Rediscovering the Solstice: Community, Care, and Connection
Honouring Global Solstice Traditions and Their Shared Spirit
As we move through this time of year, it’s worth pausing to reflect on how far modern winter celebrations have drifted from their origins. Whilst some gather to celebrate, it’s important to acknowledge that not everyone observes these traditions or has the privilege of gathering. For many autistic individuals, this season can be a deeply problematic time, fraught with sensory overwhelm, unspoken expectations, and social pressures that amplify feelings of exclusion. With this in mind, we can consider what this season could look like if it were reimagined through a different lens.
It is important to note that the Mass of Christ, or Christ’s Mass, was itself an appropriation. Early Christians, in a colonial act, strategically replaced existing indigenous solstice traditions with their celebration, which were deeply rooted in community, care, and redistribution. These solstice celebrations focused on collective survival through the darkest days of winter, marked by shared feasts, mutual aid, and rituals honouring the cycles of nature. The communal and egalitarian spirit of these traditions stands in stark contrast to the consumer-driven nature of many modern celebrations.
This historical context invites us to pivot to the message of the one often associated with the winter season. The teachings and work of the historic Jesus provide a radical counterpoint to the way these festivities are celebrated in the heart of the empire. The Gnostic Gospels present a “Jesus” deeply concerned with spiritual enlightenment and liberation from the material world. In the Gospel of Thomas, for example, “Jesus” says, “The Kingdom of God is within you and all around you.” This focus on inner transformation and spiritual awakening feels profoundly at odds with the capitalist spectacle this time of year has become.
Similarly, the Beatitudes from the Gospel of Matthew paint a picture of radical inclusion, compassion, and care for the marginalised:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
These teachings challenge the values that underpin much of contemporary celebrations. Instead of centring on wealth, exclusion, and material excess, a Gnostic and Beatitudinal perspective invites us to consider a more transformative approach:
Focus on Communal and Inner Transformation
Rather than external displays of wealth and festivity, a reimagined winter season could prioritise both communal and spiritual practices. Meditation, prayer, and collective reflection could be shared experiences that strengthen bonds within the community. By gathering together to seek connection—both within ourselves and all around us—we honour the communitarian spirit of the solstice and the Gnostic tradition.
Radical Generosity
Gifts could prioritise those in need, not as charity but as acts of solidarity. Mutual aid and community care would become the heart of the season, reflecting “Jesus’s” call to love our neighbours as ourselves. This is particularly urgent in a time when so many are struggling, especially autistic individuals who face alarmingly high unemployment rates and systemic barriers. Acts of generosity that recognise and address these inequities can transform the season into one of genuine solidarity and hope for those who are often left behind.
Decentralising Materialism
Simplifying celebrations—spending time with loved ones, sharing meals, and cultivating gratitude—could replace the endless pursuit of expensive gifts. This would align more closely with the spiritual focus of both the “Gnostic Jesus” and the Beatitudes. In stark contrast, the media’s relentless focus on sales numbers and economic growth during this time of year is sickening. It reduces the sacredness of this season to mere profit margins and market performance, completely erasing the communal and spiritual values that should define this period. Reclaiming the solstice from these narratives requires actively rejecting materialism and embracing the deeper, shared purpose of care and connection.
Inclusion and Justice
The season could amplify the voices of marginalised communities, honouring “Jesus’s” focus on the poor and persecuted. Acts of justice—from supporting local advocacy groups to standing in solidarity with the oppressed—would embody the true spirit of the Beatitudes.
By aligning more closely with these teachings, this time of year could become less about consumption and more about connection, justice, and spiritual renewal. In a world increasingly defined by division and excess, this vision of the solstice offers an opportunity to rediscover the sacred and the simple.
This solstice, as you light your candles or exchange gifts, consider what small steps you might take to embrace a Gnostic and Beatitudinal approach to the season. Perhaps it’s choosing to give to someone in need, or taking a quiet moment for inner reflection. Whatever it is, may it bring you closer to the true spirit of the season.
May peace and justice guide your celebrations.