India, Sept. 26 -- By Sadhguru - Founder, Isha Foundation

In the yogic culture, the summer solstice, which falls in the month of June, marks the beginning of Dakshinayana. This means, in the Earth's sky, the Sun begins to trace a southward movement in the northern hemisphere of the planet.

Similarly, the winter solstice which falls in the month of December marks the beginning of Uttarayana or the northern run of the Sun. The half of the year from the beginning of Uttarayana in December to the beginning of Dakshinayana in June is known as gnana pada. The other half of the year from the beginning of Dakshinayana to the beginning of Uttarayana is known as the sadhana pada.

The southern run is the phase of intimacy or the feminine; the ear...