Saturday marked the Winter Solstice for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. The shortest day and longest night, this natural holiday inspired folks to call for the sun’s return, to bring back the warmth and light. Winter was a challenge to survive with the bitter cold and lack of sustaining resources. For some, it still is. In the modern era it may be easier to find food and shelter to protect and keep us through the harsh weather, but the call for light remains the same.

I’ve made the note that for those of us impacted by Seasonal Affective Disorder, this is also a noteworthy day for calling back your joy.

Also, living in a world where Christmas is the king of winter holidays, I tend to utilize Winter Solstice to focus on my home and self – to tend and reflect and prepare for the coming days of communing with friends and family.

I spent the Solstice catching up on house chores – refreshing my space. This will make it easier to do a quick tidy just before hosting, rather than worrying about cleaning the whole space in addition to any cooking.

And the purpose of cleaning is twofold – it also serves as a way to catch up on all the things I’ve neglected as a side effect of my Seasonal Affective Disorder, building a more supportive environment for my mental wellbeing.

By the time the light of day faded, the chores were done (other than a last load of laundry, naturally), and I was ready to light a candle and spend time on myself. This is a great time to journal, or engage in a favorite activity, or meditate. Anything that will help you fill your cup.

And if you weren’t able to do anything special for the Solstice yesterday but wish you did – don’t worry. Time is immaterial. There’s always now, or tomorrow, or next week.

Perhaps this becomes your New Year’s ritual as well, a way to reset and fill your cup again after the holidays.

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Share your Solstice practice in the comments below –