Dear Body at Winter Solstice

Dear Body

In the north, it is the evening of the new moon closest to the Winter Solstice

The darkest night of the year, even devoid of moonlight!

What does this mean?

Food supplies for animals in the wilderness of the north become scarce 

Bears, Ground Squirrels, Woodchucks, Bats, Skunks, Raccoons, Snakes, Turtles, and Frogs have been in hibernation for a month or more

Birds and butterflies have flown south

Many deciduous trees are bare

The nights are cold, especially during dry weather

Rain and snow dampen the color palette of ground and sky

Colds and flus are common

The sun rises late and sets early

In higher latitudes in the north, the sun barely makes it above the horizon

Holidays like Yule, Hanukkah, Diwali, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, and many others, incorporate candles as a symbol of the light within while the external world is cold and dark  

I know you know this 

I feel you feel this and sense this

Even if I keep you in spaces with lighting and heaters through out the day

I feel you resting in peace in the dark morning hours

I feel your heaviness and savoring of warmth

I feel you naturally descend and quiet down as if closer than ever to the earth and water elements

I feel you let go and give over to dissolving and the twilight world of dreaming

Thank you for your courage and for your love of this season

For your oneness with Mother Earth and Grandmother Water

Your peace in obscurity and quietness

Your acceptance of how the inner and outer worlds align and pulse together

Take this time to rest

Let the world rest

Let the land rest

Let the dreams of ‘bigger and better and brighter and colorful’ rest

Let the plants and animals rest

Let the season have the last word of each day

Light a candle and know that the river still flows beneath the ice

That the trees don't die, but sleep

That the sun is distant but not gone

Mountain lilac, Manzanita, and red flowering winter currant, offer blooms this time of year Holly and Toyon keep the faith, offering bright red berries 

Allow the shorter day to make you grateful for what is out of reach

Let this darkest day be the moment at the end of the dance when the song trails off, and only simple breath can be heard

When the body of a passed-on beloved elder or friend is lowered into the ground

Let this be the depth of goodbye that is full of thank you, I love you, I will miss you

Let this darkest day be an affirmation of the light that never goes out

Of ancestors still speaking in our dreams and blood

Let this Winter Solstice be a doorway through The Grandparents and back, soon enough, to The Babes

The Blessed Babies appearing miraculously from the Mystery of the unseen world that this moment honors

Praise the doors still closed that protect the babies and dreams and realities still gestating

Surrender and embody the grace of the plants and animals as they slow down, retreat, quiet, and conserve

Be blessed in depths and silence