winter solstice blessings

know the darkness; know the light

Today marks our Winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. A time when the dark sky holds us longer than the rays and warmth of the sun. A time that guides us to come in and seek out our own light from within, while also welcoming the blanket of darkness that stretches longer than ever from dusk to dawn. A time to feel into what has been waiting for us beyond the edges of where light can touch. A time to be courageous, to open up to our shadows, and get curious about how we can transform our shames into the power that fuels our will and life. A time to be.

No darkness. No light.

The Universe always has so much to teach us. We just have to be open and slow down enough to witness her synchronicities and lessons. This season, and this solstice, teaches us to retreat within and pour into all that awaits—even if it’s in the dark.

Know darkness. Know light.

Our Divine Self needs our human self to have this experience that is our life. What I have found in my own experience and in the work I do is that we tend to cut ourselves off from our human self—our ego self—through judgment, comparison, conditions, and running or stuffing away our shadows. And ultimately, this manifests as shame—the intrinsic belief that we are bad or wrong.

When we think we are bad or wrong—truly believing it, whether consciously or unconsciously—it shows up in everything. It shows up in our relationships (including the one with ourselves), our work, our mindsets, how we own our power, and where we give it away. It shows up in illness, disease, pain, and discomfort. It shows up, whether we want it to or not.

We disconnect and dissect parts of ourselves to fit into the norm or what we think we have to be—the illusions we live and tell ourselves. And it results in shaming, in shadows, with ego running the show. This keeps us separated—from ourselves, from others, from our inherent sense of union with all.

And it all begins with a forgotten truth: we are human, and there will be errors. We are here to learn lessons. And in the learning of lessons, we’re going to get things terribly wrong. More than once. Many, many times. We’re going to fail. We’re going to fall. We’re going to mess it up—like a lot.

But here’s the good news: it’s all okay. Because it’s why we’re here—to get messy, to be real, to light up the illusions. Which means we have to enter the dark. We’ve got to be okay with not being okay. And that’s totally okay. Because we can learn from our mess-ups. We can own our shortcomings. We can find humility and humor in accepting that, as humans, there will be errors—in thought, action, and deed.

And in doing so, we stop dividing and denying, and we start to remember: we are Divine beings having a human experience. Which requires both darkness and light. We have to feel it all, because it all has so much to teach us. And there are gifts that await us in the lessons we learn.

Healing is like learning to walk again after a long period of being stuck in one place, unsure of how to move forward. At first, it’s awkward—every step feels like a risk, the ground uneven beneath you. Your body aches from the unfamiliarity of motion, and your heart feels stiff from the weight of past mistakes and disappointments. Every time you try to push forward, there's fear. And sometimes, even a fall.

But every time you rise, you learn. You understand that the effort itself is what builds the strength and flexibility to keep going. The discomfort isn’t the enemy—it’s the teacher. It’s in the wobbling, in the uncertainty, that you find your balance. You learn that true freedom isn’t given—it’s earned through the very act of choosing to move, to try, to fail, and to try again.

In those moments when you feel like you’ve let someone down or missed the mark, remember: this path isn’t about perfection. It’s about taking one step, then another. It’s about accepting the missteps, the falls, and realizing that each one is part of the process. The mess is the work. It’s how you untangle the parts of yourself that have been stuck, conditioned, or hidden away. And in doing so, you begin to move with more ease, more grace, more freedom.

I find it to be no accident that these last 48 hours, I’ve really been seeing the human side of me—parts of me I like to hide or bypass, thinking I can ignore them. But that’s ignorance at its best.

I’m witnessing my own hypocrisy and, instead of running from it, welcoming it in. Not judging it, just asking myself, “What is this?” And staying long enough to feel my way through.

I feel like these deep emotions are coming up because I am ready for them. The Universe knows better than I do and sees me moving from my heart. But I cannot flow and go where I need to until I come in, sit with my own discomfort, and learn the next lesson needed for my soul and human growth.

When the student is ready, the teacher appears.

It is time for me to start working with my shadows even deeper. It is time for me to welcome the dark. For there is much to learn. And I get excited at the idea of kicking this karmic cycle of doubt to the curb, once and for all.

I am ready. And I am supported.

So I smile and thank the Universe for allowing me to feel synced to her Divine timing, rhythm, and flow. Winter Solstice is upon me. Upon us. It is time. I can go in. You can go in. We can go in. And begin to greet the parts of ourselves we’ve cast out—just for being human.

Reflection Questions for the Solstice and Honoring our Humanness

The Winter Solstice invites us into stillness, asking us to honor the darkness as much as the light. As you move through this moment, here are a few questions to hold close:

1. What parts of you are asking to be seen right now?
   Where are your shadows calling for love, care, or curiosity?

2. Where in your life can you offer yourself more grace?
   What would it feel like to soften your judgments and let yourself simply be human?

3. What is ready to be released into the dark?
   Are there fears, stories, or beliefs you’re carrying that no longer serve you?

4. What is quietly growing within you?
   Where do you feel the first sparks of hope, creativity, or possibility waiting for your attention?

5. How can you come into deeper connection with your wholeness?
   What might it look like to welcome both your human messiness and your Divine light?

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A Winter Solstice Ritual: Honoring the Dark, Nurturing the Light

This isn’t about perfection or creating something elaborate. It’s just an invitation to pause, breathe, and let yourself feel.

Here’s one way to begin:

1. Create a Soft Space:
   Find a spot where you feel safe and at ease. Turn down the lights or draw the curtains. Gather a candle, a journal, and anything that brings you comfort—maybe a warm blanket, some music, or even your favorite tea.

2. Begin in Stillness:
   Sit quietly and close your eyes. Let your breath slow down. Feel the weight of your body and the steadiness of the earth beneath you. Ask yourself: What has the darkness been holding for me? What am I ready to see?

3. Welcome the Flame:
   Light your candle. Watch its gentle glow, and imagine it as your inner light—the part of you that stays steady, even when things feel uncertain.

4. Let the Words Come:
   Pick up your journal and write whatever comes to mind. You might explore: What am I ready to let go of? What do I want to nurture in this season of stillness and growth? What is my relationship to this flame and light? As well as all the darkness around it?

5. Set a Simple Intention:
   When you feel ready, close your journal and hold your hands over your heart. Whisper a word, phrase, or feeling you want to carry with you. It doesn’t have to be big or grand. Just something that feels true.

6. End with Gratitude:
   Blow out your candle as a symbol of trust: that even in the dark, you are held. Thank yourself for showing up, for feeling, for being, and our incredible Universe and planet for holding you and us all.

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As we honor this solstice and the lessons of the season, let us embrace the fullness of our humanness—the mess, the magick, the light, and the dark. I look forward to us all finding our way home to this light, inward and out, and I am so grateful to meet you there.

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