I am with you in the darkness! … with full, embodied knowing, that the dance of light (life) awaits us just at the next breath. To be alive in this very moment, the suffering across this magnificent planet alive in me, AND yet, to completely trust, that yes, this too shall pass, is “the work of this moment” (words of Toni Packer, one of my teachers). So here’s to O Holy Night (my only favorite hymn), and to “Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again…” (also from two of my other teachers ☺️). 🙏🏽🙇🏽♀️❣️
Ahhhh LaDonna, miracle writer for my heart and soul. How I carry your words with me, an xray of my old Lutheranism forced on me that I too rejected, finally.....and haven't traveled to hell willingly or not! You delight me.❤️💋🥳
Thank you, I think I needed to hear this message. I've been struggling to "get into the spirit of the holidays." It feels much truer to get into the spirit of different -- quieter, darker, but still holy -- days
It's always been weird to me how most people look back at the year in the middle of winter. For me, it's September. Partly due to an equinox birthday, but also because in nature, life is going into hiding. Leaves are dead and falling, frost can be found of the ground, and those that hibernate are eating the last food for months. Seems fitting to me to look over the year while nature is dying or preparing to slumber, rather than in the middle of death/slumber.
I like your concepts of celebrating the solstice though. Being so far north, everyone here celebrates it, even those that prefer the cheer of xmas.
I struggled with Christmas for a long time, til I learned more about the many rituals surrounding the solstice and returning light. This makes sense to me in a visceral kind of way. I like your description of a solstice/new year ritual. Fire in the dark night is powerful.
a keeper. i've always been a bit of a bah hum-bug creature this time of year. not quite sure, especially now, what all the celebration is about. i will see, as it get lighter, how life will present itself in the new year. best in the new year to you and your family - happy healthy and hopeful. bon
Wow. I just went down that rabbit-hole, bigtime. Thank you for sharing. As a confirmed cynic these days, and a once-upon-a-time optimist, I appreciate seeing/hearing and reading about rays of light and hope. Obrigado from the shores of Portugal! Bom Ano!
That old up/down? light/dark? good/bad? told in so many different ways. Your writing always makes me slow down, think. Thank you, obrigado mais uma vez! Boas festas, bom ano, all of that, and more, for you and the quite-extended familia. Abraços e beijinhos.
Thank you for writing this piece - and for the discussion it spawned. My vision expands as a result.
(Sidebar: much of what you reflected is a northern hemisphere perspective, so for me all is shinier and brighter at this time of year. Of course our winter solstice in June is the mirror image.)
Thank you for this heartfelt reminder that we need darkness to balance light. In all things. Why oh why are we taught to fear the dark at a young age? It's a misplaced fear we assign to others, when we know the real bogeymen are visible all around us, in plain sight. But we must continue to find ways to rejoice in gratitude, truly see and honor others and goodness in all its forms.
Beautiful! I am grateful to the witch, whose name you do not know, for her words. I am in the darkness but choosing to be in a quiet darkness where I hold myself and the world in love. The Spanish/French border is gorgeous. I spend alot of time along that area. Try to not read the news. ugh.
I am with you in the darkness! … with full, embodied knowing, that the dance of light (life) awaits us just at the next breath. To be alive in this very moment, the suffering across this magnificent planet alive in me, AND yet, to completely trust, that yes, this too shall pass, is “the work of this moment” (words of Toni Packer, one of my teachers). So here’s to O Holy Night (my only favorite hymn), and to “Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again…” (also from two of my other teachers ☺️). 🙏🏽🙇🏽♀️❣️
Ahhhh LaDonna, miracle writer for my heart and soul. How I carry your words with me, an xray of my old Lutheranism forced on me that I too rejected, finally.....and haven't traveled to hell willingly or not! You delight me.❤️💋🥳
Thank you, I think I needed to hear this message. I've been struggling to "get into the spirit of the holidays." It feels much truer to get into the spirit of different -- quieter, darker, but still holy -- days
Beautiful.
It's always been weird to me how most people look back at the year in the middle of winter. For me, it's September. Partly due to an equinox birthday, but also because in nature, life is going into hiding. Leaves are dead and falling, frost can be found of the ground, and those that hibernate are eating the last food for months. Seems fitting to me to look over the year while nature is dying or preparing to slumber, rather than in the middle of death/slumber.
I like your concepts of celebrating the solstice though. Being so far north, everyone here celebrates it, even those that prefer the cheer of xmas.
Such beautiful writing as always 😀 I love your solstice / new year ritual!
I struggled with Christmas for a long time, til I learned more about the many rituals surrounding the solstice and returning light. This makes sense to me in a visceral kind of way. I like your description of a solstice/new year ritual. Fire in the dark night is powerful.
a keeper. i've always been a bit of a bah hum-bug creature this time of year. not quite sure, especially now, what all the celebration is about. i will see, as it get lighter, how life will present itself in the new year. best in the new year to you and your family - happy healthy and hopeful. bon
I felt a lot like you are feeling until I read this. And as a Canadian I will do my best to rid myself of American news.
https://open.substack.com/pub/fixthenews/p/the-telemetry?r=46219&utm_medium=ios
Wow. I just went down that rabbit-hole, bigtime. Thank you for sharing. As a confirmed cynic these days, and a once-upon-a-time optimist, I appreciate seeing/hearing and reading about rays of light and hope. Obrigado from the shores of Portugal! Bom Ano!
Thanks for sharing that link!
That old up/down? light/dark? good/bad? told in so many different ways. Your writing always makes me slow down, think. Thank you, obrigado mais uma vez! Boas festas, bom ano, all of that, and more, for you and the quite-extended familia. Abraços e beijinhos.
This is beautiful. Thank you.
Thank you for writing this piece - and for the discussion it spawned. My vision expands as a result.
(Sidebar: much of what you reflected is a northern hemisphere perspective, so for me all is shinier and brighter at this time of year. Of course our winter solstice in June is the mirror image.)
Thank you for this heartfelt reminder that we need darkness to balance light. In all things. Why oh why are we taught to fear the dark at a young age? It's a misplaced fear we assign to others, when we know the real bogeymen are visible all around us, in plain sight. But we must continue to find ways to rejoice in gratitude, truly see and honor others and goodness in all its forms.
Beautiful! I am grateful to the witch, whose name you do not know, for her words. I am in the darkness but choosing to be in a quiet darkness where I hold myself and the world in love. The Spanish/French border is gorgeous. I spend alot of time along that area. Try to not read the news. ugh.