Today's Medicine: Stillness

Tonight is Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year and for the first time ever I feel the turning of the light within my skin, my bones. This is a new sensation for me and one that makes me pause in wonder. It also brings a desire to dance and laugh aloud. I can't explain why this year it feels different, yet there it is. It does. No need to fuss about the why of it, really. I'm just glad I feel that way.

I have also come to realize that the turning of the light truly feels to me like the New Year. I've tried to do New Year practices with Samhain in October or keep to the regular New Year celebrations on January 1st. I think that as I've become more aligned with the turning of the seasons, it makes more sense for me to place New Year here for me. It feels right. Will I feel the same next year? I hope so. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

My prayers for the longest night? May I allow myself to be still and listen this Winter. May I find a way toward healing those parts of myself that are stubbornly holding onto my old ways of being, ways that may no longer serve me. May I honor the journey instead of checking items off my to-do list. May I continue to open to the light that is all around me each day instead of dwelling on the shadows. May I continue to bring balance and kindness into my life and into the lives of those around me. And may there be much heart-filling loving, laughter and joy in the coming quiet months.

Although I did consider staying up to meet the dawn tomorrow, it won't happen. I wasn't sensible enough to plan ahead this year and ask for the day after Solstice off work, though I believe I will do so next year for sure. For now, I will be content with a cuppa tea, a burning fire in the woodstove, a fresh baked cookie chocolate chip and oatmeal cookie and stillness.

Today's Medicine: Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year. Or the longest night. Either way, for me it's a place of extremes, where the night comes early each day. It's a time of rebirth of the light, for the days have been losing light steadily since MidSummer, though it will take time to feel like we're gaining any extra daylight. We haven't had any snow to speak of yet but I wouldn't be surprised if Mother Nature decided to gift us with some by the end of the year.

Last Winter I had a full blown Hermit fit. And it lasted forever- I didn't feel like I was truly fit for human consumption until well into April. Thank the gods above and below that this year is different. I've been practicing the balance between social joys and obligations and having the downtime necessary to recharge my inner fire. I haven't been completely successful but I certainly feel like I have a better grasp on things this year. I think part of my success so far this year is due to combining trips, as in tending numerous relationships on day trips. Another is keeping close tabs on where I am committing my time and energy. I have kept to my rule of staying home the first day off during week, tending hearth and home and keeping up with daily chores. And I have not been making any after work plans on the days that I'm working. By setting those limitations on myself I find I have more energy to give to my loved ones when I actually do see them. It's been a work in process and I'm pleased with the results so far.

I also tend to use Winter Solstice to set some structure for the coming season, which can be a challenging one for me. From now until Spring Equinox in March, I'll be caught between honoring the stillness of Winter while feeling the urge to begin what needs doing come Spring. I need to remember that the planning I do now will help me succeed once Spring actually comes. I also need to remember that REST is a really Good Thing(TM) so that I can be fully recharged for the Spring to come.

So from now until the end of the year, I will be doing a lot of journalling, clearing out the clutter in my physical and mental environments, and setting intentions for what I wish to put forward and receive during the coming seasons. That way, when the chaos of the holy-days finally settles a bit I will have prepared a way for the New Year to unfold. Or is that for me to unfold in the New Year? Either way works for me...