The pashmina and recycled cashmere sweaters are out and I’m truly enjoying the shift we’re experiencing here in the desert and in the Northern Hemisphere. We are heading straight toward the Winter Solstice and, baby, it’s cold outside! Being a desert resident, we have very short and rather mild winters compared to our neighbors in the north. With that said, it feels really cold to us compared to the high temperatures that we experience for many months of the year. So when our nights get cold and, almost frosty, when we dig out the puffy jackets and sweaters, it truly feels like a monumental change.
The days are getting shorter, the light not its familiar bright self, and the encroaching winter is beckoning us to turn inward. Mother Nature is tapping us on the shoulder saying “put on some PJ’s, snuggle under a blanket, and grab a hot drink. It’s time to come home to ourselves, to put down the busy to-do list, and allow moments of self-care and hibernation. Yet, the paradox is that the season of the holidays is pulling us in the opposite energetic direction. Particularly here in the desert, many of the snowbirds have flocked back into town and the roads, restaurants, and shops are busier, with a flair for the hustle and bustle. The holidays are often a time of doing more, not less. Social calendars fill up, we shop, bake, clean, welcome guests, pack for some travel, send out cards, and thank yous. Instead of hearing the call of Mother Nature, we are faced with our societal need to “do” things during the holiday season.
My request of students this week is to notice the fading light and to allow the feeling of turning inward to arise, even if it’s for short snippets of simply getting grounded, taking a moment to slow down or to take a breath to be present. Of course, a good restorative practice blends beautifully into this time of year, so if things are driving you up the wall, take time to put your legs up the wall as well.
I love to notice and talk about the shifting relationship of darkness and light. Both the equinoxes and solstices grab my attention to remember the cycle of changing light and dark, noticing the swing from extremes (the Solstices) to equanimity (the Equinoxes). The cycle of things is like a built-in timer to wake up to the season and re-calibrate where necessary. Darkness and light bring power to each other. When it gets dark outside, we really enjoy the light. During our visit to a remote part of Western Australia, we were gifted with dark night skies due to the absence of ambient light from cities. It was a breathtaking experience to see the Milky Way painted across the dark night sky and to understand its moniker.
Two years ago at this time, we were in Iceland with about five hours of daylight, with the sun low in the sky creating a subtle kind of light, as though the sun was skimming across the line of the horizon. Cultures who have long hours of darkness also originated celebrations around light – think of Hanukkah, Christmas lights, and gatherings around candles and fireplaces. So as we welcome the darkness remember how brightly we shine.
My wish for you during the fading light is for you to take something off of your list, to put on some fuzzy slippers, and enjoy the darkness! To my friends in the Southern Hemisphere, enjoy your longer days of sunshine! I guess it’s your time to put on your flip-flops and get outside!
