At the winter solstice, the earth stands still for a brief moment. This energy gives us the opportunity to pause, look inwards and reflect on ourselves.
When is the winter solstice?
The winter solstice takes place in December in the northern hemisphere and in June in the southern hemisphere. The days vary from year to year between 20 and 22 December. This year (2024) we have the longest night of the year on 21 December.
Winter solstice and Christianity
Christianity adopted many customs and traditions from ancient tribes such as the Germanic tribes and Celts. This was the only way for the rulers of the time to assert their claim to power and convert the ‘heathens’ to the new faith.
The winter solstice was one of the most important festivals of the year for our ancestors. The sun god was also worshipped at this time in Ancient Rome. It symbolised the birth of light. The winter solstice was thus transformed into Christmas and the birth of light was transformed into the birth of Jesus Christ.
Winter solstice and its significance in the world
The winter solstice was and still is a special festival around the world.
Many monuments and ritual sites, such as the pyramids in Egypt, stone circles and the famous STONENEHNGE in England are exactly aligned with the sun at the winter solstice.
The Native Americans celebrated the winter solstice just like the tribes in Europe. In Asian countries, the winter solstice is also considered a time for celebration. In ancient China, there was a saying: ‘The winter solstice is just as important as the spring festival’.
What do nuts have to do with Christmas and the winter solstice?
Nuts are very popular at Christmas time. But where does this custom, which is not only found in our neighbourhoods, come from?
Nuts symbolise the feminine power of Mother Earth. In winter, life energy and vitality begin to decline. The nutrient content of nuts was particularly important in earlier times to get through the winter well. According to traditional Chinese medicine, nuts are important for strengthening the kidneys, heart and brain.
Peanuts, walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts and almonds are not only found on our Christmas plates, but nuts are also highly valued in China and other countries at this time of year.
What rituals are performed on the winter solstice?
The winter solstice marks the rebirth of light! It is the longest night of the year and gradually brings us back the light.
In the Celtic annual cycle the winter solstice symbolises a new beginning. Preparations and plans are now being made for the new year. It's about designing something new, letting go of the old and creating something new.
Welcoming the light and the new
With a ritual you can consciously invite the light and the new into your life:
decorate your home with fir branches, flowers, nuts etc., create an altar of light
think about which new ‘baby’ you would like to welcome into your life, place it symbolically on your altar
Open yourself to everything new that is waiting for you. Let your fears pass and hand them over to the darkest night of the year
The wreath symbolises the cycle of life and the annual cycle. Tie a wreath made of natural materials and consciously weave in light and beauty. You can also make a circle with stones. Decorate this stone circle with healing stones, apples, nuts, feathers etc.
welcome the light of the new sun on the morning of the solstice (singing, praying, yoga, Qi Gong...)
Go out into nature on the evening of the winter solstice, take a walk in the forest. Connect with nature and its creatures
Light a candle and support your intentions and mental intentions with incense. Dammar, mugwort, juniper, myrrh, mistletoe and frankincense are particularly suitable for this purpose
If you have the opportunity to make a ritual fire, light it with the intention of giving birth to something new. Burn everything old in the ritual fire and welcome the new
You can find more interesting information about the winter solstice in Wolf-Dieter Storl's blog article:
Samhain is a Celtic annual festival and heralds the end of the year. It is celebrated on the night of 31 October to 1 November. The Celtic New Year begins on 1 November. It marks the end of summer, the entry into darkness and the end of the light-filled period. It is now about resting, regenerating, drawing on success, reflecting and coming to oneself, withdrawing and enjoying the darkness.
At Samhain, we find ourselves in an in-between time. The veils become thinner and thinner, the spiritual world comes closer to the human world. The connection to the other world becomes more intense. It is a magical in-between time.
The ancestor festival
Recently, I have been intensively studying different cultures and traditions. Ancestor worship in particular is something that people all over the world have in common and is practised with varying degrees of intensity. In modern times, remembering ancestors and their importance is increasingly being forgotten.
Samhain is a festival of the dead. The dead come closer and in ancient tradition food was placed before the deceased. The apple in particular symbolises life due to its rich ingredients and was an important source of vitamin C and minerals for the people of old. It was considered sacred and was therefore also used to honour ancestors.
When the dead are fed with special food, the dead bless the house so that its inhabitants get through the winter well.
Why is ancestor worship important?
Although the bodies of our ancestors, personalities and historical figures are no longer there, their energy remains. It transforms into transmitted energy, which in turn generates cosmic energy. When people forget their ancestors, their family and/or their nation, they throw away their original energy. However, it is this energy that carries us through life.
