Happy Solstice and the time BETWEEN the years
Happy Solstice and the time BETWEEN the years
A wonderful tradiotion for living with intention
I can’t wait to share what I just learned! I am not big on contemporary Christmas with the spending rush and once-a-year churchgoers. Also, not crazy about Christmas music everywhere. I find myself more reflective and relaxing around the holidays, thinking of times to come, planning, and just luxuriating with my doggie. It turns out that’s how people used to do it back when.
This post is public so everyone can enjoy what I am about to tell you, should you feel inclined to do so. I fell in love with this as soon as I heard it! Starting tonight, I am making this my annual practice!
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The time between the years is the 13 extra days between the 12 waxing and waning moons of one lunar year (254 days) and the actual calendar year (365 days), starting with the night of the Solstice when the light begins to increase after the shortest day of the year.
Europeans have many traditions they follow during this time, most of them pagan, but who cares? They bring meaning and purpose into people’s lives and help them pass the long dark days of winter by setting intentions and recounting their hopes and dreams for the following year.
Here’s one such tradition coming from Germany.
Write down a wish on 13 pieces of paper, one wish per paper. Fold each one separately and mix them all together so you can’t tell which wish was on which paper. Every night for 12 nights, pick a random one of the 13 and burn it! Let the Universe, God, the ether, whatever you believe in, take care of those. On the 13th night, open the last one left. This one is for you to work on all year. That’s your task, and it's up to you to make it happen.
On the night before the new year, which from a lunar perspective is on January 6, but it probably doesn’t matter if you do it on December 31 as we head into 2024, go on a walk. Pick a rock and meditate with it, choosing something that you want to let go of! Then, leave the rock on a beautiful place, like the beach or a hiking path. Just walk away from it! Don’t look back. Yes, you can do this with more than one thing you want to let go of. There are plenty of rocks out there. Have at it!
Finally, every night after tonight, so 12 nights, keep a notebook by your bedside and write down your dreams. Supposedly, they give you clues about your future. The first night corresponds to the first month of the new year, so January. The second night to February, etc., 12 nights for the 12 months of the new year.
This is just another way to live with intention and really reflect on your life and goals, dreams, and intentions.
I hope you love it as much as I do!
If you are curious about other traditions for this time of year, look up Rauhnachte.
What do you do around the holidays? Share in the comments 😊
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Yours truly,
V