Winter, with its crisp air and enchanting landscapes, offers a unique opportunity for spiritual growth and self-reflection. This Winter Blessings Ritual is a beautiful way to connect with the magic of the season. From creating a sacred space to embracing solitude, let's embark on a journey of self-discovery and abundance.
THE ENERGY OF WINTER
For those of us who reside in the northern hemisphere, we are met with the longest night of the year in late December as we welcome the Winter Solstice. This season is the quietest time of year as everything in nature falls dormant or settles in for a long hibernation.
In the cold and dark of Winter, it is the perfect time to allow yourself to rest. In the stillness of the season, make the time to turn inward and reflect on our own desires, health, and growth. Allow inspirations and hopes for the new year to emerge before the light begins to return and Spring is upon us with new warmth and longer days.
The changing of the seasons is a perfect time for reflection and for connecting with yourself and nature in its new phase. If you reside in the southern hemisphere, this seasonal shift is celebrated in late June.
If you’d like to align with the current Summer Solstice in the southern hemisphere, check out our Summer Solstice Tarot Spread or our Summertime Blessings Ritual.
INVOKE THE BLESSINGS OF WINTER
Embracing the seasons is the most ancient form of magic. With this simple ritual, you can align yourself with the wisdom of winter.
For this Winter Blessing Ritual, you'll need:
- White sage for purification (or similar smudge bundle)
- A Winter candle to set the intention
- Your imagination to spark the magic
Before you begin, spend some time in quiet reflection. Think about everything that has happened this year, the joys and the struggles.
Now think over the last decade of your life. Try to recall the most significant moments that have made you the person you are today. Write down 10 things that have happened throughout the last ten years that you are most grateful for.
Upon completing this practice of reflection and gratitude, you have opened the internal space you will need to begin the ritual.
Find a quiet and centered space.
Light the sage and let the smoke rise.
Pick up the winter candle and run it through the smoke several times, letting it be cleansed and purified.
In honor of the Sun's death and rebirth at the winter solstice, light the candle and gaze at its flame.
Let your eyes soften as it flickers and feel immense gratitude for everything that has happened this year. Breathe deeply and expand that gratitude to encompass the last decade.
Breathe deeply, acknowledging that you have made it through to the end of a cycle.
This is your time to rest, retreat and dream.
See yourself on a shoreline where memories rise up and wash away.
In the darkness, you see your dreams for the future shimmering above like stars. Looking upward, you notice the brightest star. This is a special dream that you have, one that you believe in with all your heart.
You are sitting directly under this star, gazing upward as it burns brighter.
You watch this star fall, descending upon you. It shimmers all around, planting a seed of light deep within your heart.
Feel its warmth and know that this dream will come to life as soon as the time is right.
But for now, it is winter and you must rest. Close the ritual by saying “It is done!”.
OTHER WAYS TO CONNECT TO WINTER
This candle ritual is perfect for welcoming in the new season and for celebrating the Winter Solstice as well. If you are interested in additional ways to infuse your season with more winter rituals, check out these favorites:
- Winter Solstice Tarot Spread
- It's Your Year: Crystals for Capricorn Season
- Crystals for Seasonal Living
- Winter Hot Toddy
- Tulum Sunrise Cocktail
Rachel is the creator of Aeolian Heart Astrology, a voice that blends ancient Hermeticism with pop culture and fine art. She believes that astrology is magic because following the rhythm of the planets makes life feel like a graceful dance. Her favorite season is late-summer, when the pomegranates are ripe and the sunsets are like amber.
