The Winter Solstice takes place in the northern hemisphere on Tuesday, December 22, 2016 at 8:04 Greenwich Mean Time, which is 3:40 pm U.S. Eastern Time. It marks the longest night of the year, when the Earth is tilting farthest from the sun, and ushers in a new year and the time of growing light.

Kelly Brogan, Cornelia Mazzan, Lea Pica, Nell McCarthy Gibbon, and I participated in a beautiful Winter Solstice retreat yesterday led by the inspired Summer Quashie at Seven Arrows in Rumson, NJ. Amidst the busy-ness of our varied religious, familial, and bustling activities of the holiday season, we offer some simple ideas for a beautiful ritual to connect our celebrations to the majesty and mystery of Mother Earth.

Why celebrate the Winter Solstice?

There are many wonderful reasons to celebrate, and none of them require abnegation of long-standing religious and familial traditions. Consider:

• If you feel that the holidays have become too crassly commercial and materialistic, embrace a new ritual that has absolutely nothing to do with shopping.
• How about another wonderful reason to get your clan outside?
• With our many creature comforts, it’s easy to get out of sync with Nature’s rhythms.
• Each of us is a mere dot on a star, spinning in space. We can all use more reminders that our cares and woes are truly inconsequential before the vastness and glory of nature.
• Everyone loves to build, and be warmed by, a fire.

Ideas for a Winter Solstice celebration

Here are some ideas to mark the solstice with family and friends:

#1: CALL IN THE FOUR DIRECTIONS

A prayer to the four directions has its roots in Native American culture. We summon guidance from our Creator by acknowledging that all humans are blessed by the qualities of the four cardinal directions.

The East — Enlighten Us.
The direction from which the sun comes. Light dawns in the morning and spreads over the earth, in the beginning of a new day. It is the beginning of understanding and the source of wisdom.

The South — Warm Us.
The direction of warmth and growth, because the sun is at its highest in the southern sky. The sun draws life from earth and home. Life of all things comes from the south, on winds that are balmy and pleasant.

The West — Renew and Refresh Us.
The direction towards which the day ends. The great Thunderbird lives in the west and sends thunder and rain from this direction. The West is the source of vital, life-giving water.

The North — Strengthen Us.
The direction from which the cold, cleansing winds of winter come. The North stands for hardship and endurance, conferring perseverance, patience, and a firm foundation.

Summer Quashie adds Earth, Heavens, and Heart, for a total of seven directions.

#2: CLEAR OUT LAST YEAR’S ENERGY WITH SMUDGING

Another Native American practice is the practice of smudging, which uses certain herbs, such as sage and sandalwood, to purify and clear away negative energy. Burn these herbs in a clay or ceramic bowl, or toss them into the fire, and use your hands to “bathe” yourself in the smoke. This Spirituality & Health article says that burning these herbs releases negative ions, which research says is tied to a more positive mood.

#3: LIGHT A CANDLE OR A BONFIRE

Honor the return of the light — the sun’s rays — and the wisdom of the prophets who inspire and illuminate us. Candles symbolize spiritual enlightenment.

#4: TRY SUNGAZING

Sungazing is the act of looking directly into the sun, in the brief moments as the sun is rising or just before it sets. Devotees swear by both its health benefits and spiritual gifts. I tried it for the first time on Sunday evening and was blown away by the interplay of light, color, and warmth.

#5: SING, DANCE, RING A BELL

Raise the energy and vibration of your observance by singing or dancing. Go outside a few minutes before sunrise or sunset and greet the arriving or departing sun by ringing a bell. The chimes ring out the importance of clarity and serve as a meditative focus. It wards off negativity and symbolizes harmony and pure potential.

#6: PRAY OR SURRENDER A BURDEN

Write prayers for self, family, and humanity or release a burden or two by writing them on a slip of paper and placing it in the fire.

#7: GROUND YOUR INTENTION

Chant, assume a yoga Child’s Pose, stand outside on the earth, or try a Qi Gong grounding exercise. I like the one that Joyce Virani shared with us. It is similar to this one I found online, which I paraphrase and modify slightly:

• Stand tall, relax, tune into your breath, and ground your feet. For each of the following, breathe deeply three times as you hold each of the following positions:
• Imagine you are holding a large ball of energy in your arms, with your fingertips almost touching at about the height of your pubic bone.
• Imagine that you are lifting your ball of energy and raise your hands so that your fingertips are almost touching at chest level.
• Imagine that you are lifting your ball of energy over your head so that your fingertips are almost touching above the crown of your skull.
• Now reverse this procedure – move your ball to chest level, hold, then when you are ready move your ball back down to the starting position. After the final breath, release your hands and return to the basic standing posture.

Tune into body and mind and notice how you feel.

#8: CLOSE THE SACRED SPACE

Express gratitude for our many blessings, including the opportunity to be with loved ones and share this ritual together. Honor God and Creator, and release the energies back to the four corners of the Earth.

We wish for you a beautiful holiday that fills your soul and inspires you to embrace the coming new year with joy.

Louise Kuo Habakus is Executive Director of Fearless Parent and host and producer of Fearless Parent Radio.