In the Shadow of Solstice: A Sound as Medicine Reflection

As we move through the stillness of the Winter Solstice and into the velvet quiet of the dark moon, we enter a liminal space, the fertile void where light is reborn and new beginnings stir beneath the surface.

This is a sacred moment. A place between worlds.

A pause between the out-breath and the in-breath.

A whisper before the song.

It was from within this inky, rich darkness that Shannon and I co-facilitated Sound as Medicine. A full spectrum sound immersion and co-creation rooted in rest, resonance and reconnection. Held in the heart of Shala Wellness, this offering was a sanctuary for those seeking to attune to the seasonal shift and honour their own inner descent.

We wove together a tapestry of tools:

• Tuning forks placed with intention on acupoints, awakening the body’s meridian lines

• The deep pulse of drums and the shimmer of crystal bowls

• Guided breath and yoga nidra

• Gentle hands and sacred touch

• Moon Ritual Oil, supporting emotional alchemy and spiritual remembering

It was an afternoon of slowing down, releasing what no longer served and calling in new intentions. All while softening into the Winter rhythm and truth that healing begins not in striving, but in stillness.

A Meeting of Shadows: Solstice and Dark Moon

Both the Winter Solstice and the dark moon bring us face to face with our shadow. Not a force to be shamed or suppressed, but to be honoured as part of the whole. As we emerge from the longest night of the year and into the final exhale of the lunar cycle, we’re invited to sit with what remains.

This is not the time to rush into the light. It is a time to gather the lessons, to feel, to soften, to listen.

The dark moon carries the same invitation as the solstice:

Let go.

Empty out.

Trust in the unseen.

Home Rituals for This Threshold

If you feel the call to honour this sacred in-between, here are a few gentle rituals to support your journey:

Dark Moon Tea + Journaling Ritual

Brew a calming tea like chamomile or peppermint. In soft lighting, journal to the prompt:

• What am I no longer willing to carry?

• What truth is ready to rise within me?

Let your pen become a tool of release.

Tuning into Stillness

Standing barefoot on the earth, with one hand on your heart and one on your belly. Inhale slowly, exhale completely. Imagine, through your exhale breath, you are sending a low hum or tone vibrating through your body and into the earth. Releasing what no longer serves with this breath. On your next inhale, feel the breath rise from the earth and up to your heart. Calling in a new intention, feeling that vibration at your heart centre. Continue this process for as long as feels nourishing.

Anoint + Ground

Anoint your third eye, heart and soles of your feet with a vibrational essence or grounding oil blend. Try the Moon Ritual Oil for its releasing, calming and intuitive properties. Breathe in and offer a quiet prayer to this gentle pause before the returning light.

As we cross this sacred bridge from solstice into the shadow of the moon, may we remember that creation begins in the dark. That true clarity is born in silence. And that healing, like the sun, always returns.

May your path be illuminated from within.

In resonance,

Ash ✧