A connection to our ancestors also brings us back to our original energy, which strengthens our energy centres (chakras).
Samhain - honour your ancestors and celebrate the night
Samhain is an ancient Celtic festival that has shaped our western culture. Halloween is an offshoot of this, but its original meaning and the actual ritual behind it has been reversed and turned into something ‘scary’. People forget what it is really about.
I would like to bring back memories and give you a few tips on how you can celebrate the festival of the ancestors.
Come to terms with your own mortality
Find a quiet and, if possible, dark place. If the complete darkness is too much for you, light the room with a candle.
Ask yourself the following questions:
If I were to die today, would I be satisfied?
What would I be missing?
What would I want to do, organise or experience?
Take notes, thank yourself and let the answers to your questions sink in.
Be aware of the value of life
Look at your life so far, all the good and the not-so-good. Realise how you really want to use your time from now on. What is important to you? What is life for you?
Ritual action
You reinforce your intention with a ritual action. Fill a bowl with stones to inform them of what you can now draw on and be proud of.
Realise what you want to let go of and what no longer belongs to you. In a ritual fire outdoors or with toothpicks at home, you can burn everything that is old and no longer belongs to you in a fire ceremony.
Build a small altar indoors or outdoors, which you dedicate to the spirits of nature and the ancestors. Place nuts, apples, flowers etc. on it.
Once you have completed your ritual actions, make yourself comfortable. Find a nice place in your home with a blanket, a nice book, tea or similar and perhaps a fragrant oil. Revel in your successes of the past year.
Honouring ancestors
Between 31 October and 1 November, the veils to the Otherworld are thin. It is easier to make contact with our ancestors. Connect with your ancestral lineage by building an ancestral altar, for example. You can collect natural materials that represent your ancestors. Place a candle in the window and light it with your ancestors in mind. Talk about your ancestors with your family and remember them.
In Catholicism, it is customary to go to the grave on 1 November. We only recently discussed this in my family. I realised that the reason for this burial and where it all comes from is not known at all. ‘It's just the way it's done’. It is therefore no longer a ritual act and sinks into insignificance.
Wolf-Dieter Storl writes in his blog ’THE SMOKE OF THE ANCESTORS‘ which incense mixture you can use and light at your ancestral altar, for example.
Peace time
In the Celtic tribes, this was a time of peace. Misrule and contradictions were discussed and resolved.
Ask yourself the question:
Who or what do you want to reconcile with?
With what or with whom do you want to make peace?
Would you like to find out more about the annual cycle?
In 2021, I was allowed to walk my own personal path through the dark night of the soul and be reborn. It was a year full of darkness, heartache and hopelessness. An extremely important experience that I would like to share with you today, 3 years later, and encourage you. A journey through the dark night of the soul is labelled as depression because of the similarity in symptoms, but it is not actually depression. In this article I would like to explain it to you:
what exactly is the dark night of the soul
the difference between the dark night of the soul and depression
my very personal experiences of the trip
my rebirth
If you also find yourself in the dark night of the soul, don't be discouraged. It is an important transformational step for your future spiritual and earthly life.
What does ‘The Dark Night of the Soul’ mean?
The dark night of the soul refers to a period of intense inner challenges, transformation and spiritual awakening. The term ‘dark night of the soul’ goes back to the Spanish mystic St John of the Cross, who was imprisoned at the instigation of his order and was only able to escape after almost a year. He wrote in various manuscripts about his very own journey through the dark night of the soul. During his imprisonment, in which he spoke to no one, sat in complete darkness and was not allowed to change his clothes, he experienced the presence of God and managed to escape.
Symptoms
collapse of one's own reality in relation to the meaning of life.
a deep feeling of insignificance
hopelessness and the feeling of being lost
nothing makes sense anymore
lack of understanding in relation to life, work, relationships, etc.
nothing is important any more and everything loses significance
What can trigger the dark night of the soul?
The dark night can be triggered by external circumstances, such as
the death of someone close
loss of the job
termination of a long-term relationship
health problems
the life you have built and imagined is collapsing
It can also be triggered when something happens that you cannot explain. A catastrophe that seems to invalidate the meaning your life had before.
2 Phases of the dark night of the soul according to St John of the Cross
The dark night of the senses
feeling of spiritual emptiness
separation from myself, from life, from the higher self and the divine connection
State of confusion, all convictions are put to the test
feeling of abandonment, loneliness, being cut off from life
lack of motivation and enthusiasm
a feeling that life challenges and tests you
St John of the Cross describes this phase as a condition for spiritual growth. It helps to let go of the old and free oneself from thought constructs and beliefs.
