Oooga Booga Smooga Wooga! - Into the Darkness

[crispini]

The US Naval Observatory maintains charts that show the length of the day. At this link, you can put in your location, and it will show you how many hours of daylight you have every day. This time of year, where I live, we have about 10 hours of daylight. That means we have full 14 hours of darkness, every day. Other places, north of here, get even less daylight than I do.

Early humans must have wondered, at this time every year, whether or not the life-giving, warmth-giving sun was ever going to come back. That might be the root of early civilizations' efforts in astronomy -- the desire to KNOW that the light would be coming back, and when.

This is a time of stilling, of sleeping, of growing cold, of quietness. It is the yin to our yang. This time of silence is not particularly to the taste of the average modern American, who prefers noise, parties, and the eternal busy-ness of our modern civilization. But it is an integral part of light. No heat without cold, no day without night, no summer without winter, no life without death. Two sides of the same coin.

We as a nation are also descending into a form of darkness. The economic situation is causing fear and concern everywhere. I am without a job myself and some days find it difficult to get out of bed and do something productive. After all, what's the point of looking for a job when there are no jobs to be had?

There are two ways we can handle this growing psychic and physical darkness. We can despair, and give up hope, and give up trying. Some days this certainly seems easiest. But, this "contracting" time of the year is necessary for our natural planet; it is part of our rhythms. So too does this contracting economy, I believe, hold some higher purpose, some pattern or meaning which will become apparent as we move into it. Ending times are necessary for new beginnings. Loss is necessary to bring new things into the world. Now, in this time of change, it's important not to despair, not to shut down, but to remain open to possibilities despite the fear and cold and quiet.

This year when I attend the annual Solstice celebration, in the middle of the ceremony we will sit together, silent, as all the lights go out. To me, that is the essence of Solstice -- sitting in a dark and quiet room, and waiting and patiently hoping. Then there are pinpoints of light, and more, and more. A blazing festival of lights in the darkness, of hope and promise of something new at this quiet and barren time of year. That is where we are going.

Keep the faith. Oooga Booga Smooga Wooga!

[LiberalEsto]

1. Beautiful message.

Thank you so much for posting it. I needed to see it because I'm getting kind of down about not working.

I'm forwarding it to the people organizing our circle's Winter Solstice ritual

BB OBSW

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Thanks so much. That is a wonderful post.

I am without a job myself and some days find it difficult to get out of bed and do something productive. After all, what's the point of looking for a job when there are no jobs to be had?

I find myself in the exact same position. If it were not for DU and the Shiba Inu puppy cam, I do not know what I would do every day.

I did find inspiration from your post. I am going to print it and keep it on my mirror.

BTW, here in Brooklyn, we are getting 9 hours 24 minutes of daylight today. I cannot wait for the Solstice, and the days to start getting longer again. It is a time of rebirth and starting over. It is the prelude to Spring. I have read that it is no coincidence that the birth of Jesus was set to this time, even though historical/astronomical research indicates he was born in the Spring.

Thank you again for the memorable post.

[gblady]

3. I, too...

thank you for this inspirational post...
where I am we have 8:38 hours of light today....
I knew it was short...but didn't realize it was that little time.

And I, too, am unemployed and searching...it can feel hopeless at times...
Nature is where I draw strength and hope...it keeps going round and so will I.

[crispini]

4. Kick.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Nice post, Crispini...

We have 5 hours and 57 minutes of daylight here right now. Our shortest day will have a half hour less. You gotta have faith to endure through an Alaskan winter, but it makes springtime and the coming of the light that much more special. :)