The winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year, when we have reached the depths of the darkness, after which the days begin to lengthen and we welcome back the light of the sun.
This powerful Winter Solstice Goddess Ritual will help you to look back over what the depths of winter taught you and begin to emerge from the darkness, looking forwards to the sun’s returning power, and using its light to consciously manifest what you want to create.
First you meet the Cailleach, the veiled one, the crone of winter and transformation who’ll take you inwards to look back over what the depths of winter taught you and help you to gather your winter wisdom.
A divine hag or crone, she is an ancient wise woman symbolising wisdom, power, and the cyclical nature of life. It is the tap of her magical staff on the ground that causes it to freeze, ushering in winter. She is a goddess of transformation and death, and with winter allows all that is no longer needed to die away.
Ancient myth says that the Cailleach gathers firewood on the eve of the winter solstice to prepare for the longer night of the year.
Then on the morning of the solstice she drinks from the well of life and her life force is renewed, transforming her into Brigid, the goddess of light, life, rebirth and spring.
You will then meet Brigid, the bright one, who will help you to look towards the growing light of the sun and plant within you the soul seeds of what you want to grow, create and manifest in your life next spring.