Finding Light in the Dark
“This magnificent refuge is inside you.
Enter.
Shatter the darkness that shrouds the doorway.
Be bold. Be humble.
Put away the incense and forget the incantations they taught you.
Ask no permission from the authorities.
Close your eyes and follow your breath.
To the still place that leads to the
Invisible path that leads you home.”
-St Theresa of Avila
Today is the shortest and darkest day of the year in the Northern hemisphere and the longest and brightest day in the Southern Hemisphere. Solstice’ means ‘sun stands still’ or ‘standing of the sun’, and at this time of the year, for several days before and after the Winter Solstice, the sun appears to stand still in the sky.
My family is from the far northern reaches of the planet in Scandinavia. The days are very short and up farther north there is no sun. These lightless days last for weeks with the sun reappearing sometime in February.
Though I am far away from the North, here in New Mexico, this year is seems the days are the shortest I’ve ever felt them. By 1 pm the shadows are getting long and by 4:45 pm the sun is down and the sky is gloamy.
There is something about using the darkness and an invitation to look deeper, to take an inward journey.
The Winter Solstice is a time of reflection and renewal. There is an invitation here to take a moment out of our normal lives to be still and connect to the bigger picture of where we are in our journey.
At this time, all of nature is resting and still – seeds and bulbs hide beneath the ground from the colder weather, and many animals hibernate. We too can use this time to rest and rejuvenate. There is great benefit to be had from allowing ourselves periods of retreat that can help us to nourish our bodies, minds and spirits and nurture the tender seeds of our own creations.
So on this shortest day of the year I invite you to create a little ritual, a time out to acknowledge the shortest day of the year, knowing that from here on out each day will become longer.
A Candle Light and Tea Ritual
Note: Before starting the meditation, steep yourself a cup or pot of tea, preferably Shou Puerh tea or another tea to your liking.
Candle Meditation: There is something so satisfying about staring into a candle, to look mindlessly at a flame. I do this with fires as well. Let’s face it, fire is primal and raw. As simple as this sounds, staring at a flame is a very ancient practice used to bring calm, improve your memory, enhance your ability to focus and be fully in the moment, aware.
In this meditation:
Sit comfortably on the floor as if you would for any meditation. If the floor is difficult for you, sit next to a coffee table on the sofa or a chair.
Light a candle and focus your attention solely on the flame.
Start with 5 minutes, continually returning your attention to the flame when your mind begins to wander or tire.
When you are finished, sit or recline with eyes closed for a few minutes to integrate the practice.
Tea Ritual: Shou puerh means “ripe”. It is a fermented tea from Yunnan, China which brings lovely warmth and grounding on a cold winters day. This is a tea which brings a deep meditative state and is nurturing and healing.
After your candle meditation, pour your cup of tea and sip it slowly.
Bring mindfulness to this ritual by watching the steam rise and dance from the cup.
Notice the tea oil floating to the top of the cup.
Smell the aroma, notice how it feels and taste on your tongue and in your mouth.
Feel the warmth of the tea move down your body. Feel it open your heart space.
Drop into a deeper awareness of what sits inside you, what is present around you.
