Bringing Forth the Light

From ancient times, the winter season has been seen as part of balance of nature, a time where the balance point changes between the darkness and the light.

As with the falling of the leaves, it is a time for change and a natural time for letting go of all that which seems dark within one's life. A natural time for making choices to bring in the light, both to lessen the darkness within, and to open ourselves to life's full grace and beauty.

Throughout history, in all of the world's cultures, through belief systems, festivals, traditions and practices, the changes in the cycles of birth, death and rebirth have been intrinsically and symbolically honored. From this honoring comes our holidays, our 'holy days.'

When we walk between the veils of one season and the next, or one change or one emotion and the next., or even one 'holy day' and the next, we find ourselves always balancing our emotions, balancing the dark emotions, the very ones which create power and change, or the light emotions, the ones which bring in joy and abundance.

As with both the winter and the summer solstice, the balancing of the dark and the light is part of the deepest of the shadow work inside, as well as outside of ourselves. Everything and everyone is connected and our connection to nature is the deepest and truest example of this balancing and the deepest of needs for that connection.

Winter Solstice can vary because of place or time but it falls on December 21st or December 22nd  and is the moment when the earth is at a point in its orbit where one hemisphere is most inclined away from the sun.

Solstice is of a Latin borrowing and means 'sun stand', referring to the appearance that the sun's noontime elevation stops in its progress. It is both the shortest day, and the longest night of the year. Many cultures the world over perform solstice ceremonies. At their root is the ancient fear that the failing light would never return unless humans intervened with some vigil or celebration.

The Winter Solstice has always been associated with the birth of a divine king in many different cultures, long before the rise of Christianity and the blessed birth of the holy infant, Jesus. Yet with all connections this same archetypal pattern is also seen in other belief systems around the world.

Since the Sun is considered to represent the male divinity in many pagan traditions, this time is celebrated as the return of the sun god where he is reborn of the goddess. Other cultures have similar beliefs and associations.Many cultures celebrate, or celebrated, a holiday near (within a few days) of the winter solstice--Yalda, Saturnalia, Christmas, Karachun, Hanukkah, Festivus, and Kwanzaa.

Yule and the burning of the yule log, is deeply rooted in this cycle for it is a ritual based upon our own facing of 'the dark night of our souls', and the springing forth of the sparks of hope, the Sacred Fire, the Light of the World, and that which was known in Celtic lore as Coel Coeth.

Christmas, like all holy or holi-days, is a special time of remembranceo f both the birth of thenew divining power and all of the symbols of home and family. It is a time when we can most acutely feel the greatest darkness or the brightest light, a time of giving, of receiving, or for some a time of loss of light, and a feeling of going into the dark.

This is a deep time and a sacred space, a time and a symbol for all of us about being lost, facing those emotions and feeling the sadness, the yearning, and the grief that such loss brings into our lives. It is a time of immense spiritual and energetic power. But because of this, it is also a time when emotions can quickly spark and even inflame and overpower us.

It is therefore a time, to face these deepest aspects of ourselves, known as our shadow self, for it only with the coming of the light that we can cast and therefore be aware of our own shadows and the role they play in our lives.

But with that darkness, comes the sacred birth of a new light and all of the wisdom, power, and knowledge that this sacred birth created and brought into our lives for transfiguration and rebirth.

It is the greatest, and most powerful time to face the truth of your own shadows, to ground yourself by connecting your own heartspace to the deepest and most sacred truths of the heart and joy of the world and unite into the balance point of all we know and feel in the deepest parts of our true selves as being holy.

Once that bell has rung and heard within our consciousness, we do not turn away from that which is in the shadows, but we acknowledge them as being a part of ourselves and turn ourselves into the light.

This wonderful New Moon in Capricorn, and the relationships to the placement of the other planets is a call to action and leadership in our own lives. It is not simply the call to revolution that so many seek to manifest outside of ourselves, but within. Change your own mind, change your own actions, and change your beliefs.

