❄️ Winter Solstice
Hello community,
December gifts us with cultural, religious and astronomic waiting and anticipation. Advent, Hanukkah, St. Lucy's Festival of Light (December 13) and soon, Christmas and Kwanzaa, all welcome light to illuminate the darkness and offer blessings throughout these celebrations.
Last Sunday’s Pause touched on a range of the polarizations present during this unique December season. I vacillate from a playful joy that holiday lights, sparkly decorations (and boots!), heartfelt music concerts and socializing with friends offer, to managing a consistent heaviness and sadness this season predictably brings--from personal, societal and global losses and concerns that continue regardless of a calendar.
We’re faced with holding each side of the spectrum—leaning into the joys and treasures of the season, accompanied by inevitable twinges and heartbreak. Holding grief and joy. Darkness and light.
Thursday’s winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year and the turning point when our mighty Sun begins her ascent higher in the sky to give us more sunlight each day. Here at 48 degrees North, we learn to accept shorter days and a pre-4pm sunset. I'm grateful when I'm able to welcome new facets of discovery and insight that circumstances beyond my control bring--like the weather--who has much to teach us.
Here's the magical setting of a recent solo retreat in the Idaho woods with moonlight illuminiating the smoke from the stove and delicate hoar frost. This was taken with a generous 3 second exposure while I held my breath in 20 degrees F!
What sources of light can you open your heart to just a little wider?
As you know, my outdoor explorations provide a special opportunity to visually illustrate internal explorations we collectively navigate.
Since I FINALLY figured out how to make these short reels on Instagram, I thought I'd share them here to give you a drop of the magical space that soothes and restores my parts so fully.
It’s just a start but it was fun, and they’re less than 30 seconds!
CLICK THE IMAGE TO PLAY THE VIDEO
This voice over comes from last week's meditation.
These are the questions I ponder as I move my body in nature--my moving meditations.
CLICK THE IMAGE TO PLAY THE VIDEO
Let me know what resonates or if you'd like more of these (or follow me on IG to see them sooner!)
The Shortest Day
by Susan Cooper
And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, revelling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us – listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!
Thanks for pausing with me today. Befriend the unique gifts of this season and all they have to teach you.
I hope you can extend some love and attention to others who need some extra TLC this time of year. We are all so undeservedly fortunate.
Here's to welcoming more light as our hearts and our days expand.
in gratitude,
