Solstice Reflections

Winter solstice, shortest day and longest night. As a teenager, I enjoyed learning about the movements of the earth on its axis and around the sun.

However, living on an island where almost every day was an equinox, it was a brain ache to understand solstices until I came to the UK. Yet, I never really developed an appreciation of the seasons. Year in, year out, I grumbled and mumbled about the cold, wind and wet especially during what was supposed to be the warmer months.  So much so that I self-exiled to the desert.

In this year of my return, in an attempt to manage the inner gloom that the shortening days bring, I decided to embrace autumn. Walking across the heath to get to work, I marvelled at how leaves the colour of caimites or a 60s rock band, lost their gloss, greyed and fell from a tree, which in June my sons were able to climb and hide in its foliage, leaving its branches a charcoal sketch against a sometime bright blue, sometime gunmetal sky.

Over weeks, I observed how emerald, chartreuse and jade hangings fell to form a carpet of russet, amber and ochre while, like immortal Elven folk, the evergreens did not waver in their verdancy.

However, unable to evade the effects of the events of this year any longer, the last few days I’ve felt overwhelmingly weary, bone achingly and spiritually bruised, mentally fatigued and devoid of hope.  Hibernating in fleece pajamas, besocked, wrapped in a blanket, overlain with a duvet, is all I want to do. I’m sure I’m not alone in this feeling.

Yet, the solstice, a time for hope, for light, as the Pagans celebrate. Not surprising that Christians decided that this was the time to celebrate Jesus who brought so much light into the world, that not even distortions and mutations can diminish.

Jews celebrated Hanukah a few weeks ago and Hindus, Diwali over a month ago. All festivals of light, bearing messages of illumination against the darkness, be it of season or spirit(s).

So, on this solstice day, I’ve thrown off the covers and brewed myself some warming cinnamon tea chased by a strong coffee. And I’ve lit a candle or two to illumine my thoughts as I look toward brighter, longer days.

How are you celebrating the solstice?