This Winter’s Solstice
December 22, 2011 § 1 Comment
It’s early. The sun’s been up maybe a half an hour. It’s hard to say though because the clouds and snow give the drowsy feel of predawn.
Today is the winter solstice.
The Christmas tree lights are on and the coffee is nearly brewed. A doe is laying in the yard. She has been there so long that the snow covers her like a blanket. If it weren’t for her giant mule-like ears, she would seem nothing more than a pile of dirt on the ground she’s resting on. Her presence signals a peaceful yard through the night. Gracefully, she has carried the peace into the morning of this year’s solstice.
The solstice does not mark much significance for the world any more. We no longer live our lives by the length of the days, the sun’s rays shining down on the world. Rather, we dictate the day’s schedule to the sun so that it fits our timetable, allowing us to check off items on our to-do lists.
This is not bad. This is not judgement. This just is. When we humanoids discovered fire, the evolution of power began.
Marking the shortest day of the year with celebration, saying, “we’re still here and it will only get better,” no longer matters except that it comes about four days before the most materialistic, economically based holiday that man has ever created. Each year, as the solstice becomes smaller and the Christmas holiday grows exponentially, our lives become even more spiritually strapped for meaning. We can follow the rules presented by dogma but we seemingly lack the ability to combine our natural world with our daily lives, something that was once a survival skill.We barely recognize the turning of a day, let alone the natural turning of a year.
We each have locked ourselves up in our little windowless buildings, unable to look out, not allowing anyone to see in.
As my tree sits ablaze in strings of color, I marvel at its beauty, the combination of natural and man-made, man-evolved gifts. I whisper to the world, to God, to whomever it is that assists a person in this endeavor of life, I ask for guidance and space to fill every day of life with this kinds of balance. I know I’m most at peace when my life is infused with both the outside and the inside.
May we all be like the Christmas trees standing vigil in our living rooms, in balance, walking in beauty, radiant from the natural world around us and the world we created with our hands. May on our branches hang the bulbs of memories and futures. And may the “presents” at our feet provide overwhelming joy as we unwrap each moment, living fully, right now.
Happy solstice to you!
The Reflection Pool 
I enjoyed this very much Miss Kari. I could even understand it not to mention it was much more upbeat than some of your writings. Love them all though. You are so darn good at writing. You must get this from……..your mother> Just kidding. Love you.