Hey Everyone! Happy Solstice season!

On December 21st, in the Northern Hemisphere, we experience the Winter Solstice-the shortest day and the longest night of the year.

Darkness reaches its peak, and from this point the days will gradually become longer.

Also, the Sun enters Capricorn at this time, and this is the symbol of the mountain goat initiating its climb up the mountain, paralleling the Sun’s slow ascent.

THIS IS A TIME TO HONOUR THE SUN, ITS “DEATH” & RE-EMERGENCE

And to me, this is truly when we start our new year. So what are some ways that we can celebrate and honour this special time?

Here are some of my tips!

3 TIPS TO HONOUR THE WINTER SOLSTICE

1. BURN FRANKINCENSE

Frankincense has one of the highest vibrating scents- and it is my personal favourite! It also corresponds to the Sun and the Divine Masculine.

You can also burn frankincense with myrrh. Frankincense and myrrh have always gone hand in hand. Myrrh is also a sacred healing resin, and carries the energy of the Moon and the Divine Feminine.

In the story of Jesus’s birth, it is said that he was visited by three magi bearing gifts of frankincense, myrrh and gold. The gold represented the wealth that comes from the union of the King and Queen, aka the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine.

Burn this incense to bring sacredness, well-being and prosperity to you and your home.

2. TRY THIS COOKIE RECIPE

ROSEMARY AND ORANGE ARE PLANTS THAT CORRESPOND TO THE SUN. SO WE CAN CELEBRATE BY USING THESE SOLAR INGREDIENTS IN SOME FESTIVE COOKIES.

I made this recipe last year, and it was delicious!

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies with Orange Rosemary and Cranberries

• 2 cups (250 grams) spelt flour (or flour of choice)
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 1/4 cups dark chocolate chips (chocolate with 60 percent cocoa content or higher)
• 1/2 cup (100 grams) sugar or crystallized coconut blossom nectar
• 1/2 cup (110 grams) packed light or dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon safflower oil (or grapeseed or any other neutral oil)
• 1/4cup plus 1 tablespoon water
• Coarse-grained sea salt or flaky sea salt for garnish
• 1/2 to 1 1/2 tablespoon coarsely chopped rosemary
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries
• About 8 drops pure orange essential oil

1. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the chocolate chips, rosemary and cranberries to the flour mixture and toss to coat.
2. In a separate large bowl, whisk the sugars briskly with the oil and water until smooth and mixed, about 2 minutes. Note: Use fresh, soft light brown sugar. If there are clumps, break them up with the back of a spoon or your hand before whisking.
3. Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture, and then stir with a wooden spoon or a rubber spatula until just combined and no flour is visible. Add in orange essential oil. Do not overmix.
4. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes. Do not skip this step.
5. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line two rimmed sheet pans with parchment paper. Remove dough from the refrigerator and use an ice cream scoop or a spoon to portion dough into 2-inch mounds.
6. Sprinkle the balls of dough with coarse-grained sea salt, and bake for about 12 minutes, or until the edges are just golden. Do not overbake.
7. Let cool completely before serving.

3. TAKE TIME TO REVIEW AND REVISE YOUR PLANS

Mercury went retrograde in 15 degrees Capricorn on the 19th of this month, and will be in this position until the 8th of January.

That means you still have plenty of time to revise and reassess your plans for the new year. Even into the beginning of January, it is not the time to make big actions just yet.

You can ask yourself:

• What did not work for me in 2016?
• What would be good to release? (This could be beliefs that are not serving you, situations/relationships, habits, old emotions, etc.)
• Which plans are in line with my heart and higher purpose for 2017? Which ones shall I discard or revise?

Side Note: These plans could be career oriented (since Capricorn is the sign of career and finances), but you could look at which house 15 degrees of Capricorn is in on your personal birth chart, to see what part of your life could be reviewed.

Here is a map of the astrological houses, and with just some of their many themes.

And if you’re living in the Southern Hemisphere, happy Summer Solstice! We wouldn’t want to forget you so head here for your dedicated Summer Solstice blog post :)

Sending much love to you all.

Happy new year!!