In addition to being the shortest day of the year, the upcoming winter solstice on Monday has had deep cultural and spiritual meaning for humanity for eons.
Bonnie Wallace Dance founder Bonnie Wallace says the winter solstice is the perfect time to focus on developing creativity, seeking new perspectives, and finding inspiration.
That’s why she hosted a special event on Sunday titled “Getting Creative: A Winter Solstice Virtual Retreat” to help guests “recharge and connect to your creative genius so you can re-emerge into a new you for the new year,” according to the event website.
The daylong online retreat included hands-on activities focused on meditation, movement, music, creating, and collaborating, organizers said.
The winter solstice has long been a time for people to gather supplies and prepare for the cold months ahead, Wallace said. The idea behind retreat is similar.
“Our collective ancestors have been celebrating the winter solstice even before the ancient Egyptians,” she said. “Stonehenge, of course, was built for both the summer and the winter solstice… and there is another even older temple in Ireland connected to Stonehenge called Newgrange. And this was very significant for the winter solstice in particular.
“For them, it was really a time of celebration. It was the shortest day. So after that day, the days would start to get longer, which for them is a good thing. But of course, it’s also midwinter and the, and the winter is going to be brutal,” according to Wallace.
Animals would be slaughtered in preparation for the winter, leading to a traditional harvest feast, she said. As Christianity spread, the winter solstice was assimilated into Western culture as the Christmas season.
More information about Bonnie Wallace Dance can be found at powersourcedance.com.
