For thousands of years, people across Ireland, Scotland and Wales marked the winter solstice with stone, fire, water and evergreen. At Newgrange in Ireland, a chamber built 5,000 years ago still catches a single beam of midwinter sunrise. This Journey carries that teaching home: light finds its way into the darkest places.
Each day from December 15 to 21, you follow one thread of solstice wisdom, rooted in history, science and folklore, and bring it into your body through breath and simple ritual at home.
Practices released day by day
Six guided breath sessions that open one each day and grow longer as the nights grow longer, at 20, 20, 30, 40, 40 and 50 minutes. Practice whenever it suits you.
A live 60 minute solstice breath ceremony on Zoom on the evening of December 21, with the replay sent to everyone.
The Journey edition of the Winter Solstice Breath and Ceremony Guide, with teachings, rituals and journal pages for all seven days.
Solstice Hearth recipes for tea, oatcakes, wassail and the Welsh calennig apple.
A seven day solstice poem you write one line at a time, then read aloud on solstice night.
The Stone Chamber, The Long Night, Redding, Saining, The Evergreen, The Hearth Fire and First Light.
This Journey is for you if
you feel the pull to slow down instead of speeding up this season
you want a meaningful way to close the year and set your intentions for the next
you love ritual, breath and the old ways, but want them grounded in truth
No breathwork experience is needed. If you are pregnant or have a heart condition, high blood pressure, epilepsy, glaucoma or a history of panic attacks, please check with your doctor before the deeper sessions.
With warmth and breath,
Dallas McKenzie, Weaving Wisdoms
Tuesday, December 15 · Arriving in the dark
We begin by slowing down and settling in. Inspired by the ancient stone chambers built to catch the solstice sun, today is about finding stillness in the dark and setting up your altar for the week.
Inside: a 20 minute guided breath session, your first altar piece (a stone and an unlit candle), your first thread and the first line of your solstice poem.