Today marks the December Solstice, a pivotal moment in our journey around the Sun. It’s when Earth’s tilt leans us farthest from or closest to the Sun, welcoming in the first day of Winter or Summer depending on where you are. In this newsletter, I’m sharing simple ways to align with the new season and a glimpse into how I’m stepping into my Winter. For me, it’s all about alignment—creative, personal, and spiritual. Just as the Earth finds balance in its orbit, I’m seeking seasonal guidance to stay aligned on my journey.

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First let's define Solstice:  it is the time/date at which the Sun crosses the Equator, when day and night are equal lengths, this happens twice per year, and marks the beginning of either Fall or Spring. Today marks the September Equinox, so Hello Fall for those in the North & Hello Spring for those in the South. As I continue, let's keep the words equal, even,or balanced, in the back of our minds.

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❄️ SHIFTING INTO WINTER ❄️

Fall is a time to harvest, prepare, change, and accept. 

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Maybe in the Spring, you planted some seeds for your personal growth, or for your relationships, or for your health, or for your money/career. And maybe youusedyour Summer to energize and nurture those seeds, or maybe the Summer flew by and you couldn't tend to your garden as often as you would have liked. The seasons move on and so must we...

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What seeds can you harvest, and what seeds just aren't ready? Answer these questions without judgement - you might have seeds you planted years ago that you've forgotten about, you might have seeds you never quite nurtured and just need to discard because they're no longer serving you. Harvesting is about preparing for Winter, because Winter is when we rest. Harvesting is not for you to beat yourself up about what isn't ready. Lean into acceptance if disappointments arise. Lean into change if opportunities arise.

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So, I planted seeds this Spring, and last Spring, and even the Spring of 2021. My harvest is not abundant, but I will make sure it's enough. Personally, I planted a lot of goals for therapy, and my Summer brought a lot to the surface for me, so I'm leaning into my own internal changes and perspective shifts around sexuality and love and relationships. Professionally, I've been energizing and nurturing my acting, writing, and photography, through studying my crafts, and implementing new strategies, but the toughest thing for me has been getting my next screenplay done and figuring out what to do with my first one. So I'm gonna use part of my harvest to really hone in on my writing, and maybe even lean into accepting that I won't finish my script by December. On the theme of acceptance, a bigger part of my harvest will be about navigating this indie artist life by accepting that if I see the “waiting periods” as peaceful opportunities to grow or rest, I’ll be happier.

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What will you harvest in preparation for Winter? What change(s) do you need to accept?

 

☀️ SHIFTING INTO SUMMER ☀️

Spring is a time to wake-up, plant, rebirth, and refresh.

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Wake-up, because you’re coming out of your Winter hibernation, which I hope was restful.

Plant, because your soil is ready to be fertilized with seeds of new goals and new thoughts.

Rebirth, because what died from Winter stillness and frost, can now be rejuvenated.

Refresh, because like cleansing the palate helps reset your taste buds, cleansing your mind helps reset your perspective.

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What ideas, thoughts, goals, etc. have spoken to you recently?  Maybe your Winter rest allowed you to think about yourself, and what you want.  Spend some time with your thoughts, and see what seeds you can plant, see what things you can get rid of, maybe some old habits, or ex-flings. 

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What newness can you bring into your life?  What palates can you cleanse to have a fresh start?

 

And bringing it all back to the words equal, even, and balance, consider using this period to balance your energy. Fall and Spring are the in-betweeners, literally between two extremes of Summer and Winter. Maybe this happens so the Earth can balance out her temperatures, so she can gradually glide into the next season without extreme or immediate changes, everything is gradual. Use your Fall or Spring to find balance, soften and glide, be gradual as you shift. Keep breathing, keep being, you've got this.