Felicity Evans
What is the Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice happens twice a year: once in the Northern Hemisphere and once in the Southern Hemisphere as the middle point of the winter season when the earths tilt is the furthest away from the Sun.
It’s the highlight of our family calendar and a special time to really enjoy the darkness and sense of stillness that settles over the hemisphere. Obviously, when we celebrate the Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, the Northern Hemisphere is having their Summer Solstice. My kids call this time of year “King Winter” as the wind blows colder and the earth seems sleepy, cold and dark.
The Winter Solstice, also called Midwinter, falls on the shortest day and longest night, and typically the tradition is to bring more light and luminosity to this dark Period by lighting candles, putting on a fire and generally bringing more warmth and light to this time. I think of it as encouraging the sun to come out from behind the dark starry sky.
I have a tradition with my daughters to always make hot spiced apple (heat up apple juice with warming spices like cinnamon, clove, ginger, star anise, cardamom, juniper berries) and have a winter vegetable soup, like pumpkin with a handmade loaf of bread or cheese scones. Yep, I love tradition!
What does ritual mean to you (and why are they so important)
Rituals are everything to me, especially as a mother to three daughters, and they are important because they mark the passage of time so poignantly.
Rituals needn’t be time consuming or expensive. The simple ritual of putting the kettle on for your afternoon cup of tea with a piece of dark chocolate to mark the half way point between lunch and dinner / work and play.
The ritual of gifting flowers and a thoughtful card to a friend going through a hard time. The ritual of giving yourself a hot bath after a long day. The ritual of a special cake on a Birthday. For me, rituals anchor in time and space and allow the memory of that time to linger.
My current favourite ritual is my morning Beauty Matcha with Miracle Collagen, organic rose petals powder, vanilla and coconut milk. A moment for myself amid the chaos, crazy and at times overwhelming balance of running my business and being a Mumma to three daughters.
What do your rituals for wellness include at this time
They will always include the following as the cornerstones: Remember these are low cost or free, easy to achieve and will measurably positively impact your wellness:
- Movement
- Sunshine
- Filtered water
- Sleep
- Harmonious relationships
- Green vegetables!
- Protein
- Magnesium supplement - I made the best one available CALM/SLEEP.
On a deeper level, if I can get in a regular sauna, quality time with my husband, 10 minutes of quiet in my week and a yoga class, I’m 10/10 winning!
How are you supporting your immunity
- Probiotics from our Beauty Renewal. Immune function primarily houses in the gut, and the gut is supported with probiotics.
- Sun for Vitamin D
- Sleep - the most underrated and free wellness tool you’ll find!
How do you prioritize self-care
In all honesty I feel like the busier I get the more I need to prioritise self care; but conversely, being so busy makes it harder to prioritise it! It essentially means I have to sacrifice some things to get the self care in. That might mean passing up a great opportunity in order to focus on self care, for example going for a walk or yoga class. A catch up with a friend might look like a walk in the sun after coffee. I also stack habits to make my time effort more economical and efficient.
What does presence mean to you
The absence of striving.
What can you not live without at this time
My daughters and husband.
Where can we find you
Instagram: @imbibeliving | @thefelicityevans
Where can we start our rituals:
