Winter Solstice 2020: How To Bring Some Light To The Longest Night Of The Year

The winter solstice, falling on Monday, December 21, signals the shortest day of the year and the longest night. In many ways, this annual event represents a gateway: an ending and a new beginning.

This year, the solstice falls on the same day as the Great Conjunction—when two planets, Jupiter and Saturn, will come so close that they will appear as one in the sky. Jupiter represents newness and exploration, while Saturn represents rules and traditions, and the two opposites will come together to close out 2020.

The winter solstice may be the darkest day of the year, but it's traditionally been celebrated as a time of light. Many cultures believe that the archetypal Mother gave birth to the sun on this day: It's when the Egyptian deity Isis gave birth to Horus, the sun god, and the Greek Leto gave birth to shining Apollo. In the matriarchal religions, the day marks the rebirth of the goddesses Persephone, Besana, Amaterasu, and Sun Woman.

In this ritual, ornaments are not merely decorations—they are wishes. Make your own ornaments or personalize ones that you buy at the store. You can write words on them, such as peace, good health, prosperity, or loving partner, or paste pictures on them of things you are hoping to call in: a wished-for car or a place you want to visit next year. Make some wishes for yourself and some for friends, family members, or for the greater good.

Pour a few drops of cinnamon essential oil into a diffuser or spray bottle, or crush two cinnamon sticks into a small bowl of warm water. Allow the aroma to permeate your space. Take a piece of paper and start listing your material possessions: your home, car, clothes, books, computer, and so on. Then, write one or two reasons each is important to you.

Now, list memories of the places you've been, the paintings you've seen, the music you've heard—and why all of these experiences matter to you.

In many religions, the star symbolizes the guiding light. There is a lot to see in the night sky this solstice season, so go outside and experience the dance of the planets if you can. The Jupiter–Saturn meetup reminds us that each one of us is an opening for light, a gateway through which the absolute can manifest.