Seasonal Healing and the Winter Solstice

 

by Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac., http://omtimes.com

In the northern hemisphere, the Winter solstice is the day of the year (this year it is December 21) when the Sun is farthest south. The winter solstice marks the first day of the winter season. The declination of the Sun on the (northern) winter solstice is known as the tropic of Capricorn (-23° 27′).

Winter is the time for rest and to replenish. As an expression in nature, the Winter Solstice is the time to reflect on the power of our spiritual beliefs and the belief in the power of ourselves! As we look forward to the beginning of a New Year, we look at ways to resolve issues and create resolutions that will manifest change for the better, in ourselves.

Winter is the time to take a good look at our health and our lifestyle. Start by looking at the life around you. Are you living in chaos? Is your home in a shambles? Is there clutter everywhere? You may want to consider starting with a good packing and storing session. Feng Shui, the ancient art of placement, can help you to find order in your life.

The temple, our physical bodies, are the only thing we have to carry the soul. When our physical bodies are not in proper working order, everything around us ultimately suffers. Our good health is all we have that stands between us and the aging process. The longer you keep your physical body in optimum health, the longer you have your temple to keep your soul on this plane. Detoxification is the best way to keep the body at its most ultimate working level.

By enjoying a healthy, nutritional diet, getting good quality sleep and moderate exercise this can keep our physical form at it’s best, always. Take the opportunities that are offered. Make the opportunities that are not. Find your priorities of life and give them merit. This is the best season to do this. This is the time when we have the greatest energy to utilize the power we are given!

Celebrations of the Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice is the time of the longest night and the shortest day. As the darkness peaks the Solstice is a turning point. This is the point of the highest Yin (cooling) energy as the nights grow shorter and the days grow longer into Yang (warming) energy. The cycle of dark wanes as the power of the Sun waxes.

Customs most associated with the Winter Solstice are festivals such as Chinese New Year, St Lucy’s Day, Saturnalia, the birth of the Christ child, Hanukkah, New Years and the Twelfth Night. Stories all deriving from the conflict between dark and light.

A Ritual of Light

On the longest, darkest day of the year, a ritual of light is an ever present reminder of the conflict, struggle and duality (yin/yang) of our lives. Using candles as therapy has been around for thousands of years, and has been practiced by nearly every religion. Candle therapy can be used to unite the powers of mind, body, and spirit. From ancient times to the present, Candles have lit our way through every transition! From celebrations and ceremonies to proclamations and processions! The candle’s flame has always been a metaphor for the soul! It possesses a tranquil and almost hypnotic atmosphere to those who allow its power to take them to a very special place.

A candle acts as a “self object”. A self object is an object that is a reflection of our self, a reflection upon which we can act. The candle reflects the spiritual and ethical changes we would like to bring about in ourselves. It burns as a reminder and symbol of our desires. Sometimes we have to hand our dreams over to a force more powerful than we are.

Working With Candle Energy

When working with candles, you can be as simplistic or as complicated as you would like to make it. I suggest that you always charge your candle before lighting it.

Sit in a quiet place hold the candle in your hands at heart level and visualize the area in your life you want charged (changed). This will personalize your connections with the candle and allow the needed energy to come to you in a more direct way. Begin by using a positive affirmation based on your specific situation.

You get as much out of a candle (or anything) as you put into it. You must create your own reality through the use of your energy, emotions and visualizations. What you wish to create may come immediately or it may take some time. Experience shows that results are only realized at the appropriate time (the Universal time, not your own)! This allows us a great lesson.

1. Any time you light a candle, always state your true intention and end with a positive affirmation.

2. Burn a candle based on the color you need.

3. Use the seven colors of the Chakra and light these candles to release the color into the room. The rainbow colors have an amazing healing power when lit all together.

4. Burn a candle for meditation. Sit in front of the candle and concentrate on the light.

5. Burn a candle that is made from herbs and essential oils. The power of herbs and scent are blended with the power of light to manifest a positive action.

6. Burn a candle to bring about clear change and affirmative thought. Transform your intentions into reality.

7. Different geometric shapes will alter and enhance the effects of color and scent. It involves understanding what particular geometric patterns can do by using that particular layout around an individual to heal. Meditating within the center of these configurations (a circle, square, triangle, for example) can heighten the entire experience! Place candles in one of these sacred shapes. Place them on a table or alter to burn or place them on the floor or in your meditation space and sit inside the configuration. meditate on or within the geometric shape.

Candles can create any mood based on color and good intention. Utilize the power of light and wax OR create your own special winter solstice ritual to usher in the change of the season and reflect what this means to you.

About the Author

Connect with Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac. at http://www.peacefulmind.com
Therapies for healing mind, body, spirit