Select Videos, Winter Solstice Inspirations
In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer. Albert Camus Each month, Succeed and Soar shares short videos chosen to lift the heart and spirit, awareness and humanity. Saturday, December 21, 2024, the Sun paused its southward journey across the Tropic of Capricorn’s stars. After a moment, the Sun reversed course. For Earth’s northern lands, the Winter Solstice finished the year’s longest night. For the next six months, sunlit days lengthen. Insights on this celestial turning point include, May you find peace in the promise of the solstice night, that each day forward is blessed with more light. That the cycle of nature, unbroken and true, brings faith to your soul and well-being to you. Rejoice in the darkness, in the silence find rest, and may the days that follow be abundantly blessed. — Unknown Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it. — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost; the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. — J.R.R. Tolkien These encouragements join others beautifully presented in Renewal, my newest, inspirational book offered below. Following are short videos presenting different solstice traditions. Joyous holidays! Blessings, best wishes and enjoy the featured and accompanying videos below. Sandra Gould Ford Presenting art to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thing and inspire. Comment Click Here to View. Unexpected Origins of Christmas Traditions 3 MinutesAlso see Winter Solstice in Cree [Native American] Tradition. 1 minute How to Play Dreidel, a Hannukah Game, 1 minute 30 seconds History of Yule Log, 3 minutes, Journals Record your dreams, hopes, plans and achievements in these beautiful, inspiring notebooks. Details: 6” x 8, spiral notebook 120 pages, ruled on both sides Art printed on front Cover is thick paper stock. Back cover is medium gray Inside front and back covers have pockets for storing extra paper and pens View All Notebooks Thanks for shopping!
Soul Words: The Present Moment & Mindfulness
Winter Solstice Traditions 2-Minute Video Click here to View The Present is the point at which Time touches eternity. C.S. Lewis December 21 is Winter Solstice. Viewed from Earth, the Sun ‘moves’ from the constellation Sagittarius to Capricorn. Above our planet’s equator, the year’s longest night is experienced. In some places, the sun won’t even ‘rise’ [for 40 days in Murmansk] , which requires making our own light, especially inside. For 2022, Succeed and Soar promised healing, uplifting “Soul Songs” at the eight celestial turning points. This year’s octad concludes with: Mindfulness. Each of us is magical. We can time travel, experiencing our pasts and possible futures. These journeys can bring joy and security. Otherwise, as Anthony James said, “Remind yourself: You can only deal with the present moment. Everything else is a memory, a hope or a fear.” The Mayo Clinic describes Mindfulness as, “a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment.” Eckhart Tolle, author of The Power of Now added, When you make the present moment, instead of past and future, the focal point of your life, your ability to enjoy what you do and with it the quality of your life increases dramatically. [free The Power of Now download] Mindfulness benefits can include: Higher brain functioning, increased immunity and less anxiety [see Positive Psychology] Also, less depression, improved memory and stronger relationships [see Very Well Mind] How to pause and use all five senses to live in the here and now? WikiHow offers these 14, steps with pictures. ENLIGHTENING, SHORT VIDEOS: Let Go of What’s Keeping You from This Moment [1 minute] Mindful Breathing for Anxiety [4 minutes] How to Get Into the Present Moment in 10 Seconds [5 minutes] The Neuroscience of Mindfulness [9 minutes] Succeed & Soar! The Wisdoms Collection Shop Enriching and Beautiful Posters Click Here to Visit
Solstice
Face the Sun, and all your shadows fall behind you. – African Proverb A meditation When hydrogen atoms become helium deep inside the sun, gamma ray photons erupt releasing light and heat. After a 40,000-year journey to the surface, sunbeams are launched. Earth intercepts one in every half billion. On December 21st, the space between this planet and its closest star is ninety-one and a half million miles (147 million kilometers). The distance shortens in the planet’s northern hemisphere as it again tilts toward the sun. Solstice. Winter and a celestial new year begin. Before kindergarten, I knew a sunbeam took eight minutes and 20 seconds to reach Earth because of a cereal commercial about raisins. My family lived on Delmont Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Beltzhoover neighborhood. Across the brick lane, McKinley Park was filled with trees. Buttercups grew along the walk. I had a puppy and a tricycle that my mother painted with polka dots and wove ribbons through the big, front wheel. Back then, I believed I could run fast enough to keep up with the sun as it slow-poked across the sky. I also knew not to zoom beyond our neighbor’s yard. So, maybe I’ll try outracing the sun next year. The Wisdoms Collection Shop Enriching and Beautiful Posters Click Here