Calling Back the Light: Midwinter Rituals

It’s midwinter and many of us might be longing for warmer and longer days again. February 2nd wasn’t just Groundhog day, it was also Imbolc, a Celtic holiday that marks the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. It’s a great time to remember that the light is slowly beginning to return, and that spring time is not as far away as it may feel. So I want to offer some small rituals to try this month in honor of Imbolc to connect with your own inner power and sense of renewal during this time of uncertainty.

• Light a candle at home or have a fire outside in the evening and write down three things to release then let them burn either in a bowl or in the fire pit. After they burn, visualize three intentions for things you would like to initiate as winter comes to a close and spring begins. Maybe it’s something new in your routine, a creative endeavor, or building more connection in your community through shared values.

• Use a salt scrub in the bath or shower infused with essential oils and symbolically wash away any unwanted residual energy/emotions you wish to release.

• Take a winter hike and notice signs of spring such as buds emerging on branches or shoots of green poking through the ground to remember the cycle of renewal through the seasons.

• Plant seedlings while visualizing what they represent to you in the year ahead.

Remember you can always cultivate a sense of peace through connecting in nature, or engaging in small rituals to reset the nervous system.