The dark night of the spirit
intensive spiritual transformation
confronting inner fears, doubts and attachments
a new view of oneself, all parts of oneself are seen, the light and the darkness
This phase is also known as the death of the ego.
For St John of the Cross, this phase is important for spiritual growth. It helps to build a new relationship with yourself and your environment.
This phase can also be described as a spiritual awakening for people who have not yet labelled themselves as spiritual or have not yet engaged with spirituality.
Challenges during the dark night of the spirit:
struggling with intense emotions and psychological pain
Feeling of losing yourself and your own identity
questioning one's own values, realities and beliefs
the feeling of detachment from the self, from others and from life
Dark night of the soul versus depression
As a 20 year old, I went through a severe depression that was very different from my journey through the dark night of the soul 3 years ago. Here I would like to share my personal experiences and my research on the differences.
Depression
is a gradual process
mostly in connection with physical complaints
mood disorder characterised by a recurring feeling of sadness and disinterest
Dark night of the soul
comes suddenly and unexpectedly
psychological, emotional and mental ‘pain’
spiritual despair, detachment and emptiness
painful elimination of a former life construct
My personal journey through the dark night of the soul
The dark night of the senses
I actually entered the first phase overnight from 31.12.2020 to 01.01.2021. It felt like a switch had been flipped in my system.
The trigger for me was probably the coronavirus year 2020. I was deeply shocked by what people do to each other out of fear, how families, friendships and relationships were broken and how old people had to die alone in isolation and without care.
I woke up on 1 January 2021 with the question of the meaning of life and a deep world-weariness. I felt lost and asked myself the question:"What am I doing here?" "What is all this good for?"
I could no longer feel any connection to myself, to the universe and to my surroundings. I felt abandoned, empty and helpless.
I could no longer get out of bed, I could no longer do my work, I could no longer cook anything and I could no longer talk to anyone or chat via e-mail or chat. I had phases where my husband had to pick me up from the bathroom floor and carry me to bed, where I remained paralysed in the same position for hours.
Any attention from outside was repugnant to me and I didn't feel I belonged in this world. I wanted nothing to do with this inhuman world.
I questioned myself, my actions, my being here.
The dark night of the spirit
Entering the second phase was characterised by unspeakable heartache. A deep feeling of homesickness and the loss of something deeply loved. Even before my dark night, I kept having visions in meditations and dreams of a wonderful place that I could describe in detail. The visions intensified and the place was also shown to me again and again with images from outside, e.g. in a pack of cards or an online message.
I wanted to dissolve and become stardust, I prayed every day not to have to wake up again. I wanted to go to my beloved place full of love and freedom.
The heartache was followed by reincarnation experiences such as I had never experienced before. This was followed by emotional pain, the feeling of being lost and a complete loss of control.
I travelled through different lives, dissolving old connections, beliefs and thought constructs. I travelled into the darkest depths of myself and was confronted with my fears, hurts, life constructs and longings.
Confrontation with death
I have encountered death 3 times in my life. The first time as a young woman during depression, the second time during my shamanic training and the third time during the dark night of the soul. This confrontation was the most important and decisive in this process. I was able to let go of many of the fears that had paralysed me for decades once and for all. This included the fear of death.
Transformation
Freed from old burdens, fears, beliefs and life constructs, a certain serenity and healing set in. All the ‘must’ had dissolved. It was about ‘being’. All the obligations I had imposed on myself dissolved into nothingness. It was the hour of rebirth.
A dear friend has it compared with ‘The adventures of the strong Vanya’ who takes seven sacks of sunflower seeds and seven sheepskins with him to the oven, where he is to spend seven years without speaking a word. This is his first test before he has to face further dangerous adventures.
So I lay on the couch eating sunflower seeds (in my case) and waited for rebirth and new adventures.
Rebirth
The intensive process took 1 year. I spent most of that time in bed or on the couch. I was reborn as a Maria who has found a new connection to herself, to the universe and to her surroundings. A Maria who is aware and clear about her purpose, her task and her meaning of life on earth. I was reborn as Maria The Voice.
New adventures
A connection to China became apparent in my reincarnation experiences. Chinese music was suddenly suggested to me on the internet. I resonated with the music and the language. Following an impulse, I began to learn the Chinese language. I now had something that brought me joy and helped me overcome my psychological pain. The music helped me to heal old wounds and I also began to sing again and raise my voice.
A lot has come together in the last 3 years, a few life decisions had to be made and new paths had to be taken.
