What is the meaning of the winter solstice in life and spirituality?

The winter solstice is upon us, and with it, the longest night of the year. As the sunlight wanes in the Northern Hemisphere, warmth must be made, and self-reflection sought.

What is a solstice?

Solstices signify how life on Earth changes in connection to the Sun and how our seasons are defined and define us.

When a solstice occurs, the Sun reaches its absolute highest or lowest point relative to our celestial equator.

The winter solstice, as the name implies, marks the beginning of winter and the point of the year when the sun reaches its lowest point, directly above the Tropic of Capricorn.

Solstice is a marriage of the Latin words for “sun” and “to stand still.” The winter solstice equates to the shortest day and longest night of the year.

Winter’s sunburned, popsicle-stained sister, the summer solstice, celebrated on or around June 21st, coincides with the longest day and shortest night of the year.

What is the winter solstice?

During the winter solstice, the Sun appears to stand still at the southernmost point of the equator. From this point on, that showboating death star begins its journey north again. As we move deeper into this season, daylight will gradually increase as the sun pulls us towards spring.

How does the winter solstice affect us spiritually?

Myriad cultures and spiritual traditions have long honored the winter solstice.

This time of greatest darkness has encouraged humanity to gather together to celebrate the rebirth of, and return to, the light.

The winter solstice coincides with several pagan, pre-Christmas holidays and traditions, including but not limited to Germanic Yule, Punjabi Lohri, and Roman Saturnalia.

A prehistoric megalithic structure, Stonehenge, was built to align with the sun on the solstices. On the winter solstice, the sun sets to the south-west of the stone circle.

Yule: when Christmas was more horror than ho ho ho 

For inquiring minds, the pagan Yule of Yore was considerably less cheery and 100% more goth than the Christmas we know and decorate today.

For the people of the past, Yule was the time of the year to lock your doors and light your hearth lest you step outside and catch sight of Odin’s wild hunt, a mystical stamped led by the one-eyed, raven-shouldered all father.

According to myth, during the dark days of winter, Odin thundered through the sky upon an eight-legged horse trailed by hell hounds and the disembodied spirits of the dead.

Yikes. 

Bearing witness to the hunt was, as you can imagine, a very bad omen. Yet, many scholars believe the wild hunt informed our contemporary construct of Santa Claus and his annual galavant through the night sky.

In a remarkable glow up, Odin got fat and his right eye back, the eight legged stallion beget the eight reindeer and zombies rematerialized as elves. Christmas really took the balls out and put the sleigh bells on that satanic-sounding holiday ride, but so it goes.

Some other remnants of yule include mistletoe and the tradition of decorating fir trees.

However we get to getting down, celebrating the solstice braids us into the lineage of our ancestors who have observed the dimming of days and the rebirth of the sun for centuries. The winter solstice ushers us into Capricorn season, and fittingly enough, the sea goat is synonymous with tradition, emotional inheritance, father time, and all that endures.

In a spiritual sense, no matter your tradition, this is a season to reflect on who you are and where you’d like to go. This is a perfect time for introspection and intention setting, fire lighting, and the observance of rituals.

Honor stillness, seek solace in the dark, and hope for the light of brighter days to come.

How does the winter solstice affect me in astrology?

As established, the winter solstice marks the beginning of Capricorn season.

Equinoxes and solstices correspond to the Cardinal zodiac signs — leaders, kick starters, and go-getters that initiate each new season.

Capricorn is an Earth sign, and during this period of the year, we are called to question how we want to be remembered when we shrug off the proverbial mortal coil.

This legacy can relate to public life, professional achievement, creative endeavors, and career goals, but it can also relate to the mark we leave upon the world and the people we love when we depart it.

During this time, we can reflect on where we’ve been, cast an eye to where we may yet go, and set our sights on investing in what will outlast us.

When is the winter solstice in 2024?

This year, the winter solstice takes place on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at 4:19 AM. EST.

Light a candle. Be grateful.

For our recommendations on how to observe this sacred stillness, see here.

Astrology 101: Your guide to the star

Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture and personal experience. She is also an accomplished writer who has profiled a variety of artists and performers, as well as extensively chronicled her experiences while traveling. Among the many intriguing topics she has tackled are cemetery etiquette, her love for dive bars, Cuban Airbnbs, a “girls guide” to strip clubs and the “weirdest” foods available abroad.

Kyle Thomas is a globally recognized pop culture astrologer who has been featured in “Access Hollywood,” E! Entertainment, NBC & ABC television, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Hulu, Bustle, Elite Daily, Marie Claire and more. He is known for his cosmic guidance for celebrities, business executives and prominent influencers. His work harnesses the power of the stars in regards to entertainment lifestyle and trends affecting people worldwide. For more information, visit KyleThomasAstrology.com.