Finding the Light
-Sun Feather-
“Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark.”
- Rabindranath Tagore
Materials: wool, found sticks, fish fly, leather cording.
Happy Winter Solstice!
Today marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year, when the ancients would spend time in contemplation, performing ceremonies to honor their gods and goddesses and rituals to beckon the return of the Sun.
It wasn't until I started to recognize my ancient roots and work with my vibrant ancient ancestors that my relationship to light and dark started to shift. I was able to start sitting with the darker sides of myself without anxiety as nighttime approached. I was able to walk outside at night with greater comfort, connecting with my mother's mother's people, who would travel by ski over the snow, and to my mother's father's people who would read the night sky. I no longer felt alone in the dark, I felt connected to something greater and supported in digging deeper into my own shadows.
When a dear friend came to a December celebration a couple of years ago with unbridled enthusiasm for the return of the Sun it struck me deeply. I had been focused on the dimming light of November and December and not recognizing that the threshold had been reached, and the Sun was now returning to offer us longer days. Over time the winter ceased to be a span of the calendar with less light and instead became a time to rest into faith and trust in the return of the light. Recently I have been greeting the sunset with joy at the knowledge of moonrise, knowing that the Sun is ever present as the Moon is the Sun's mirror.
As I reflect on these internal shifts, I am left with a deep sense of gratitude. Gratitude for a new sense of balance in light and dark and gratitude for new perspectives. What have you been noticing? What has this time of year been teaching you? No matter where you find yourself, I hope that the spirit of December has met you just where you needed it to. Wishing you beautiful holiday celebrations!
Much love to you and your spirit,
Sara
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