Winter Solstice Ritual: A Yoga Practice to Celebrate the Light

As we plunge into darkness on the longest night of the year, a long tradition follows to honor the winter solstice with rituals and celebrations. After the long darkness come longer days and shorter nights, and many cultures choose this night to give thanks for the past year, the challenges overcome and the transition from darkness to light. The triumph of light over darkness is reflected in almost all legendary stories and special festivals at different times of the year, such as Diwali, biblical texts and observations linking God and Jesus with light, the Tazaungdaing festival in Burma, and the pagan celebration of Christmas in late December.

A winter solstice practice

There are many ways to honor this long night of darkness, including lighting candles, gathering for celebration, decorating the home with herbs and plants, and showing love and appreciation to family and friends. At this time of year, it's important to not only express love for others and have external celebrations, but also focus on self-care. Try this ritual yoga practice to celebrate your own journey from darkness to light:

1. Set the scene

Begin by lighting candles and burning oils of frankincense, lavender, and myrrh, each representing purity and truth, harmony, and important calming and rejuvenating properties.

2. Choose your intention

Next, you want to let go of something that no longer serves you, something that has felt like your personal “darkness” this year. At the same time, set the intention to allow light into your life. This can manifest in the form of positive self-talk, dedicated time, pledging to connect with your local community, or spending more time in nature. Choose something that you know will bring joy to your life. Using objects to represent the darkness and light can make the exercise even more powerful. You may find a special crystal or stone that represents your “light” and a leaf that you can throw back to the earth to represent your “darkness.”

Repeat the affirmation as you set your intention:"I have let go of the darkness. I let the light in."

3. The physical practice

Move through a gentle yoga practice with sun salutations, core strengthening, and calming restorative asanas.

4. Trataka meditation

Follow your physical practice with a Trataka meditation: Sit in front of one of your candles. Close your eyes and open them again after a few moments. Look at the center of the candle flame directly above the wick. Try to keep your eyes steady without blinking. Look as long as you can without straining your eyes, then close them if you need to. With your eyes closed, turn your gaze to the center of the eyebrows and try to hold the image of the flame in your consciousness for as long as possible, concentrating on it and examining any colors that may appear. If the image finally disappears, repeat the process and continue for 5-10 minutes. The flame of the candle represents your inner flame and truth, also known as theAtmanor soul.

5. The Asato Ma Mantra

To complete your winter solstice ritual, chant theAsato MaMantra, a powerful mantra of the Upanishads that represents the transition from darkness to light:

“Asato ma sadgamaya
tamaso ma jyotirgamaya
mrtyorma amrtam gamaya
“om shanti shanti shanti”.

Lead me from illusion to truth
Lead me from darkness to light.
Lead me from death to immortality
Om peace peace peace.

(Brhadaranyaka Upanishad – I.iii.28)