2024 December 21 Merry Winter Solstice

At this point in my life, Winter Solstice is the celebration my soul craves. My friend Barbara Starre, who cares for acres of beautiful property in Medina, Ohio, articulated exactly what I was feeling, “It’s universal.” She hosted a lovely gathering of people and strongly encouraged everyone to share. Sharing could be anything from a story, to a poem, to a song, or even food. It was beautiful to hear everyone’s perspectives and we had a lovely evening of stories, poems, deep emotions and laughter together. It was a moment of connection in the same time and place. It was universal. 

Winter Solstice at Starre’s Acres

I get overwhelmed every year with Christmas. There is a lot of expectation. Getting regular tasks completed like going to the store is a nightmare because there are so many people and Christmas decor and gifts replace normal things on the shelves. I never know which item to buy for everyone. I have both good and bad memories of the holiday that come up. Mixed feeling about religion too. While we host Christmas Eve every year, it takes so much work and is filled with expectation and obligation.

Solstice is deep, contemplative, and universal. There is no pressure to do it one way or another. Everyone on this planet experiences the solstice because of the way the planet tilts toward or away from the sun. Everyone, no matter which religion, culture, language, experience the light and the darkness. Certain plants, especially succulents and orchids, bloom at this time. The hens stop laying eggs. We are all bound to this reality. 

Cattleyas blooming in the greenhouse

Crassus ovata, a Jade Plant, blooming in the greenhouse. 

Lucky to have the longest night to my advantage, I was able to attend two different solstice gatherings. The second was all women and it’s one I’ve attended for years as it was passed down from a former coworker Ellen Barkley, to another former coworker, Lola Silva. It’s multi-generational. I won’t go into detail, but this gathering feels like home. I leave with a sense of purpose, comfort and strength as I go into the “holiday season.”