Wow! I have met my first shaman, and what a wonderfully nurturing woman she is. Her name is Donna Henes, but she is known to many as Mama Donna. She has written several books, the most recent of which is “The Queen of My Self: Stepping into Sovereignty in Midlife.”

Mama Donna decided to encourage women to think of themselves as queens upon turning fifty because she was not enamoured with the archetype of the elder woman as a haggard old crone. Who can blame her? I don’t especially want to be a crone, even a very wise one. (Though I am also hoping to skip hormone replacement. We’ll see how that goes!)

Anyway, Mama Donna orchestrates ritual celebrations for individuals and groups all year, but next week’s Winter Solstice (Wednesday, December 21st) is probably her favorite. I spoke to her today about how one might celebrate Winter Solstice alone or in a group. She had many terrific ideas.

First, Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, and the longest night. But on December 22, the sun will stay up a minute or so longer each day until we reach Summer Solstice six months from now. So Winter Solstice represents the fact that–although Winter’s just beginning–light is indeed returning in small increments, and the darkest times will soon be behind us. Some people think all the religious holidays of light (including Christmas and Hanukkah) are rooted in this ancient awareness of the sun’s movements. The earth’s earliest peoples watched the sun’s comings and goings as if their lives depended upon it. Mama Donna says it was not uncommon for them to stay up all night on Winter Solstice praying for the sun’s warming return.

You could do that. You could stay up all night this Tuesday, revelling in inky blackness. However, should you have a 9-to-6 job, there are better ways to support yourself at this time.

On Tuesday night, Mama Donna suggests you:

–Have friends over to eat beans, sprouts, or root vegetables–all foods that do well in the dark and gather strength underground in the winter.

–Invite friends to bring in their own beans and seeds. Ask yourselves: How might I be like this seed and nurture myself this winter, build a stronger root structure, so that I might then develop new projects, talents and resources?

–Play music that sounds serenely deep and low. Mama Donna suggests guttural Tibetan monk chants.

–Spend time in the dark–outside or in. Darkness is something to befriend, not fear. Take a long bath in a completely dark bathroom. Feel how dark darkness gets.

Then on Wednesday morning, welcome in the returning sun!

–Admire the sunrise.

–Serve pert, bright foods like eggs sunny-side up, yellow cornbread, fruits, and fresh juices.

–Play Vivaldi or other composers whose music has a light and joyous quality.

–Wear the color white and items that sparkle.

–Set yourself up to happily endure the coming winter. It won’t be long before you notice that the days are getting longer.