The darkest day in what has felt to many like a very dark year is upon us. A rare celestial event will also happen on this Winter Solstice on December 21: Jupiter and Saturn haven’t been seen this close together since the year 1226.
In reality these planets are hundreds of millions of miles apart, yet for this one day they will appear to be together. It is thought that the Star of Bethlehem might have also been the result of a similar phenomenon.
Is it a coincidence that we are having this ‘Great Conjunction’ at the end of a year consumed with a worldwide pandemic in which all people have been impacted?
Things that may look separate (what someone chooses to eat on the other side of the planet) actually can alter all of us.
Natural Rhythms & Interconnection
What do interconnection and the natural rhythms of the earth mean for us today?
For thousands of years people have celebrated the winter solstice as a return to HOPE, with the darkest days passed and the light slowly returning.
The darkness was not just a waiting game, but a necessary re-balancing.
People knew that winter was a time to slow down, rest, integrate. As Priestess, ritualist and author Ruth Barrett says:
“We must wait in the darkness of Midwinter, and this is not easy for most of us who are not comfortable with the dark, silence, resting and dreaming.
In the darkest part of the year when the days are shortest, Nature asks us to slow down and enjoy a cup of warm tea, to be with loved ones, to listen rather than to speak.
Under the ground the earth silently sleeps. Seeds rest in suspended animation, and the animals hibernate.
In contrast, we humans rush frantically to the malls, stressing ourselves with activity when we really need to rest, dream and gather strength in our bodies for the coming season of renewal.
For many people in the United States, taking the time to dream and rest is seen as a sign of laziness.
However, nature teaches us that resting, drawing inward for a time, is present in all living things. Rest is necessary for growth that comes later in the season.”
Our ancestors embraced this season as a time to ponder the mysteries and wonders of the natural world and of life itself- this fragile, fleeting journey we find ourselves on.
Somehow we have turned it into an excuse to get even busier than ever, directly opposing the rhythms of nature.
Investigative journalist and ‘professional troublemaker’ George Monbiot addresses the over-consumption which has been superimposed on the December holy days in this brilliant article. He connects the harm we do to ourselves to the harm we also do to the earth (interconnection).
What is a modern-day human who aspires to good health and sanity to do?
Honor the natural rhythms
- Give yourself permission to rest.
- Be. Breathe. Watch the sky. Let it be enough.
- You do not need to apologize for this. You are simply honoring the natural order.
- Some of you may be saying ‘Too Late! I am already over-committed.’ In this case I suggest grabbing moments of quiet whenever you can. Put the technology down and take 3-5 deep belly breaths. Repeat as necessary.
Honor interconnection
At the root of the pandemic and resulting suffering which has clouded 2020 is the dysfunctional relationship we humans have with the non-human animals.
If we spent more time honoring the concept of inter-being we would not have Covid (or SARS, HIV, influenza or even the common cold for that matter). This video by physician and pandemic expert Dr. Michael Gregor, made over a decade ago, outlines all of this very clearly.
Some have politicized Covid, but virology doesn’t take political sides. A pandemic like Covid has been predicted for decades, and we will unfortunately have more if we don’t change the root cause.
I invite you to join me for a gentle exploration in the month of January
You don’t have to commit to being 100% vegan, just commit to learning more and making whatever shifts feel right to you.
If you’re not on Facebook, you can sign-up for Veganuary’s emails directly.
Won’t you join us? Let’s start 2021 by honoring inter-being.
As the owl who has woken me up the past 2 nights in a row calling outside my window reminded me: There is more to consider in the universe than just the needs of humans.
While we spend a lot of time on the human-generated drama, the sun and the moon continue to dance with each other’s shadows, and each new day offers us the possibility of redemption.
I wish you and your family peaceful and restful holy-days.
With love,
Erin
Shamanic Healing Update
Because of some other projects I am working on, I am taking a break from coaching clients but I continue to offer shamanic healing since even one session can create a shift. Click here to learn more or to book a session.
Below is a testimonial from a recent client.
“As soon as I spoke to Erin on the phone to schedule the shamanic journey I started to feel a shift in energy. During the call when the actual work was being done I felt a bit of a release and a lightning of the energy Inside my body. The depression and heaviness that I have been feeling started to alleviate and continued to improve for weeks after the journey. My Dogs seemed to sense something happening as well, they started barking in the middle of the session for no apparent reason, then went back to sleep. I can tell that I’ve had a shift on the chemical and energetic operating levels. It was a very helpful experience that I plan to do again.”
