the shortest day of the year ❄️🌥️
warm solstice wishes & traditions
hello my electric boogaloos,
well, shit. we did it! we made it to the shortest day of the year. now, we can pitter patter through the rest of winter knowing that the days are getting longer and soon we will be sitting on our tiny apartment patios (blocks of concrete) in our lounge chairs (uncle’s hand-me-down camp chair) sipping beverages and grilling out (fountain diet coke and costco hot dogs).
i’m proud of you. yes, you, reader. the handful of you that read these silly notes and enjoy them - i’m proud of you for making it to the end of 2023. what a year, huh?
i’m proud of you for getting through it - all of it - and finding reasons to stay in it. for doing and being good and finding ways to hold joy, even if it is fleeting. there is so much to be hurt and sad and scared about. maybe tonight we set it down for awhile and lean in to the darkest night of the year, knowing that the light will always come up again, soon enough.
the solstices are some of my favorite times of the year to reflect and think about my place in the world. you don’t have to do anything special for it to feel special. light a candle, have a tasty warm drink, cook a meal for someone you love (including yourself). think about your goals for the upcoming year. think about someone you care about - then go tell them you care about them.
these practices are little but mighty celebrations of your one wild and precious life, dear reader. drink them up.
i like to decorate my altar space for the season. i’ve lit a few candles and some swedish apothecary incense, including some juniper sticks in my cute little capricorn jar.
enjoy yourself this evening. relax a bit as your body and mind continue racing down the winding road that is a holiday season. check out this wonderful episode of joe pera talks with you: joe pera helps you find the perfect christmas tree.
a live cam show i love watching is one out of bark river, mi - just north of where i grew up. i logged on today to discover the owner of the channel put christmas music over the live feed. it’s pretty nice.
i do hope you find peace within yourself during this season. i hope this solstice brings you meaningful reflection, motivation, and positivity.
i know i am always searching for all three.
be here now,
hannah
