We look to the light, this time of year. We feel the shortness of the days, the darkness of the cold nights, the bite of the winter wind. We know to our ancestral bones that the sun is reluctant to spend much time gazing on us in December.
We huddle inside, where it’s warmer, we hope. We draw sweaters close and family closer. We put stews on the stove and eye the thermostat. We pull on thicker socks.
But then we remember. The light is coming. The earth and sun’s dance will soon tip in our favor, bringing longer days. Sure, there will be months of snow and ice, bare trees and scant color. But the light is coming. To help it along, we light candles or maybe string twinkling lights on our houses to chase away shadows.
With the solstice’s turn, the days will begin their slow growth. Sunlight will stretch a little more. Night will retreat a bit here, a bit there. The morning stars will fade more quickly. Beneath the cold ground, last year’s seeds will begin to dream of cracking open and reaching for the sky.
The light is coming. Darkness is only ever temporary, though it’s hard sometimes to remember.
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, the Solstice, Kwanzaa, or a good ski day in the mountains, may you find the light making its way to you once more this holiday season.
See you in the sparkling new year.
–Kelley
[Photo by Kelley J. P. Lindberg]
Lovely! Thank you, Kelley.
Happy holidays.