Friday, December 21, 2018

winter solstice


Today is the winter solstice. The shortest day of the year. The longest night. I'm not a big fan of winter and I used to dread this day, but I'm learning to embrace the coziness and be grateful for the dark; the time to go quiet, to reflect, to go within. It's actually a time of celebration, traditionally with feasting, singing, dancing, fires and spending time with loved ones. I'll be doing just that tomorrow night at my First Best Friend's house. 

I saw these marvelous words and beautiful illustration on Facebook and thought they were worth sharing with you all:

Winter..

Life is being drawn into the earth, painlessly descending down into the very heart of herself. 
And we as natural human animals are being called to do the same, the pull to descend into our bodies, into sleep, darkness and the depths of our own inner caves continually tugging at our marrow. 
But many find the descent into their own body a scary thing indeed, fearing the unmet emotions and past events that they have stored in the dark caves inside themselves, not wanting to face what they have so carefully and unkindly avoided. 

This winter time is no longer celebrated as it once was, with the understanding that this period of descent into our own darkness was so necessary in order to find our light. That true freedom comes from accepting with forgiveness and love what we have been through and vanquishing the hold it has on us, bringing the golden treasure back from the cave of our darker depths.

This is a time of rest and deep reflection, a time to wipe the slate clean as it were and clear out the old so you can walk into spring feeling ready to grow and skip without a dusty mountain on your back & chains around your ankles tied to the caves in your soul. 
A time for the medicine of story, of fire, of nourishment and love.
A period of reconnecting, relearning & reclaiming of what this time means brings winter back to a time of kindness, love, rebirth, peace and unburdening instead of a time of dread, fear, depression and avoidance. 

This modern culture teaches avoidance at a max at this time; alcohol, lights, shopping, overworking, over spending, bad food and consumerism. 
And yet the natural tug to go inwards as nearly all creatures are doing is strong and people are left feeling as if there is something wrong with them, that winter is cruel and leaves them feeling abandoned and afraid. Whereas in actual fact winter is so kind, yes she points us in her quiet soft way towards our inner self, towards the darkness and potential death of what we were, but this journey if held with care is essential.

She is like a strong teacher that asks you to awaken your inner loving elder or therapist, holding yourself with awareness of forgiveness and allowing yourself to grieve, to cry, rage, laugh, & face what we need to face in order to be freed from the jagged bonds we wrapped around our hearts, in order to reach a place of healing & light without going into overwhelm. 

Winter takes away the distractions, the noise and presents us with the perfect time to rest and withdraw into a womb like love, bringing fire & light to our hearth.

•illustration by Jessica Boehman•
•words Brigit Anna McNeill•




10 comments:

  1. Oh, geez, I don't know if I deleted my comment or not:/ This is so beautiful and with the illustration gives me a lot to reflect on. Certainly a different perspective than what I think of as winter. Thank you for sharing, and Merry Christmas!

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  2. Love this. I've been cuddling with my sweet Scout and watching Christmas movies. Through the eyes of a 3 year old Christmas is most magical!

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  3. I agree about finally appreciating it for what it is. Therapy has helped me with this. Also, knowing that the days are now slowly getting longer minute by minute helps as well. :)

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  4. Such beautiful thoughts on winter and a lovely illustration. Most humans are no longer following the natural rhythms of the seasons or of the sun and the moon. I don't particularly like that this season brings darkness so early but can certainly relate to needing time for quiet reflection. It's something I need each and every day. :)

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  5. I am not a big fan of winter either, but I am trying to embrace the cozy quiet too. Merry Christmas.

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  6. Oh this is so true and beautifully said. Thanks for sharing. I am like you Melanie and hate our winters. The months of January and February especially. I am trying to embrace the cold and darkness but I am just some one that needs the light. Hopefully we will have more sunshine in those beginning months to get us through until Spring.
    Hugs and Merry Christmas.
    Kris

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  7. May the Christmas season fill your home with joy, your heart with love and your life with laughter.

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  8. I love the winter solstice as it means we have reached the shortest day of the year and every day after we gain a little more daylight. I’m fortunate that I don’t suffer from SAD although both my daughters do to some extent. I think for me it’s a rest from all the hard work I do all spring, summer, fall...it’s a chance to rest, read, cook, nest...I need that break. Merry Christmas my sweet friend - I hope you have a blessed day with Brian and Tim xo

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  9. Lovely words my friend. Merry Christmas!

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  10. I didn’t know that either and what a beautiful and insightful poem! I’ve been happy knowing that now daylight is getting longer!!! I love winter always have and I also like doing activities I don’t do otherwise...getting organized, sewing and winding down and enjoy household arts such as cooking etc!

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