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I love this passage by John Matthews, who has lectured on Celtic traditions:
"The Solstice is a time of quietude, of firelight, and dreaming, when seeds germinate in the cold earth, and the cold notes of church bells mingle with the chimes of icicles. Rivers are stilled and the land lies waiting beneath a coverlet of snow. We watch the cold sunlight and the bright stars, maybe go for walks in the quiet land. . . . All around us the season seems to reach a standstill — a point of repose."
This passage is a perfect description of this powerful time of the year. In Feng Shui, the winter solstice represents the "yin/yang gate" to unity, balance, harmony and perfection. It represents a point of equal balance between the opposing forces of nature and the universe. It's a time to get quiet, reflect and expand your inner and outer awareness. This happens by stepping through the gateway of the heart and expanding your inner vision. Here is where your higher self influenced by the angelic realm speaks to you. You reaffirm your life path with clarity and purpose.
For many, this time of the year is challenging. There is a tendency to hurry and avoid the long dark days that winter brings. People struggle with the bleakness of nature, the gray skies and the cold temperatures. We seem to forget everything in the universe works on polar opposites. Where the opposing forces join diminishes their "separateness" and instead there is a coalescense of "Oneness."
The darker days of winter has an upside. It is a time for rest and gathering of our energy and spirit within so we can prepare for the season of light, the coming of Christ.
The winter solstice celbrates the return of hope for the macrocosm, our planet and the microcosm, humanity. As nature waits for the return of the light of Spring, we too must also wait. We can look at this time and embrace the positive, enriching aspects of winter's darkness. We can merge with the depths of darkness by sitting in silence - a place of creative gestation. Here we can connect with the highest order of courage. Turning within to reflect on your life strengthens your inner connection to the mysteries of the greater web of life.
Simon & Garfunkle's, The Sound of Silence captures the power of silence perfectly.
Hello, darkness, my old friend I've come to talk with you again Because a vision softly creeping Left its seeds while I was sleeping And the vision that was planted in my brain Still remains Within the sound of silence In restless dreams I walked alone Narrow streets of cobblestone 'Neath the halo of a streetlamp I turned my collar to the cold and damp When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light That split the night And touched the sound of silence And in the naked light I saw Ten thousand people, maybe more People talking without speaking People hearing without listening People writing songs that voices never share No one dared Disturb the sound of silence "Fools," said I, "You do not know Silence like a cancer grows Hear my words that I might teach you Take my arms that I might reach you." But my words like silent raindrops fell And echoed in the wells of silence And the people bowed and prayed To the neon god they made And the sign flashed out its warning In the words that it was forming And the sign said, "The words of the prophets Are written on the subway walls And tenement halls And whispered in the sounds of silence."
Make a special effort today and throughout this time of year to greet darkness and share some of the feelings that arise in you when you think about darkness.
The month of December houses a powerful star at the center portal of the feng shui loshu grid. This star reminds us to seek the classics for this time of year. It is also a reminder to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Below is a poem from William John Fitzgerald titled "Black Can Be Beautiful."
O God, black can be beautiful! Let us be aware of black blessings: Blessed be the black night that nurtures dreams. Blessed be the black hole out of which creation sprang. Blessed be the black cave of imagination that births creativity. Blessed be dark wombs that cradle us. Blessed be black loam that produces nourishing food for our bodies. Blessed be black jazz that nourishes our souls. Blessed be black energy that swirls into gracefulness. Blessed be black coal that heats us. Blessed be black boiling clouds hurling down lightning and cleansing rain. Blessed be even our own darkness, our raw, undeveloped cave of shadows. O God, help us to befriend black and not deny its power. Help us not to cover over the dark with fear but to open to it with your grace and to be open to your life within the dark. May we discover the blessings that lie deep within our holy dark so that we may freely affirm that Black is beautiful indeed!
Inspired by the moment of this powerful time of year, I share with you a "Winter Solstice" meditation. Click the video below and enjoy this powerful meditation.
Namaste and many blessings!
Mary Jane