The last few days before winter solstice are always a slog. The darkness becomes gelatinous. It's like one of those dreams in which you try to run but can only move in slow motion. Some years, I snuggle indoors during the last week before solstice. I watch Hugh Grant movies in an effort to locate a sweet inner space of goodness and compassion (when possible). But not this year, oh no. Nope. This solstice is not serene.
My strategy this year has been to tilt at the darkness, to get all up in the face of the long, cold, dark nights by gathering with dear friends, feasting, toasting, laughing, bellowing over the roar of the crowds in restaurants and such. It's a traditional strategy for many people. It's really fun. Who knew?
The planets are conspiring to make this winter solstice a real toad strangler (in the American midwest, this is a phrase that describes a super hard rain, but somehow seems appropriate here). The moon will be full on the longest night, but it will be fully eclipsed for a very long time here on the North American continent. Full moons tend to magnify energy, eclipses always intensify everything. Add to that the chaos of Mercury retrograde and ... well ... this year we'd better party like it's 1999. Seriously.
This year, dancing in shamanic alignment with the solstice requires determination, courage, and a big ole bunch of good cheer. By laughing, drinking, eating and gathering with my friends I've raged, raged against the dying of the light.* Oh yeah. This is as it should be. Four more days. C'mon solstice, bring it. I'm ready for you, yes I am.
Cheers!
*Sorry Dylan, please forgive my paraphrasing of your beautiful poem.
9 comments:
Yep, it's a Hugh Grant movie sort of week. Hugh Grant with Drew Barrymore, and a large bowl of popcorn.
I could use a little light. I suppose it's fitting in a way that my BIL passed out of this life in the long dark nights of the year.
I'm feeling a lot of chaos. (making a note of "toad strangler" in my little notebook of poetry words)
Are ya'll getting the snow? A few hours south of you and we've currently got about 2 inches. I imagine that would alter the energy a bit!
It's quite the lazy day here now...
We're getting LOTS more snow than expected. At least a couple of inches so far and it's still falling. It's beautiful. The light in the chateau is so different - bluer, cleaner.
I love snow.
Willow you are so funny.
Toad strangler is a great expression! I plan to celebrate here as much as possible! :)
Loved that photo with the Christmas trees. Had assumed he was getting ready to climb into the drivers seat, but remembered that's the passenger seat in your part of the world!
Pam, ha! Yeah, he seemed to be getting something out of the truck.
I, too, have felt some lethargy with the shorter days and COLD. It's encouraged swirling thoughts about past and future. I should focus a bit more on today.
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