Ebbing and Flowing with the Seasons: Finding Balance During the Winter Solstice

As the days shorten and the chill of winter settles in, the Winter Solstice offers a powerful moment of reflection. The darkest day of the year can feel heavy for many, especially for those who experience seasonal depression. Yet, from a holistic perspective, this seasonal transition is not merely about surviving the darkness but learning to embrace its wisdom.

As a marriage and family student intern therapist (that’s such a mouth full), I often work with individuals and couples navigating seasonal depression, helping them find balance within themselves and their relationships. The seasons offer a beautiful framework for understanding our emotional cycles, and the Winter Solstice is a poignant reminder that even in darkness, there is growth, healing, and the promise of light.

The Wisdom of the Seasons

Nature ebbs and flows—each season serving a purpose. Spring invites renewal, summer brings vitality, autumn encourages release, and winter calls us inward. Yet, we often resist winter’s energy, trying to push through its stillness with the same pace and productivity as sunnier months. This resistance creates an emotional dissonance, amplifying feelings of sadness, fatigue, and disconnection.

By aligning with the rhythms of the season, we can ease this struggle. Winter is not asking us to resist; it’s inviting us to rest, reflect, and nurture the seeds of what’s to come.

The Winter Solstice: An Invitation to Slow Down

The Winter Solstice, with its long night and brief day, is a reminder to honor the darkness rather than fear it. Darkness is not an absence but a space for introspection, healing, and renewal. For those experiencing seasonal depression, this shift in perspective can be empowering. Instead of dreading the quiet and stillness, we can lean into it as a time for restoration.

Everyone knows nowadays that people ‘have complexes’. What is not so well known, though far more important theoretically, is that complexes can have us. – Carl Jung

Here are some holistic practices to help you ebb and flow with the seasons:

1. Create Rituals of Reflection

The Solstice marks a turning point—a time to pause and reflect. Consider journaling about the year behind you: What have you learned? What do you need to release? Rituals like lighting candles, meditating, or creating a vision board for the coming year can help anchor this reflective energy.

Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate. -Carl Yung

2. Embrace the Power of Rest

Winter is nature’s reminder that rest is essential for growth. Give yourself permission to slow down without guilt. Whether it’s cozying up with a book, indulging in naps, or practicing restorative yoga, lean into rest as an act of self-care and resistance against the hustle culture.

I’ve realized that somebody who’s tired and needs a rest, and goes on working all the same is a fool. -Carl Jung

3. Build Community and Connection

Winter can feel isolating, so it’s important to nurture connections. This might look like spending intentional time with loved ones, starting a gratitude practice with your partner, or seeking support through therapy. Connection reminds us that we’re not alone in the darkness.

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves. -Carl Yung

4. Tune into Your Body’s Rhythms

Seasonal shifts affect us physically as well as emotionally. Support your body with warm, nourishing foods, herbal teas, and gentle movement. Honor your need for more sleep and sunlight by taking short walks during daylight hours or using light therapy to boost your mood.

There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophies. - Friedrich Nietzche

5. Cultivate Inner Light

While the outer world is dark, winter invites us to cultivate inner light. This might involve practicing mindfulness, affirming your self-worth, or creating a gratitude list. Remember, even in the deepest darkness, you carry light within you.

Affirmations:

1. I am grounded in the present moment, where peace flows effortlessly through me.

2. I trust my inner wisdom to guide me with clarity and strength.

3. With every breath, I release tension and welcome serenity.

4. I honor the stillness within me as a source of power and renewal.

5. The answers I seek are already within; I am aligned with my higher self.

The Role of Relationships in Seasonal Transitions

Winter’s introspective energy can also be a time to strengthen relationships. As a student intern therapist, I encourage couples to view this season as an opportunity to deepen intimacy. Share your fears, dreams, and reflections with your partner. Engage in activities that foster connection, like cooking together, taking evening walks, or creating shared rituals.

Introspection helps marital relationships by fostering self-awareness and emotional clarity. When individuals reflect on their feelings, behaviors, and patterns, they better understand their needs and triggers. This awareness reduces reactive communication and enhances empathy, enabling partners to respond with compassion and understanding. Introspection also promotes personal growth, allowing each partner to bring their best selves to the relationship, deepening trust and intimacy.

For families, the Winter Solstice can be a time to teach children about the rhythms of nature and the importance of honoring rest. Encourage storytelling, craft seasonal decorations, or share a Solstice meal together. These moments create a sense of warmth and unity, countering the chill of the season.

Embracing the Light Ahead

The beauty of the Solstice lies in its promise: even the longest night gives way to the light. Seasonal depression can feel overwhelming, but by flowing with the seasons rather than fighting them, we create space for healing and hope.

Winter reminds us that growth happens in cycles—that rest and reflection are as vital as action. As you honor this season’s energy, remember that darkness is not the end but a fertile ground for renewal. The light is already on its way.

If you’re struggling to find balance this season, know that you’re not alone. Therapy, community, and intentional practices can help you navigate the dark and rediscover your inner light. Together, let’s honor the rhythms of nature and find strength in every season.

With warmth and light,

Ashlee