As the Solstice nears, we find ourselves standing in a liminal space—a time to reflect on the darkness and welcome the returning light. This seasonal cycle mirrors the deeper cycles within us: the ebb and flow of healing, the release of old wounds, and the birth of new possibilities. At the heart of these cycles lies hope—a quiet yet profound force that invites us to keep moving forward.
Psychologist Rick Snyder defines hope as the belief in a better future, supported by the ability to set goals, find pathways, and take action. Brené Brown builds on this, describing hope as something we practice rather than merely feel. It is cultivated in the small, intentional steps we take toward change, fueled by resilience and vision.
Hope, then, is not wishful thinking but an active engagement with life—a belief in our capacity to instigate transformation. It asks us to look at what is and envision what could be, to release what no longer serves us and embrace the light of what’s to come.
Family Constellations and the Cycles of Healing
In the work of Family Constellations, hope often begins with acknowledgment. We carry within us the imprints of our ancestors—their joys, their struggles, and, sometimes, their unresolved wounds. These patterns can shape our lives in ways we don’t fully understand, appearing as repeating challenges or deep-seated beliefs.
But these inherited stories are not fixed. When we bring them into the light of awareness, we can begin to untangle them, honoring what came before while choosing a different path forward. This process is profoundly hopeful. It reminds us that even the deepest wounds hold the potential for transformation, not just for ourselves but for future generations.
The land we live on also carries its own stories—of resilience, beauty, and sometimes great pain. Like our ancestral threads, these stories wait to be seen, acknowledged, and loved. When we approach them with curiosity and compassion, we open the door to a deeper connection with both the earth and ourselves.
Walking the Spiral: A Meditation for Hope and Renewal
Imagine yourself at the edge of a spiral labyrinth, drawn into its curves by an invisible thread. This is your solstice spiral, a path that invites you inward to reflect and release and outward to renew and carry forward hope.
As you step onto the path, bring with you a question: What am I ready to release? What has served its purpose but now asks to be set down?
With each turn of the spiral, let your breath slow. Feel the weight of what you carry, not as a burden but as a story that has shaped you. Notice what surfaces—memories, emotions, ancestral echoes. Pause at the center, resting in stillness.
Here, you find light—not as a blaze, but as a soft, golden presence. This light is hope. It illuminates your path and reminds you of your agency to create change. Let it fill you, softening the sharp edges of what you are ready to let go of and energizing your intention to move forward.
When you are ready, begin your walk outward. This journey carries the energy of hope and the promise of renewal. Each step whispers a new question: What am I ready to welcome? What light will I carry forward?
As you emerge from the spiral, pause to honor what has shifted. The earth beneath you feels alive with possibility, and the sky above cradles the promise of dawn.
Bringing Hope Into Practice
The spiral walk is a metaphor for the cyclical nature of healing and the active cultivation of hope. Like the seasons, our journeys are not linear. They loop and turn, inviting us to revisit, release, and renew.
This Solstice, I invite you to reflect on these cycles in your own life. Take time to honor the darkness and the gifts it has brought, while also setting intentions for the light you wish to carry forward. Whether through a spiral walk, journaling, or quiet reflection, allow yourself to lean into hope—not as a fleeting feeling but as a grounded, transformative practice.
Hope is the thread that connects us to our ancestors, our land, and the light within us. As Thich Nhat Hanh so beautifully said, “Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” Each step is an offering of gratitude and a promise to carry hope forward into the world.
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