Next week on the 21st December, is the  Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.  It is the shortest day of the year and from thereon, the nights gradually start to get longer, a promise of the return of the sunlight!

For people who celebrate Christmas, the Winter Solstice can often be overlooked as they are busy focusing on last minute shopping or preparation for the festive period.  However for those who find Christmas all just a bit too much in terms of materialism, pressure and stress, Winter Solstice can be the ideal time to detach from all of that. 

At this time of year, Nature is all about stillness, there is not much outward activity in terms of life and growth, but surely lots of inward activity in preparation for the first blooms of new life in Spring.  For this reason, I associate Winter Solstice with simple, peaceful, reflective rituals.

Here are 3 simple self-care rituals to celebrate Winter Solstice

1) Go for a gentle stroll in Nature, try to be really present and aware of everything with your all your senses.  Make the intention to shake any of the festive stress you may be holding on to.  If you are a crafty type, you could collect some evergreen foliage and make it into a festive wreath. You would need to buy an "Oasis foam wreath ring" in advance though.  To make your wreath, you simply soak the wreath ring in water first then add your foliage.  You could even buy a bunch of flowers and place a few of them in your wreath as well.

2) Do some gentle restorative Yoga - I follow a lovely lady Nourished Natasha on Youtube who often celebrates nature's cycles with a special yoga class. Her classes are very inclusive and I am sure beginners would find her classes accessible, so be sure to check her out. After your yoga class, you could have a soothing cleansing aromatherapy bath with sea salt and essential oils. Some relaxing and uplifting essential oils include sweet orange, lavender, bergamot. Mix 1 tbs of sunflower oil with 6 drops of essential oils, add it to about 200g of bath salts, stir well and then add to your bathwater. 

3) If the weather isn't great or you don't feel like being active, you could do a simple journal ritual.  Play some relaxing music, light a candle, take your journal and write about all the good that has come into your life this year.  If it has been a challenging year, then take the message of the Winter solstice to be one of hope for you.  Just as the sunlight starts to gradually return into all the countries in the Northern hemipshere from this day, the sunlight can also start to come back into your life as well. Make that intention for yourself.

If you are interested in learning more about living in tune with the seasons, aromatherapy and self-care, feel free to check out these resources which maybe of interest to you:

Winter Self-Care Guide (Ebook)  

Aromatherapy Guide (Ebook

Until next time

Zoe

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Whilst the Holidays and Christmas are tradtionally a time of celebration, of reunions and coming together with loved ones, it can also be a challenging time of year for many reasons so we must continue to pratice good self-care.  

Some of the common challenges that many people face during the Holidays and Christmas season are:

• Digestive upsets due to eating too much, very rich rich foods and sometimes even emotional upset can affect the digestive system
• Stress due to organising, overspending, feeling duty bound or torn as to whether to attend festive parties etc
• Emotionally sad and unsettled particularly if your family situation is not ideal or you are missing a loved one who has passed on

So this time of the year is just as important to focus on our self-care as any other.

One quick and easy way to help ease those common seasonal imbalances is with a little aromatherapy self care.

Here are my top 3 Essential oils for the Holidays and Christmas period, they are all traditional seasonal scents as well!

Simple ways to use these Essential Oils

• Add 6 drops to an Aromatherapy diffuser or oil burner

Make your own Aromatherapy Bath and Body Products

• With the exception of Cinnamon leaf, add 40 drops of essential oil to 100ml of  unscented bubble bath, unscented lotion or carrier oil like sunflower oil and apply to the affected area.  For the elderly, immbobile or pregnant or lactating ladies, halve the amount to 20 drops.
• If you would like to use Cinnamon leaf, add just 12 drops to 100ml of unscented bubble bath, unscented lotion or carrier oil.  For the elderly, immobile or pregnant or lactating ladies, halve the amount to 6 drops.  This is because Cinnamon leaf essential oil can be a skin irritant.

If you love essential oils and aromatherapy and are intersted in learning more, feel free to browse my self-care books and online courses here.  If you would like to get a copy of my FREE Self-Care Guide please sign up here

Until next time

Zoe

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