If there is light in the soul, There will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, There will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, There will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, There will be peace in the world. Chinese Proverb
Here, in the Northern Hemisphere, today is the Winter Solstice ~ the shortest day of the year and the longest night. It is the point in the year at which the days begin to lengthen and the light begins to weave its way back into our lives. It's officially the first day of winter and one of the oldest-known holidays in human history. Anthropologists believe that solstice celebrations go back at least 30,000 years, before humans even began farming on a large scale. Many of the most ancient stone structures made by human beings were designed to pinpoint the precise date of the solstice. The stone circles of Stonehenge were arranged to receive the first rays of midwinter sun.
For me it is the December holiday that feels the most authentic as it has been celebrated for thousands of years by many people all around the world and stems from the cycles of Mother Nature. As our lives are more and more connected to and dependent on technology and electronics I feel there is this dire need to reconnect with the cycles and wisdom of nature.
The Winter Solstice is a celebration of light going back thousands of years when people were not sure if the sun and warmth would come back, a time before scientists explained the earth's orbit. So they lit huge bonfires to tempt the sun to come back which lead to our tradition of decorating our houses and our trees with lights at this time of year.
The Winter Solstice can be traced back thousands of years and is associated with numerous religious and philosophical beliefs:
In ancient Japan the winter solstice was believed to be the time when the sun goddess Amaterasu emerged from her cave bringing light to the darkness.
The Incas held winter solstice celebrations in honor of Init, the sun god.
In ancient Egypt and Syria, people celebrated the winter solstice as the sun's birthday
In Germany, the winter solstice was a time to celebrate Hertha, the Norse goddess of light.
In ancient Rome, the winter solstice was celebrated with the festival of Saturnalia, during which all business transactions and even wars were suspended, and slaves were waited upon by their masters.
The Roman celebration of Sol Invictus, the Roman deity of the sun, was held on December 25th and represented the rebirth of the sun.
Interestingly, there are many parallels between these celebrations and Christmas. Traditionally, Christians celebrate Christmas as the day of the birth of the Son of God while other traditions were celebrating the rebirth of the Sun. (interesting play with phonics).
THE PARADOX OF OUR TIMES Is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers Wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints We spend more, but we have less.
We have bigger houses, but smaller families More conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees, but less sense More knowledge, but less judgement More experts, but more problems More medicines, but less wellness.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often We have learnt how to make a living, but not a life. We have added years to life, but not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back But have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour. We have conquered outer space, but not inner space. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted our soul. We've split the atom, but not our prejudice. We've higher incomes, but lower morals. We've become long on quantity but short on quality.
These are the times of tall men, and short character; Steep profits, and shallow relationships. These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare, More leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.
These are the days of two incomes, but more divorces; Of fancier houses, but broken homes. It is a time when there is much in the show window, and nothing in the stockroom.
A time when technology can bring this letter to you,
And a time when you can choose,
Either to make a difference .... or just hit, delete.
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama
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