Learning the Chinese language has opened up completely new doors to opportunities and, above all, wonderful people. People who continue to accompany me in my spiritual growth and people who allow me to see the world with completely new eyes.
I have immersed myself in other ancient teachings such as Daoism, Qi Gong and meditation teachings. All of this serves my further spiritual growth and my calling to accompany people on their spiritual path.
My conclusion
2021 was a deeply painful year for me, but one that I would not want to have missed. Through this experience, I got to know myself and the meaning of spirituality in a whole new way.
If you are also in this process, don't despair! Something wonderful is waiting for you!
Wenn Du Begleitung durch die dunkle Nacht der Seele benötigst, melde Dich gerne bei mir!
One thing is for sure, the Chinese probably know how to eat well better than anyone else. China has a historical tradition of gastronomy and chefs have and have had a high reputation. However, what is particularly noteworthy in traditional Chinese cuisine is the ability of ordinary Chinese home cooks to transform simple and largely plant-based ingredients into wonderful delicacies.
I am lucky to have Chinese friends who always give me lots of tips on how to prepare traditional Chinese dishes. In this country, you can hardly find any truly original Chinese cuisine, as my friends keep telling me.
What is typical Chinese food?
China is a big country and you can't reduce Chinese food to Peking duck, fried noodles and sweet and sour pork.
Sichuan cuisine 四川菜, for example, is one of the greatest cuisines in the world. Here, it is mostly known for its outstanding spiciness. In China, it is legendary for its richness of ingredients and amazing variety. Local gourmets claim that there are 5000 different dishes in the region. Sichuan pepper is one of the main ingredients of 四川菜。
Otherwise, typical Chinese food is characterised by simple ingredients that are prepared without much effort. There is little meat or fish among the many vegetable dishes. Different dishes are served on the table. Each individual dish tastes fresh and has its own unique flavour.
Is Chinese food healthy?
The dominance of Chinese restaurant food, which consists mainly of meat, seafood and fried foods flavoured with lots of glutamate, makes us forget that traditional Chinese cuisine consists mainly of grains and vegetables and is very healthy due to its natural preparation.
In fact, one of the richest aspects of Chinese food culture is the knowledge of adapting eating habits to the weather, season and symptoms of illness. Chinese cuisine has this aspect in common with Ayurvedic cuisine. This knowledge stems from traditional Chinese medicine and is still practised in many areas of China.
What is glutamate?
Glutamates are the esters and salts of glutamic acid (E 620). The most well-known are salts of L-glutamic acid through its use as a flavour enhancer in food. (Source: wikipedia)
In the new Chinese cuisine, glutamate is used as a flavour enhancer to give the dish a savoury note and the so-called umami taste.
Glutamate is an artificial substance which, in my opinion, has no place in naturally prepared food.
What are the symptoms of glutamate intolerance?
I have a glutamate intolerance, which is why I can no longer go to a Chinese restaurant. My symptoms are severe stomach pains that really bring me to my knees. All the more reason to prepare traditional Chinese food at home.
A friend of mine also had an intolerance, also known as Chinese food syndrome. She fainted when eating Chinese food. She regularly had to be picked up from Chinese restaurants by the emergency services until they finally discovered the cause.
Nausea, headaches, reddening of the skin, tightness of the chest, trembling and muscle pain. In children, glutamate can lead to fever, confusion and anxiety.
Glutamate is not only used in the new Chinese cuisine, but is also found in products such as vegetable stock, sausage, tomato paste, etc.
During my research on glutamate, I came across various articles, including one on wikipedia, which report that from a ‘scientific point of view’ glutamate is harmless to health.
I have a different opinion. A healthy diet also includes natural ingredients. Chemically produced substances have no place in our food. Flavour can be achieved wonderfully with spices, herbs and fresh ingredients.
Chinese cooking together
I offer themed days in my cookery studio. These always include a Chinese cookery day. I combine the knowledge of Ayurveda and elemental cuisine in the preparation of the dishes.
King Arthur is a legendary figure who is the subject of many legends. One of these legends is based in Tintagel/Cornwall. Arthur is said to have been conceived here at Tintagel Castle. Arthur is an archetype and reflects the longing for a healthy masculinity. His heroism, brotherly and loyal companionship with his knights is reflected in many stories and film adaptations. The dragon is the power symbol of Arthur and his line of origin ‘Pendragon’. The dragon symbolises power, magic and enchantment.
