The Celtic Wheel of the Year is about to turn again as we rapidly approach the year’s end. It seems like yesterday that we celebrated Samhain and Halloween honoring the ancestors and the ghostly high jinks of the late autumn season. Since that time, our days in the northern hemisphere have grown steadily shorter, leading us toward the longest dark nights of winter solstice. This year, solstice falls on December 21, 2025, at 10:03 a.m. (EST). That day and for the next three days, the sun, low in the southern skies, appears to standstill, pausing before it begins a return to the northern sky. The season is rich with celebration, traditions, and light themes to explore. Light a candle, grab a mug of hot cocoa, and let’s dive in!
Seasonal Themes and Nuances
Faith & Trust – In this darkest time of year, the need to lighten up can be strong.There isalso a need to let go of our grievances and remember to trust or have faith that a new beginning is right around the corner. The season of light offers many opportunities to do just that. Whether attending Christmas eve church services, lighting candles on a Jewish menorah or a Kwanzaa kinara, or tending to a yule fire, the focus at this time of the year is to remember and practice humanity’s warmest and brightest qualities: humility, generosity, fairness, dignity, truthfulness, compassion, kindness, courage, integrity, inclusion, and grace. As solstice promises the sun’s returning light and warmth, it is time to take heart, have trust, or faith that those bright qualities will take root in the darkness and thrive in the year to come.
Merriment & Celebration – Even though the night is long, winter solstice is part of a season of celebration that includes Hanukkah, Christmas, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, Bodhi Day, New Years (eve and day), Twelfth Night, and Epiphany. People of many different faiths and cultures (religious and secular) celebrate the season with merry-making in every form from singing and dancing to feasting and gift-giving. Christmas greenery and lights appear in homes and street corners. Dreidels spin, candles are lit, and special foods are prepared and shared. The stage is set for ending a cycle in anticipation of the next; a time to celebrate.
Reflection & Intention – Nature’s cycles offer a brilliant blueprint for achieving our goals. The winter solstice marks the larger annual cycle coming to an end and with it, the opportunity to celebrate the wins, mourn the losses, and reset to begin again in a new year. Winter solstice is an ideal time to reflect on the past year’s themes, setbacks, accomplishments, wins, losses, and gifts. If you have been using a journal to explore, nurture, and keep track of the ontological “seeds” that were planted as we welcomed 2025, now is the time reflect on those pages. They will reveal which goals, aspirations, and dreams have come to fruition, and what has been left undone or unfulfilled. If journaling is not a current practice, spark awareness of important milestones or “ah ha’s” by reviewing past calendar entries. Looking deeply into what brought fulfillment and what was difficult will give way to intentions for the coming year.
Desires, Hopes, & Wishes – ‘Tis the season to shine a light on intentions for a bright future. When goal setting for the year ahead, consider a variety of categories such as education/learning, health/wellness, self-care, spirituality, mental/emotional well-being, relationships, career, finances, travel, volunteerism/service, community, or creativity. Remember that in order to be successful, goals are often action-oriented, requiring practical steps (i.e. doing things). Whether a goal is grand or modest, consider the intention that lies beneath the goal. In addition to the concept of doing things to meet a goal, intention-setting will serve as a reminder about your desired state of being as you pursue the goal. Who are you willing to be as you pursue your goal? What state of being will you achieve when the goal is met? Will you be less anxious, worried, or frustrated? Will you be more courageous, peaceful, wise, or happy? Will you be more loving, safe, or generous? What desire, hope, or wish will be fulfilled if the intention results in the goal being met? Let those intentions light up the path to a new beginning in 2026.
The Seasonal Soup Kitchen
This year one of my goals is to celebrate Wayne’s legacy. Sharing a hearty bowl of soup, a crusty loaf of bread, and good conversation was Wayne’s way to celebrate. Making and sharing soup with others is an act of kindness, and while I can’t make soup for you all, I can share soup recipes from the Food Doctor and Friends cookbook. Did you know that on New Year’s Day a southern tradition includes eating black-eyed peas for good luck, prosperity, and good health? Ring in the New Year with the Food Doctor’s Kale Soup with Black-Eyed Peas. It’s a delicious blend of protein-packed greens, grains, and beans to keep you fueled for the holiday festivities. Enjoy this soup with a wedge of fresh-baked sourdough bread for dipping, or warm green chili corn muffins.
