By Nikki Starcat Shields,
As much as this time of year is all about gathering with family and friends, exchanging gifts, and celebrating light in the darkness, it’s also about going inward. This is the darkest time of the year. The days are short and the nights are long. You can feel it in your soul. There’s a yearning to cease moving, if only for an afternoon.
For the ancient Celts, the time between Samhain and the Winter Solstice was seen as a sort of void time. The old year has ended, but the new one won’t officially begin until the Winter Solstice. It’s the time to hunker down. Time to pause.
I suspect that most of us—mammals, after all—feel that inward pull to hibernate and rest. But in our fast-paced, modern society, not many of us heed that call. Collectively, we tend to keep going full steam ahead unless we’re stopped by an accident, illness, or other complication.
What if you took some time, instead, to be proactive about your instinctive desire to pause? I call this the Yule Mirror. It’s an opportunity to rest. As you rest, you might find yourself wishing to reflect on this year’s journey through the seasons. Taking time to reflect allows you to see what’s working well in your life, what’s not, and how you wish to move forward once again when the light returns.
Give yourself the gift of reflection during the waning days of the year. It might not happen until after your festive gatherings are done. Many of us have time off between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Claim some of that time just for you.
Begin by bringing to mind your most significant events, feelings, and moments of this year. I’m a longtime journal keeper, so in December I read back what I’ve written throughout the year. If you don’t keep a written record, there are other ways to gain clues. Look at your Google calendar or scroll back through the photos you took. Ask a loved one to help you remember.
As you reflect on the year, give yourself time to daydream. What would you like to be different? What events or feelings would you love to encourage? What do you most want to do, be, and have in the new calendar year?
If nothing comes to mind, or the process seems overwhelming, rest some more. Follow your instincts. Wait for the inspiration to arrive. This isn’t something to force. Remember, we’re still in pause mode.
When you look into the Yule Mirror, you can observe how time is more of a spiral than a line or even a circle. Align yourself to Mother Nature’s cycles.
Before you know it, the light of the sun will be waxing once again, and you’ll slowly gather momentum as it increases. Now is the time to daydream of the experiences you wish for around the next loop of the spiral. Hibernate now, like the other fauna and flora. See what unfolds.
Nikki Starcat Shields is an author, writing coach, and leader of transformational writing retreats. She's also a licensed Pagan priestess. Nikki teaches people to be Thriving Artists, writing their heartfelt books while also nurturing themselves and their creative lives. She lives in Hollis, Maine and adores reading, cats, and spending time by the ocean. She can be found at nikkistarcatshields.com.