Winter Solstice is coming. And just like that, the days start to get longer..

I love the life of an antipodean. Yesterday, I braved the wind chill and went for a swim in the middle of the day. (!?) The sunny winter days that Sydney is well known for are incredible, despite the fact that I needed to have the heater on last night.

The gift of warmth and of being able to swim felt incredible, especially because the end of this week marks the winter solstice – one of my favorite celebrations of the year.

The name solstice literally means sun stands still, and it happens once in winter, and again in summer. The inward nature of winter allows us to heal and be recharged for spring, as well as reassess our connection to our spirit and life purpose – which we will do again in 6 months time when many of us contemplate new years resolutions.

Recently, I’ve been musing on the power of the 6 month mark – much like I do every year around this time. In fact it’s one of the reasons that the winter solstice holds a very special place in my heart, because I have the opportunity to see what the first 6 months of the year were like, where I’m at right now, and where I want to go in the next 6 months.

Astrologers often talk about the power of the 6 month mark. For instance, a few weeks ago, we had a full moon in Sagittarius, and the next time that star sign will be in the same sign, will be in December. I used the symbol of the archer (the sign for Sagittarius) during that night’s meditation. It was a powerful way for me to visualize what I want to aim for in my life just before Christmas.

This mid year mark also keeps me honest about where I’ve come from, where I’m at, and where I’m heading next. The end of the financial year is approaching and so it’s time for me to I assess how I’ve made money, how I’ve spent it and how much I actually have left.

6 short months ago half of my life and belongings had been shipped to the US where I had planned to move, so instead of brimming with new ideas and planning new adventures, this last period has been one of deep reflection and contemplation for me.

I have had to learn to come home to myself again and in doing so have being very conscious of releasing connections that were not in my highest alignment and allowing the space for new transitions to come in.

It seems to be a pattern in my life. I did the same thing 17 years ago, only in reverse. What seemed like an hour after my final University exam, I bid adieu to my friends and family and hopped on a plane bound for Europe, promising to come back 6 months later.

But after getting that taste of freedom away from my sheltered suburban life, there was no way I was coming home much to my mother’s chagrin at the time. My soul knew I needed to continue travelling. To see and experience so much more.

The winter solstice is a celebration of our spirit being reborn and transformed from inner darkness into light. Spiritually, it is symbolic of allowing the darker shadow side of our personality to come out, to be acknowledged and to be transformed as it heals.

The length of daylight, the time between sunrise and sunset, starts increasing from the time of the solstice. From then on we can start to look forward to longer days, increased energy and vitality and an awakening of our spirit, goals and aspirations.

Being the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice is essentially the year’s darkest day, but not necessarily the coldest. It’s an auspicious time for us to balance our spirit and physical body during Winter when we tend to go inward with our emotions.

It’s also a wonderful time to see whether we want to put the brakes on regarding certain things in life, or whether we want to put the pedal to the metal by accelerating. I don’t know about you, but I’m having a nice time cruising, and in a month, I’ll be heading to Bali for a few weeks of sun.

I’m taking a winter break from my chakra balance course, as I’m planning some amazing treats to share with you in spring, but I have plenty of time to see you if you want to clear some stuff up during a 1:1 balance session.

Til the next time we meet, enjoy the sunny days and be sure to stay warm at night. Lots of love, Patty xx