Solstice is the longest day of the year with the sun at its peak. Or, in the winter, the solstice is the shortest day of the year, with the darkness at its peak. Not just another day on the calendar, it represents the balance between light and darkness, a reflection of our own duality.

The sun is at its peak and there is a renewal of hope after the long winter’s darkness. It’s also a reminder of our cosmic connection which seems so strained in the hustle culture of our modern world, where artificial lights and unnatural rhythms blur the lines of day and night, confounding our neurotransmitters and circadian rhythms. Is it any wonder so many of us feel disconnected and depressed?

We have lost touch with nature and forgotten our place in it. But, solstice is not a day to wade in the murky waters of sadness and despair. It is a reminder that no matter how much darkness we’ve experienced, we can lift our head toward the sun, feel its warmth on our skin, its light on our face, and choose to move toward the light.

While the darkness may feel familiar, we know we are not meant to stay there. We are not meant to settle in life. Even when we may not feel it, there is light within our soul.  We are meant to honour that spark of light within and nurture its brilliance. After all, we are reflections of its radiance.

The photo showcases apples from my century-old apple tree, named Solstice. Its apples have a bright and citrusy flavour that taste like apple lemonade. The apples even look like miniature suns with their brilliant yellow colour, with hints of a sun-kissed blush.

© Michelle Schoffro Cook  DrMichelleCook.com