SWIHA Blog

Have you been feeling inexplicably pulled down a new path lately? You're not alone! Many people are anticipating a major shift in mindset on a global level, reflected first in the choices we make as individuals. This upcoming Winter Solstice in particular has some great things in store for us on a planetary level.

What is the Winter Solstice?

The Winter Solstice occurs in the Northern hemisphere on December 21 of each year. It marks the shortest day of the year, with the earliest sunset and sunrise. This is viewed by many cultures as a "rebirth" of the sun and a promise of spring to come.

• In Scandinavia, Winter Solstice is celebrated with the Feast of Juul. Traditionally, fires were lit with a Juul--or yule log--symbolizing the god Thor, who was thought to bring the sun back each day.
• The Dongzhi Winter Solstice Festival is celebrated in China, and is a time of gathering and celebration. It's believed that Winter Solstice marks the first day of better things to come.
• Iranian culture traditionally celebrates Yalda on Winter Solstice, feasting and praising the victory of light over darkness. Poetry, family and food are very important aspects of the observance.

There are many more cultural traditions surrounding this day, emphasizing the pervasive celebration of the impact of and the connection to cosmos on our human experience. Winter Solstice literally and metaphorically marks a long, slow crawl out of the darkness and in to the warmth of spring.

Why is this Winter Solstice special?

Also known as the "Christmas Star", every twenty years, the Jupiter-Saturn Great Conjunction occurs. It is this phenomena that is said to have signaled the Three Wise Men to journey across the desert after the birth of Jesus Christ. In 2020, however, these two planets are going to be closer than anytime in the previous 800 years. Jupiter and Saturn will appear shortly before sunrise as one bright point in the sky.

Saturn, which rules structure, challenges and hard work, moves from Capricorn in to Aquarius until 2023. The planets movement in to Aquarius signals a transition in to achievement and maturity, meaning that it is a good time to make tough transitions because they will be rewarded.

Jupiter also moves in to Aquarius for a short period of time, until December 30. You may feel a strong urge to 'move on' and seek freedom from things that you feel tied down by. It would be an excellent week to create a vision board, write out a list of goals, or even do some deep emotional work around your authentic self.

The reason that December 21 is particularly powerful, however, is that these two planets meet in the first degree of Aquarius that day. Jupiter is seen as 'limitless' while Saturn is viewed as 'restrictive', a beautiful metaphor for the human experience which encourages us to view our 'limits' and 'restrictions' through a different lens.

Questions to ask yourself this Winter Solstice:

• What limiting beliefs are holding me back from living authentically?
• How are certain outlooks no longer serving me?
• If I released the past, where would I want my path to go from now on?
• How can I be of greater service to my community?
• What is keeping me from living as the version of myself that I want to be?

Feeling called to make a change? These SWIHA programs begin in January:

• Cranial Unwinding
• Polarity
• Holistic Nutrition
• Hypnotherapy
• Reiki
• Life Coaching
• Intuitive Guide
• Spiritual Coach and Celebrant
• Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner
• Mind Body Transformational Psychology
• Massage Therapy
• Western Herbalism
• Mind Body Wellness Practitioner
• Aromatherapy