Musical meditation journey to Tintagel, King Arthur and his companions
On my first visit to Tintagel Castle, I had an intense reincarnation experience and I was overwhelmed by memories, so I had to leave the island first because I couldn't stand it. I then intensively studied the energies, the history and the magic of the place and put my memories together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. I connected with the energies and places and, together with harpist Claudia Neumaier, created the following meditative musical journey with its accompanying stories and information.
What is so special about Tintagel?
Anyone who has ever visited the town on the north coast of Cornwall can hardly escape its magic, beauty and special energy. Of course, a lot is done here to boost the tourism industry and the locals sometimes feel like it's Disneyland. But if you consciously connect with the place and listen to your soul, you can feel the ancient wisdom and magic of the place.
Follow the sounds of Tintagel and the old myths and legends!
Igraine's complaint
Look out over the vast land. Look into the endless expanse from the battlements of the lonely castle and lament with Igraine over her fate. As if to say: ‘Everything was voluntary. And yet: now it's hard. I knew that one day I would pay for my wishes."
Igraine helps you to look at your shadows. You will be rewarded by becoming bright and clear. Don't judge, be gentle with yourself. Look at the shadows, they belong to you!
St. Nectans Glen
Enjoy lolling, singing and dancing under the waterfall. Playing with the fairies and nymphs by the rushing water. Savouring the joy of having experienced something beautiful, great and meaningful. The knowledge of having achieved something, of having experienced an initiation.
St Nectans Glen gets deep under your skin. It touches the heart. It helps to complete an inner journey. It is initiation, reward and joy. The dance with the spirits and your spiritual team. It helps you enter the Otherworld. Support in the connection and certainty that everything is connected. To be enraptured by the world!
March
Soldiers marching across the countryside; or is it the farmer on his way to market?
Go forwards and push forwards. Listen to your inner voice. What does it want to tell you?
Gallos
The sweeping view from the island across the bay. Gallos sings the song of power! "Look at me! I am big and strong and mighty. That's how I want to be seen."
Gallos helps you to recognise your inner strength and power. Strengthen your own power! Chains are broken, walls (of the heart) break down!
Bodmin Mor
A light and dancing melody. Moor should actually sound different, we thought. But maybe that's just how Moor sounds. That remains to be explored; or had a door opened to another world after all - to the dwarves?
Let your soul fly and explore the universe. Bodmin Mor connects you with the supernatural.
Viviane in Merlins Cave
The fairy Viviane laments her lost love under the blossoming hawthorn, or is it perhaps something completely different? Are the two perhaps happily united in the magical realm of love?
Invite magic into your life, Viviane will help you. Feel love and the connection to all that is. Heaviness and lightness as polarity. Live yin and yang, light and shadow, femininity and masculinity. Magic, magic, magic! Magic! Fairy dust and dragon glitter.
Dragonpower
Glittering and sparkling! The power of magic! The facets of power! The dragon is no longer associated with ‘evil’, because that's not what it is. It is ‘only’ mighty and powerful. You only fear what you don't know!
Let your roots grow into the earth and spread your wings. Make a connection - as above so below! Everything is possible! Everything is as it should be. Dragon power brings you security and freedom.
love
Love, love, love! Simply lovely, virginal.
Feel the lightness, the butterflies in your stomach, see the sparks fly, feel the togetherness and the community, live harmony and unity.
Receive your own personal soul song
Would you like to know what your soul has to tell you? Book your personalised soul song now. Music as individual as you are!
This CD finds you to remind you of your task as earth keeper.
It is about reconnecting with Mother Earth, with nature and with all that is. We humans have forgotten who we are, where we come from and what our task is.
The more people connect with the frequency of the earth, the faster it can increase its energy and cleanse itself of foreign energies and negativity.
Origin
In the summer of 2023, my friend Josef Armegis was assigned by Mother Earth to support her in her healing. Together with me and the spiritual world, this CD with prayers and the music of Mother Earth was created. The music was given to Maria and recorded without editing or technical changes.
Mother Earth knows very well what she is doing, when it should rain, snow or the sun should shine on her. At the moment, however, she has to work on freeing herself from manipulation and other influences that harm her.
It needs the support of us all. We humans are the guardians of the earth and it's time we remembered that. This CD is designed to help you connect with the feelings and emotions of Mother Earth and to help her raise her vibration.
Josef Armegis Fuchs
Joseph has a special connection to Mother Earth. He is an earth guardian with a special connection to nature beings. He is an aura therapist, medium of the spirit world of God, painter and author. You can find out more about Josef HERE.
The ordering process
This CD is for the benefit of all and will not be monetised. If you would still like to make a donation, you will find the donation button in the order form.
