The sacred walk through the spiral

The spiral carries an ancient meaning. As a feminine symbol, it is often associated with Mother Goddesses and with Earth herself. It represents intuition, trust, and our connection to the deepest parts of our being. In past years, I’ve written about the Winter Solstice and its many traditions, but today I want to share one that feels especially sacred to me: the walk of the holy spiral, or the sacred labyrinth.

I love walking the spiral—whether purely as a mental, meditative process or as a physical ritual, in large or small form. There are countless creative ways to experience it, and it’s by no means limited to the winter season. Yet no matter how it’s done, it always unfolds as a deeply sacred, connecting act. The way the spiral is built and the way it is walked is unique to everyone who steps onto its winding path.

For me, it is most powerful at the Winter Solstice. When Mother Earth grows quiet, I do the same. The walk to the center of the spiral, in my own rhythm, carrying the light of the solstice in my hands, becomes a journey back to my origin—to myself, and to that which connects each of us with the universe. While the brighter half of the year is often celebrated in exuberant, lively ways, this is the time to let silence enter. I listen inwardly and hear her whisper. To each person walking the spiral, she speaks something different—something that will nurture growth in the months ahead. Just as she slowly lets the light return, so too do we begin to grow.

In truth, we walk spirals all the time, even in everyday life. Through each month, each season, each phase of our existence, we move forward, carrying our inner light with us. Now, as another year draws to a close, I hope you’ve been able to gather something meaningful from it. For me, this has been a demanding year—perhaps the most demanding of my life. And yet, I am grateful for much.

So, in that spirit, I wish you too many moments of gratitude—both as you look back on the year behind you and as you turn your gaze toward the one ahead.