Sacred Darkness, Holy Light

We are in a season of changing Light. Slight as changes may be, we acknowledge, and even celebrate, them. Of course, Solstice is the most grand, being one of the Cross Quarters humanity has long ritualized.

Seeking to describe this change of Light, I found this poem. Its stunning opening:

The voyager that   

Travels the furthest

Light is a traveler. Its mission: traveling across miles & miles & miles of space to reach us.... collectively and individually.

Humanity has always worshipped the Light, whatever its Source. The Sun. The Moon. Volcanoes. Stars. Fire. Each of these Sources produces awe and wonder. Our first keeping of time was by Light: Sun and Moon for the day; length of SunLight and MoonLight for the seasons, the year. We mark our lives by those same sources of Light.

We also acknowledge the changing faces of the Moon. Light as Traveler finds its way from the Sun to the Moon. From there, Light turns its reflection our way. What an odd way to travel! Currently, we celebrate the New Moon ~ a time of no reflected light. Does that mean Light is not traveling? Not possible! And then, there's the Solar Eclipse. The New Moon and Solar Eclipse occurring within hours of each other. This Solar Eclipse brings opportunity for expansiveness, generosity and big dreams. In Capricorn, it leans us toward regaining control over our life, embracing maturity, and forming a practical plan to achieve goals. With Solstice less than a week past, this is a season in which we notice the Light....and pray that the Light notices us.

This is the season of Change. Winter Solstice: the turning from Sacred Darkness to Holy Light. Summer Solstice: the turning from Holy Light to Sacred Darkness. This Voyager, this Ambassador reaches us for the shortest or the longest of days. It's all about the turning of our world.

On our travels through our lives, our personal world turns. Sometimes it's joy and warmth; sometimes it's too hot and bright. Most people prefer the light times, just as most people prefer the yearly season of Light. It feels more comfortable.

Without Sacred Darkness, we would not recognize Holy Light. One is found in the presence of the other. Darkness replenishes us. We sleep at night. In a darkened room. Our circadian rhythms shift with the shifting of the Dark and Light. We need sleep which finds us during the Sacred Darkness. Sacred Darkness enfolds us as we grieve or have needs or fears. Comfort comes from this enfolding when we allow it, when we open our hearts to let the breath of Sacred Darkness breathe us as well. We know this place instinctually, yet often ignore or even run away from it. As with Holy Light, Sacred Darkness is a gift.

How do you celebrate the season of Light? What rituals do you perform? Do you do them with a community? or on your own? How do you differentiate between the Holy Light and the Sacred Darkness? What do you feel this Solar Eclipse brings to you? How do you address the Shadow cast by the Light? and the Aura that's left?

Addicted to Story

When was the last time you had a conversation and no one related a story? My guess? Never. Whether we talk about our jobs or our last trip to the store or the latest sports scores, stories emerge. We share our lives, our interactions with others, our impressions. Each of those moments is a story. Even our gossip around the proverbial water-cooler emerges into story.

This quote says we are addicted to story and in terms of addiction being "...a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior..." that is certainly the case.

Yesterday, I wrote about a friend's upcoming choices regarding a gift of travel. I asked her to keep me informed about her decision. My reason for asking? My personal addiction to story. I want to know the rest of it. What did she decide? Why did she make that decision? How did she let Uncle Joe know? If she chose to go, where would they go? and when? Did she have a picture of the rented house? For me, the story ~ HER story ~ is what's of interest. Yes, I'd love to do the travel myself, but that's not the point, is it? The point is in the tale.

That's how we share our lives and how we share in the lives of others. We watch TV shows for their drama and the relationships they build whether the shows are soap operas, sitcoms, dramas or reality shows. More and more books are being written as part of at least a trilogy. Even when we realize the storyline itself in the shows or books is less than stellar, we want to know the tale: What's happening to whom? Why did it happen? Where might it go from here? It is our drive to know more, to hear the next installment, that keeps us involved ~ with books, with TV shows and with the people around us.

What do you value about story? How do you get your story fix? Do you feel the draw ~ the addiction ~ to story? What do you do satisfy that draw? How do you add to others batch of stories?