Happy Holidays & Winter Solstice to You
On a sunset walk in Pacific Palisades Park in Santa Monica, CA. Photo by Tabby Biddle.
Happy Winter Solstice. The light of the Sun begins a new solar cycle today. It’s a time to go within, check in with what’s brewing inside of you, what you desire, what you can let go of, and set your intentions for the coming year.
In short, it’s a great time for self reflection and self care.
When my son was in preschool, my husband, son and I began a Winter Solstice tradition together to honor Mother Nature’s cycles and seasons that remind us of the ever-changing flow of life.
We created an altar, constructed a Winter Solstice lantern with twigs and tissue paper, wrote down what we were grateful for, wrote down what we were ready to let go of, and wrote down what we wanted to create and manifest in the upcoming year.
We then sat in a circle around our altar, lit the lantern candle, and began our ritual by invoking the Goddess — The Great Mother.
Taking turns, we shared about our gratitudes, what we were ready to let go of (we burned these strips of paper in a big pot), and then shared our intentions for the upcoming year.
Tonight, with my son now in the fourth grade, we’ll gather again for this ritual.
I want you to know that one thing on my gratitude list will be YOU.
I am truly grateful for you. Thank you for being a part of this community of changemakers.
You inspire me with your voice. You inspire me with your courage. You inspire me with your leadership — whether you are just emerging or your have stepped fully into your power.
This year some of you accomplished your lifelong dreams — like finding your voice, writing a book, becoming a published author, giving a TEDx talk, and becoming more confident within yourself so you can speak up and speak out about what you truly believe in.
Others of you began a daily practice to connect with your body, honor yourself, and hear your inner voice more clearly — through yoga, dance, meditation, journaling, affirmations, prayer, and other embodiment practices.
Others of you have created new visions and dreams.
Through you, we are continually evolving into a paradigm where the feminine in all of us is seen, heard and respected. It is through your voice and your leadership that this is so. Thank you for your courage and commitment to this.
It is now time to rest, nourish, and spend time with yourself and loved ones.
I am so grateful for you. I wish you very Happy Holidays with your family and friends. Please take good care of yourself and each other.
Tabby Biddle, M.S. Ed., founder of TAB Media, works and writes at the intersection of women’s leadership, feminine spirituality and social change. She is the co-founder of 50 Women Can Change the World in Media & Entertainment, the bestselling author of Find Your Voice: A Woman’s Call to Action, and an internationally celebrated women’s leadership coach, educator and group facilitator for her unique approach to activating women’s leadership. Winter enrollment for her Divine Feminine Writer’s Group is happening now. Learn more.