Awakening the Light

Each day the sun comes up earlier, I’m beginning to feel like the long dark winter is finally starting to ease it’s grip. I’m always happy when February 2nd arrives. In my family, that day is known as Candlemas, the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Today is the celebration of the light returning. We are half way through winter! Though I must confess, I am a great lover of winter and snow and everything that those two things bring, such as cross country skiing and snow shoeing and long saunters in the fresh, snow-filled air. So while many celebrate that winter is nearly over, I have a little twinge in my heart that it is nearly gone for another year.

If Candlemas day be fair and bright,

Winter will take another flight.

If Candlemas day be cloud and rain,

Winter is gone and will not come again.

For those of us who live in the far north or have our culture and traditions there, the winter is mostly dark. Each day gets a little longer. Candlemas is the day that the light returns for real and we can begin to see shadows.

Without light there is no shadow. For the second winter now, I have been spending time during these dark months of really slowing down, taking the deep descendent into the depths of myself and my soul. As the light returns, I can feel myself gently ascending into what will soon be Spring.

Before that happens, I will continue to enjoy the winter days with reading, knitting, recording sound meditations, and truly looking forward to the end of this pandemic so I can be reunited with my children once again. It has been over a year since I’ve seen them. I know many friends of adult children who have the same story to tell and are greatly looking forward to the reunions with their families and loved ones.

Candlemas is traditionally a Christian celebration based on pagan roots. Candlemas in the Christian tradition is 40 days since Christmas, the birth of Christ. It was referred to as the Festival of Lights because everyone brought the candles they made at Christmas time to the church to be blessed. Pagan or earth-based traditions have to do with farming societies. The fallow time is nearly at an end and the upcoming planting season promises food and rejuvenation once again.

Wishing you a beautiful return and awakening of the sun!