The Gifts of Darkness and Light

Reflections on the Solstice and Finding Meaning in the Cycles of Dark and Light

On December 21st, the earth tilts into its deepest pause. The winter solstice arrives, bringing with it the longest night and the shortest day of the year. For many, it feels heavy — a day that embodies the starkness of winter, the absence of light, the weight of long evenings and late dawns.

But for me, December 21st has always held something more. It isn’t just the darkest day of the year — it’s my wedding anniversary.

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A Solstice Wedding

Twenty years ago, under a crisp blue sky, I walked into one of the brightest, most joy-filled days of my life. It was the solstice, yet the day glowed with light — luminous and cold, but beautiful in that sharp, sparkling way only winter can be.

That night, as the longest darkness of the year wrapped itself around us, we celebrated with family and friends. There was warmth, laughter, music, dancing, and the glow of candles against the winter night. Even now, two decades later, I never see December 21st as the darkest day. For me, it will always be a day of light, of joy, of love, and of the promise that even in winter, life is worth celebrating.

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The Turning Point of the Year

The solstice is more than a date on the calendar. It is a hinge in the year’s rhythm — the moment the darkness peaks, and then begins to give way. From this day onward, light returns. Slowly at first, just a few extra minutes each day. But enough to remind us that no season lasts forever, and spring will come again.

Nature teaches us that darkness has its place. Plants rest in the soil, drawing energy inward. Animals hibernate or slow their pace. Even the land itself seems to sleep, waiting to be renewed.

And yet, within that darkness, the light is already returning. Renewal is on its way. The solstice is a reminder of both: that darkness is necessary, but that light is always promised.

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The Gifts of Darkness

• Rest and restoration. Darkness invites us to slow down, to sleep, to recover.
• Stillness. It gives us permission to stop striving and simply be.
• Reflection. In the quiet, we see more clearly what has passed and what we want to carry forward.
• Depth. Like roots growing unseen in the soil, darkness allows hidden growth that later becomes visible.

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The Gifts of Light

• Renewal. Each dawn reminds us that no night lasts forever.
• Hope. Even the smallest flame makes a difference in the dark.
• Joy. Light brings warmth, colour, life.
• Balance. We appreciate light more deeply because we have known the dark.

The solstice teaches us that one is never without the other. Darkness holds lessons; light holds promise. Together, they shape the rhythm of our days.

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✨ 5 Simple Ways to Honour the Solstice

If you’d like to mark the solstice in your own way, here are some gentle practices to try:

1. Light a Candle at Sunset – honour the turning of the year by bringing light into the longest night.
2. Write & Release – jot down what you wish to let go of from the past year, and symbolically release it (burn, bury, or simply fold away).
3. Welcome the Light – write a hope or intention for the coming year, something to carry into the days as they lengthen.
4. Share a Meal by Candlelight – gather loved ones around a table lit only by candles, a simple feast to celebrate togetherness.
5. Take a Walk at Dusk or Dawn – step outside to notice the winter sky, the hush of nature, and the promise of returning light.

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For me, December 21st will never be just the darkest day of the year. It will always be the day I said yes to love, to family, to joy in the heart of winter. A day when light filled the darkest night.

But beyond personal memories, the solstice itself carries a universal truth: that life is made of cycles, and each has its place. Darkness teaches us to rest, to reflect, to grow unseen. Light teaches us to hope, to renew, to begin again.

And perhaps that is the greatest gift of all — to know that in every winter, the light will return.

“The solstice whispers this promise: the darkness is never final, and the light always comes back.”

Chat soon,

Ciara x