Winter Solstice

In another year that has unfolded so unpredictably, the upcoming winter solstice, offers us a timely and intensely powerful opportunity to go within ourselves, and take a deep pause.

The Winter Solstice in 2025 is on Sunday, December 21st, marking the shortest day and official start of winter. The winter solstice happens when the Earth’s North Pole is tilted furthest from the Sun, causing the Sun’s path to appear lowest in the sky and its journey to “stand still” before reversing.  The night after the solstice is great for stargazing, with the Ursid meteor shower peaking and bright Jupiter visible in the constellation Gemini.

The word solstice comes from the Latin “sol” meaning sun and “sistere” meaning to stand still.  For a few days either side of the solstice the change in the noontime elevation of the sun is so small, its path appears to stand still.

The upcoming 10 days are therefore an ideal time to sit still and quietly reflect on the passing of another unprecedented year, and to invite that which no longer serves us to drop away, making space for new opportunities and a fresh start that 2026 heralds.

A friends daughter said to me ‘My mum says a bit of dirt’s good for your moon system’.  It took me a few moments to realise what she meant.  I prefer the idea of our moon system rather than our ‘immune system’!

A vitamin D supplement is an essential part of a good winter wellness kit for most people.  Low vitamin D levels have been linked to various conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis – but also to depression, which can be particularly relevant if you experience SAD.  Taking supplemental magnesium can lower your vitamin D need by 146%. Vitamin K2 is another important cofactor and taking both magnesium and vitamin K2 can lower your vitamin D requirement by as much as 244%.