Solstice Reflections - A Checkpoint

With only a few days left before the end of my Solstice Reflections experiment, I thought it would be neat to check in and reflect on how things are going.

What's worked to date:

• establishing a writing routine - writing a post the night before, reviewing it one last time the next morning before posting
• writing about what happened that day, pulling from current experiences and observations
• that being said, having a few posts researched and written ahead of time to pull from on nights I was busy or tired helped too!
• listening to my intuition - if a post didn't feel natural or right, I looked for something else that rang true
• creating ritual, lighting a candle and being still for a few moments before writing
• letting go of perfection

Challenges:

• breaking my writing routine - I felt a need to scramble to catch up, writing two posts in one day to fall back into schedule
• neglecting ritual and focus - this seems to be happening more now as Christmas preparations come to a climax; I find I don't get as much out of writing when I'm distracted and feeling in a rush to post, the reflection part is missing
• letting go of perfection

The experiment has been good to date, but not always easy. Although the subject of spiritual reflection is very rewarding to explore, delving into it daily can be draining. Also, combined with Holiday preparations my reflections risked becoming yet another item on the list to check off.

But overall I'm happy. Not only am I meeting a commitment I made to myself (although there are still a few days left!), I am also welcoming and exploring a renewed connection to my Higher Power - a connection I believe could only have happened through deliberate reflection. Reflection spurred by the Winter Solstice.

A Solstice Experiment

For the past few weeks I've been mulling over a creative project linked to the Winter Solstice - a countdown complete with quotes, prompts, questions and reflections. Truth be told, the idea of countdown to the Solstice has been percolating in this pretty little head of mine for the past three years; only now do I feel ready to experiment with the creation of a new blog: Solstice Reflections.

Now don't get me wrong, I am very much a Christmas person - Christmas decorations a plenty, Christmas books, Christmas CDs that stack up to about a foot. I love Christmas gatherings, A Charlie Brown Christmas and when the Grinch's heart grows three sizes that day it makes me weep.

I've come to realize though, that the Winter Solstice holds more spiritual significance for me. I feel a deep connection to the Divine through Mother Nature, her cycles and December's transition from darkness to light.

Although I will continue posting here at the Urban Living Experiment, I invite you to join me as I experiment with a journey of creative expression and spiritual reflection at Solstice Reflections - a December travel blog for the soul if you wish. :)

Hope to see you there.