It has always struck me as ironic that in our culture, Winter Solstice comes at a time of holiday rush and stress. Celebrating Winter Solstice is about acknowledging the value of rest, darkness, and quiet. Years ago a friend told me that in Oriental medicine, a period of winter rest is considered essential for healthy bones. If you take this further into metaphor, then the rest of the year's activity won't have a strong structure or framework or support, without this period of rest.
Back in Atlanta, I once taught an evening course at Emory University on human cycles. At the first session, a participant protested. "But I can't have cycles of productivity! My boss won't allow it!"
Ah yes. So the big question is: do I allow it in myself? Or do I push myself to "be at peak" the year 'round?
For a Christmas analogy, consider this. Jesus could have come to earth full grown, like an adult angel. Once we entertain miracles, why draw the line anywhere? So why come as a vulnerable infant?
Could it be that we need a time every year to celebrate "not being able to do much yet?" To celebrate our smallness? Limitations? The awesomeness of the larger Universe, and our tiny part in it?
This is ironic too, since our culture urges us to celebrate our achievements of the year, and to rush into planning those for next year. Perhaps we're even being urged to "not stop now - there are ten more days of the year - ten potential sales days, ten more production days."
Recently I read a quote from Gandhi. "I have so much to do today, I'll need to meditate twice as long." If we have a lot we want to do in the coming year - then this Winter Solstice period is the time for rest and quiet. Strength builds inside us, invisible in the dark.
9:07:54 AM 
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