. Finally, write down three things you hope for moving forward. What do you want to bring into the light in the new year? Record three things you hope for in 2022. If there's anything else you'd like to record, write it down. May the darkness teach you what you need, and may the light fill your soul with love. Happy winter solstice and happy New Year.