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Posted on by Debbie

Listening to the stillness of the winter solstice

Stillness

I really like this quote about stillness.

Stillness is the only thing in this world that has no form. But then, it is not really a thing, and it is not of this world.

Eckhart Tolle

Winter Solstice

The June solstice is our shortest day of the year in the southern hemisphere. It’s usually between 20-22 June and indicates, to me at least, that the days will start getting incrementally longer. Yay to that!!

The sea is so calm and still in these shots.

Stillness at Noosa
Still waters at Noosa

“Solstice” (Latin: “solstitium”) means sun-stopping. The point on the horizon where the sun appears to rise and set, stops and reverses direction after this day.

Source

Variations of winter

We’ve been away from home for most of June. At home, in the Snowy Mountains of NSW, they are having frosty mornings with freezing temperatures working up to maybe 10 degrees C (if lucky). It’s quite common for the temperature to not make double digits, or to range from -2 to 4, in other words it’s VERY cold.

Here in Queensland the temperatures have been ranging from 14 degrees to 24 degrees during the day, with brilliant sunshine. We even went swimming in the surf at Noosa this week 🙂

I think you’ll agree this is a lovely place to spend the winter solstice!

Stone tower at Noosa
Surfers waiting at Noosa

These shots were all taken on June 21, approximately the time of the winter solstice, and show a beautiful still surf on a glorious winter day. Well, winter to some people!

The calmness of the water, the serenity, the peacefulness, the tranquility, the quiet – are all depictions of the word stillness.

Noosa beach
Surf beach at Noosa

It also describes my feelings as I enjoy this change of scenery – I’m feeling quieter, calmer and at peace. The weather and a beautiful beach location can play a big part in stilling the pace, calming the mind and relaxing the body.

Please enjoy my photos for this week’s Sunday Stills and I hope you can feel the stillness emanating from them.

Winter solstice in Noosa
Winter solstice at Noosa

I’d love to know what you think of my interpretation this week.

What is Sunday Stills all about?

Sunday Stills is a photography challenge with a weekly theme (similar to the now-defunct WPC). Each Sunday I post the weekly theme with images of my own interpretation. Any blogger is welcome to participate and interpret the challenge with their photos, poems, stories, music, etc!

Source: Terri – Second Wind Leisure Perspectives
Sunday Stills photo challenge

This week Terri’s theme for #SundayStills, is stillness. I’m sure you guessed that!

I know I always enjoy seeing what others come up with for these weekly prompts 🙂

How about you? Are you feeling the stillness?

What does stillness mean to you? I’m interested in hearing from you, so leave me a comment below. I’m sure my depiction would have been different had we not been up north in the warmth, it’s interesting how location can impact our creativity isn’t it?

Have a great week ahead. We’re making our way slowly home, back to the cold and real winter weather 🥶

Deb 🙂

You can see all my Sunday Stills posts by clicking here

Linking up to Denyse’s #Lifethisweek with the prompt Share your Snaps #5

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56 Replies to “Listening to the stillness of the winter solstice”

  1. Great photos, Deb. It always amazes me that at times the ocean Can seem so still. And yet, at others, it is angry and chaotic.
    Happy solstice…our days are now getting shorter…

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  2. Oh I’m quite jealous of you, Deb. Although down here in Adelaide we’ve had unseasonably warm weather with temps in the low 20s.very welcome. But then, next day, back to 14 with icy south pole winds. Climate change experts say we’ll one day have qld weather and they’ll be deserts, so enjoy the north while you can!

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    1. Yes, it’s amazing what the predictions are for the future. We’re home now and expecting snow here this weekend so my sunny warm days in Queensland are great memories to have! Great to have you visit and comment 🙂

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  3. Slightly envious of the fact that you could go for a swim in winter! I’m glad winter solstice is past and can’t wait for winter itself to end. I’m so not a cold weather person! As for stillness, I do enjoy it but haven’t had any lately I think because I’ve been pretty busy

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  4. Well if I had of known you were in my area, you could have called in for a cuppa. STrange this sudden burst of rain at this time of the year. I think you struck the golden week prior to that. That is the normal type of Queensland’s winter weather.

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    1. Yes we left at the right time and missed most of the rain. Now down south again where it’s cold . but not too bad yet. Next time I’ll let you know we’re up that way and try to meet up for sure! We’ll be back to see our daughter.

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  5. This was a peaceful and beautiful post to read and view.

    I have some trouble with stillness. I really know I would like to be still and need to be but…still a little more concentration on ‘just being’ is needed.

    Love your snaps from Qld…and in such contrast to home…when you get back.

    Thank you for linking up for #lifethisweek and next week’s optional prompt is Worst Job. Hope to see you link up again. Denyse.

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    1. When I’m at home I often have trouble being still, but when I’m away and with such gorgeous views I find it much easier. I’m also worried about going back to the cold! I’m glad to read you enjoyed my photos and words in this post and thanks again for the linkup. I always look forward to it.

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  7. Winter is not my favourite season, I don’t care how much it rains, I hate the cold. I am actually wishing it would rain so it wasn’t so cold, but on the other hand if it wasn’t for the frost we wouldn’t be having these clear sunny days, even if it doesn’t get above 15 degrees. #lifethisweek

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  10. Lovely pics for Denyse’s Share Your Snaps. I’m in Brisbane right now and the weather is not dissimilar from Sydney which is most unusual! I love winter, for me the stillness means warm, cozy, quiet nights in.

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  11. I’m not great at ‘stillness’. Even when I have downtime – ie. in the bath etc I’m reading.

    I love winter but of course living in Queensland it doesn’t ever get too cold. Not sure I’d have been going swimming though!!!

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  12. Queensland seems to have more than it’s fair share of sunshine atm Deb and those beach pics are just lovely – including the cute stone cairn on the sand. Stillness and nature just go hand in hand don’t they?

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  15. I’m so glad you could share your perspective of the winter solstice, Debbie! June is hot here so your refreshing beach scenes in winter remind me so much of San Diego in the wintertime. Love that quote, too. My time with morning coffee with no TV brings me a sense of stillness until the dogs bark to be let out…I do try!

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  17. Lovely photos Deb but swimming in the sea and temperatures of 24 degrees on the shortest day of the year? Unbelievable. Up here no-one in their right mind would go anywhere near the sea on the shortest day in December.

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  19. Your lead picture of the water through the trees does any excellent job of depicting stillness. Safe trip on your return home, and I hope you arrive home to clear blue skies and a bit of winter sun.

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  22. Love the pics! Stillness to me is sitting out on my deck just as it is getting daylight. The world around me starts coming alive. You can hear the insects with their many different sounds, same goes for the birds. Then depending on what day of the week it is, you’ll hear people leaving their homes to go to work, a random lawnmower in the distance, trash pickup trucks, etc. We’ve just begun summer here and I am so much enjoying the hot temps!!

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  23. Hi Deb, I love getting your perspective of Winter Solstice. It reminds me how we are all on this planet together. Yesterday was Summer Solstice for us. All of your words and pictures depicting “Stillness” help me breathe deeply…..a good thing in our sometimes, hectic paced world. I am enjoying your photos on Instagram, too:)

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    1. Thanks Sue! I am envious of your ability to sit on the balcony watching the ocean – that is a true moment of stillness as your mind and body go still as you focus on the water. I think generally watching waves and water is soothing. I enjoyed using these photos from our time in Noosa for this week’s challenge and happy you too enjoyed them. 😊

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