Midwinter's Eve
December 21st - Happy Midwinter’s Eve!
Believe it or not, the wheel of the year has turned once again and the days will get longer from here on in, that is from Saturday December 21st, which marks the Winter Solstice. Carrying on from my recent ‘wintering’ article however, I’m taking time to look at the positives that surround the Winter Solstice to ensure we keep our spirits up and continue with our self care.
Also, I have written a midwinter scene - good for visualisation. There’s a midwinter verse and not least, some seasonal country outfit inspiration from my December country-style look book.
Incidentally, if you wish to explore more wellbeing tips for the depths of winter, and if you haven’t already read it, then please do check out my ‘wintering’ blog here:
Unless otherwise stated, all landscape photography is my own.
Winter Solstice
Marking the return of the light and celebrating the birth of the new Solar year, there is something impenetrable and mysterious about Winter solstice. It signifies rebirth and renewal and it is the time to plant a seed in your consciousness and access your dreams and ambitions. Sometimes referred to as the festival of Yule, it’s generally considered a time of hope with the newborn sun offering a fresh start.
Winter is often full of days which are dreary and overcast. On the longest night, all nature sleeps. Coldness and a death like stillness grips the earth. The mood is often sullen and it’s hard to even begin to imagine that during this time of intense coldness, damp and darkness, that celebration can occur, however the Winter solstice is indeed just that. On the day of the Winter solstice, when the sun next rises, the year will have turned once again towards longer days. It is this we celebrate, the transition back into light from the darkest point.
Rituals
Light candles each night from midwinter to New Year to bring abundance. Create a feast to brighten the darkest day of the year. You can even burn a yule log - traditionally oak, and tend to it to ensure it will not go out for the solstice day, bringing light and warmth.
A Scene from Midwinter
Midwinter brings a landscape that is eerie and quiet; an emotional timbre left to filter through the trees – now weighted with snow - and across the white expanse. The silence holds me captive, laden with the threat of darkness that will soon fall - a looming presence. The days to date have been short, teasing us with their verse of abrasive winds, stray snowflakes and sharp frosts. Snowdrifts resemble a desert landscape clothed in white linen, as the light from the Oak moon wanes.
In the morning, to the east, the sun slowly rises. There’s a pink hue to the sky, just above bare treetops that are flanked by mists. The fields beyond dusted white, laying promise to another bitterly cold day.
The distant ghostly echoes of the harsh landscape render me alone. Wildlife is scarce, aware of the elements, yet both a blackbird and a robin hop about the fields – their timid hearts display blends of warmth and determination, despite a brutal winter. They refrain from the melancholy of the season, springlike and jovial in their movements, yet their song remains muted. For now, shelter awaits among the depths of the wooded hills and heathlands.
A Midwinter’s Verse
The first day of Midwinter, dawns crisp and cold
The sun a gentle glow
The farmland blanketed in a fleece
One of pure fresh snow.
A season of purity, a season of magic
We embrace these enchanted lands
Fields of frozen beauty extend
As far as the eye can see.
The late afternoon sun dips, slightly, below the trees,
A robin settles atop a kissing gate, vibrant is its sweet song
The moon gently reveals itself, amid the darkening sky,
Nightfall won't be long.
Underfoot, the familiar crack of ice upon the woodland floor
While crows gather overhead, releasing their startled cries
As the clocks strike four.
The smell of woodsmoke lingers and shifts, potent in the air
To feel, is to see and taste, all that is a blessing, all that is fair
Distant, bare trees, smudged with blue mist
Create their ghostly silhouettes
The beauty of this world, let us not forget.
Hands thrust deep inside pockets, alone with thoughts
Midwinters day passed like the drifting leaves in an Autumn storm
T’was very short.
For now, we welcome steaming mugs of sweet hot tea
All memories of the first hoar frost glinting in the mind’s eye
An image that resembles the wild and free.
Country Outfit Inspiration
Darkest December: The coldness continues. It’s time to go in search of more outfit inspiration! Think earthy tones and plenty of cosy layers.
Winter Facial Treats
Give you skin a seasonal treat with Elemis skin bliss capsules. These lovely fragrant facial oil capsules (rose for morning and lavender for evening) really help skin that is suffering from getting dried out with all those biting cold winds. The infusion of rose each morning really is bliss! Pro Radiance illuminating flash balm brightens a dull complexion while Chanel’s lip colour adds some warmth - that uplifting splash of colour - and is specially ultra hydrating. Nivea SPF 15 hydrating lip balm is also a good go-to anytime of year. Biovene Retinol Day Lift is a smoothing and cost effective moisture solution for your face with some excellent results for ageing skin.
Scents of the Season and the Warmth of Words
Who doesn’t love the warmth of candlelight this season? Create some cosy hygge moments at home with my favourite picks from The White Company - ‘Nordic Woods’ and ‘Fireside’.
Meanwhile, cosy up with some seasonal reads:
The Lost Spells - Robert Macfarlane / Jackie Morris
The Old Magic of Christmas- Yuletide Traditions for the Darkest Days of the Year - Linda Raedisch
The Return of the Light - Carolyn McVickar Edwards
Nature Tales for Winter Nights - Nancy Campbell