- 1 T. safflower oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 celery ribs, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- 1 T. paprika
- 7 cups vegetable stock or water
- 1 (14 oz.) can diced tomatoes*
- 3 cups kale, chopped
- 2 (15 oz.) cans black-eyed peas**
- 3 T. tamari
- 3 cups cooked rice
- ½ tsp. black pepper
*14 oz. fresh chopped tomatoes **15 oz. freshly cooked black-eyed peas can be subbed. In a soup pot, sauté oil, onion, celery and carrots until soft. Add paprika, water, tomatoes and kale. Cook uncovered about 15 minutes. Add remaining ingredients; cook for 5-10 minutes. Yield 4-6 servings.
To Serve or Not to Serve? We all find ourselves in service to others at some point in life. This section of the newsletter will invite you to reflect on the many surprising ways we live a life of service (whether we are aware of it or not). One meaning of the verb “serve” is to attend to; to give one’s attention to. Our 7th installment was featured in the Samhain – Remembering the Ancestors newsletter, and focused on service to the ancestors. This season’s topic is service to the community. The Oxford Dictionary defines community in two ways. 1) a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. 2) a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals. We may initially think about community as the neighborhood, town, or city we call home. Additionally, there are other communities that provide social interactions supportive of personal growth, enjoyment, and/or learning. While these communities may serve our needs, we are also in service to them. Grab your journal or sit down with a friend to talk about these prompts.
- Let’s begin by taking time to consider the different communities we interact with. Some examples are professional, neighborhood, homeowner, or parent/teacher associations; gardening, cooking, baking, or food co-ops; faith-based congregations; support groups of all kinds; book clubs; charitable volunteer or activist groups; musical or theater groups; travel, sailing, hiking, running clubs, and so many more. What communities am I a part of now? List as many as possible. Am I aligned and in agreement with the community’s purpose, goals, or activities?
- What is my role or participation in each community? In what ways do I provide service to the community? Are there formal or informal tasks or duties I perform for or with the community? If so, are these enjoyable or personally fulfilling in some way? If not, is it time to re-evaluate my role? Does my participation and/or service fulfil my need or desire to make a meaningful contribution to the community’s purpose and/or membership? In terms of service, is there more (or less) I want to contribute now and in the future?
- Am I professionally, legally, or financially bound to the community in some way, such as a mandated professional affiliation, work-related team, or homeowners’ association? If so, what are my responsibilities within the community? Am I being compensated appropriately for my service? If compensation is not applicable, what do I gain by participating? How much time am I willing to give in service and/or how much of my time is required? Does anything need to change about my participation?
- Are there rules, guidelines, and time parameters for interactions with the community? Are these formal or informal? Am I comfortable with, and accepting of those parameters? If not, why not? Is the community itself and/or its leadership amenable to change? What is a respectful way to express an opinion, need, or desire for change?
- In what way does the community serve me (physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially, creatively, spiritually)? What are the benefits of remaining involved in the community? Are they practical (sharing of resources, food, shelter, warmth, information), or ontological (supportive of sobriety, wellness, learning, creativity, shared kindness, understanding, compassion)? Are the giving/receiving aspects of being in community balanced? If not, what action steps will enhance the balance?
- Some communities are comprised of those who have experienced and survived challenging or traumatic experiences (i.e. cancer or other catastrophic illness diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship; estrangement or death of a loved one; violent crime, natural disaster, gun violence, or other survivorship; addiction-related trauma, etc.). Survivors can serve others through offering empathy and hope. Becoming active in survivor and/or recovery communities has many benefits. Participants can find mutually beneficial validation, acceptance, understanding, resilience, and solutions to reduce stress, isolation, and other unpleasant feelings associated with loss and trauma. Am I a survivor of a challenge or trauma that others may have also experienced? If so, would it serve me to seek a survivor or recovery community for support? What might I learn, how might I grow from being with others in such a community? How might my own personal experience serve others?
- What communities might I want to be involved with and why? How would joining a new community enhance my being more of who I truly want to be in this life? What steps do I need to take to begin exploring and/or to join a new community, club, or association?
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On the Blog: The latest post in the Long Covid Series is Covid Confusion; “X” is for Crossing parts 1,2, and 3 are available in the ABC’s for Living Well.
Beautiful quotes for the season of light:
“This is the solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight,
the year’s threshold and unlocking, where the past lets go and becomes the future.” ~ Excerpt from Shapechangers in Winter by Margaret Atwood, Poet
“Winter is not a season; it’s a celebration.” ~ Anamika Mishra, Writer and Travel Blogger
“There is an instinctive withdrawal for the sake of preservation, a closure that assumes the order of completion. Winter is a season unto itself.” ~ Haruki Murakami, Japanese Writer
May all beings be safe, well, happy, and content.