WELLBEING | Our Alternative Run Up To Christmas – A Winter Solstice Meditation, Gong Bath & Mindfulness

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This time of year can often be stressful. With so much to do and seemingly endless obligations, the run-up to Christmas can be pretty hectic. Christmas 2019 however, we decided to do things differently and the weekend before Christmas we made a commitment to take time out and to focus on our wellbeing.

With a large family, in order to facilitate this calm amidst the frantic whirlwind or pre-Christmas preparation, we started early. In fact, by 1st December we’d already purchased all of our gifts and with 20 people to buy for, that was no mean feat! By the end of the first week of December I’d wrapped everything, and by the second week of December all Christmas cards were written and ready to send out.

Winter Solstice Meditation

Doing things early meant that the last two weeks of December were ours to do with as we pleased. No frantic last-minute dashes to the shops, no need to spend evening after evening battling through vast amounts of wrapping, just plenty of time to spend as we wished.

The entrance to Highfield Country Park

Solstice Gong Bath Meditation

The Saturday evening immediately before Christmas we booked a Gong Bath at our local gong centre, The Centre of the Cosmos. As it fell around the winter Solstice this was to be the focus of the Gong Bath and felt fitting as we’d already booked a second Solstice meditation event for the following day.

The Centre Of The Cosmos Gong Bath
We don’t like taking photos of the interior as it feels like a sacred space but, inside it’s stunning!

We’ve been to The Centre of the Cosmos before and loved the experience and their Solstice Gong Bath was wonderful. Gong Baths are a deeply relaxing experience that can lead to visions, some of them seemingly crazy, some of them ripe for interpretation.

For a good 24 hours afterwards we always feel a little different following a gong bath. It’s hard to put your finger on it but it’s a very calming, grounding feeling, so if you fancy trying it for yourself, we’d urge you to give it a go!

Solstice Woodland Mindfulness, Singing & Shmanic Journeying

Having been on my first group walking mediation with Claire at Wild Awake Mindfulness almost a year ago, it felt fitting to book our places for the Solstice event which took place on Sunday, the day after our Gong Bath and just 3 days before Christmas.

Entrance to Highfield Country Park, Manchester

We wrapped up warm and headed up to Levenshulme near Manchester to spend 3 hours in the woods taking part in mindfulness meditations, stories and singing around the fire, and perhaps my favourite part, a guided Shamanic journey meditation.

Shamanism has fascinated me for some time, and I actually had no idea that this was going to be part of the event so was delighted when I heard what we’d be doing.

Without going into too much detail, all I can say is that the experience was pretty profound for me, in particular a vision I saw of myself. That vision has lead to a small, but fundamental shift in my perception of self, making Shamanic Journeying something I will be pursuing in future.

Winter solstice woodland meditation Wild Awake Mindfulness
Taken at sunset on the Winter Solstice

Spending a relaxed weekend focusing on our wellbeing, connecting with the earth, each other and at risk of sounding like a total hippy, the cosmos, was exactly the right thing for us to do, and this is someting we’re going to carry on as a tradition. A pause to celebrate the Solstice through mindfulness and meditation instead of letting the festive season stress us out or dictate the terms.

We couldn’t have wished for a more grounding, healthier way to start our Christmas celebrations and would like to express our thanks to both Wild Awake Mindfulness and The Centre of the Cosmos.

Shall and Mark at Highfield Country Park, Manchester
Arriving at Highfield Country Park in Manchester

It’s not too late to do something about it if you’re feeling stressed, tired and out of sorts, we’d urge you to take time out in the run up to Christmas. Especially after such a tough year with the global pandemic, we need to be extra kind to ourselves and a mindful festive season can help you achieve a greater sense of wellbeing.

Take a step back and do something that benefits you, something that grounds and anchors you. This time of year is generally busy for most of us and difficult for others, but with forward planning, having calm and enjoyable run up to Christmas is possible.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Camping with Style x

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Shell Robshaw-Bryan
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