We do not get what we want in this lifetime, we get that which we believe. Change those beliefs and how you choose to emote and to manifest today, and change your life and be the leader in that life that you were meant to be.

We are all warriors of the spirit. Amazing women and amazing men who choose to manifest that which is light within themselves and not that which is the dark shadow self. Both are needed for the balance point but we have the power to choose and to manifest the powers in that side of ourselves which creates goodness and godliness while learning from that which creates empathy and understanding for others

Find that creative manifestation of this gateway, and walk with power and the inner truth of love, joy, and power through the gateway of wisdom and power.

We create our gifts of abundance, we manifest blessings and peace, and we enter into a new place of well-being and joy. Celebrate with the gifts of nature, the gifts of our hands, and the many blessings and gifts from our hearts.

Happiest of Holy Days from the light of my heart, and my home, to yours.

The December solstice takes place on December 21 northern hemisphere/December 22 southern 

It marks the Northern Hemisphere’s shortest day (first day of winter) and Southern Hemisphere’s longest day (first day of summer). 

Michele Savikko Bilyeu 

Creates With Heart and Hands sharing an imaginative, magical,and healing journey from Alaska to Oregon and back again.

Creating, designing, sewing, quilting, and wildcrafting, 

"from my heart and with my hands"

Bringing in of the Light, the Gifts, and Gratitude

Throughout  history, in all of the world's cultures, through belief systems,  festivals, traditions and practices, the changes in the cycles of birth,  death and rebirth have been intrinsically and symbolically honored.

From this honoring comes our holidays...our 'holy or holi-days.'

From ancient times, the winter season has been seen as part of  balance of nature...a time where the balance point changes between the darkness and the light.

As with the falling of the  leaves, it is a time for change and a natural time for letting go of all  that which seems dark within one's life.

A natural time for making  choices to bring in the light...both to lessen the darkness within, and  to open ourselves to life's full grace and beauty.

When  we walk between the veils of one season and the next......or one change  or one emotion and the next...or even one 'holy day' and the next....we  find ourselves always balancing our emotions.

Balancing the dark emotions, the very ones which create power and change, or the light emotions, the ones which bring in joy and abundance.

Winter  Solstice falls on December 21 (Northern Hemisphere) or December 22  (Southern Hemisphere) and is the moment when the earth is at a point in its orbit, where one hemisphere is most inclined away from the sun.

Solstice is of a Latin borrowing and means 'sun stand', referring to the  appearance that the sun's noontime elevation stops in its progress. It is both the shortest day, and the longest night of the year.

Many  cultures the world over perform solstice ceremonies. At their root is  the ancient fear that the failing light would never return unless humans  intervened with some vigil or celebration.

I light candles and make wreathes from cuttings from evergreen trees and winter flowering shrubs in the yard. I add branches of red dogwood and sprigs of holly.

This "wildcrafting" brings me closer to nature, its seasons and all of the sensory delights and organic elements for celebrating this season.

And my tree, itself, is decorated in natural "earth colors" rather than traditional red and green. They are almost all  hand or homemade including my pieced and stuffed "peace and prayer" fabric hearts, my dried flowers, homemade ornaments and a kit of simple burlap or calico "cloughtie" or prayers and best wishes strips.  I call it my "Woodland Christmas" tree and I love it.

It feels, looks and represents all of the wintery, holiday, natural and home made elements that  I've always loved but still incorporates the spiritual feelings and remembrance that  I treasure from this season.

The Winter  Solstice has always been associated with the birth of a divine king in  many different cultures, long before the rise of Christianity and the  blessed birth of the holy infant, Jesus.

Since the Sun  is considered to represent the male divinity in many pagan traditions,  this time is celebrated as the return of the sun god where he is reborn  of the goddess. Other cultures have similar beliefs and  associations.

Many cultures celebrate, or celebrated, a holiday near (within a few days) of  the winter solstice... Yalda, Saturnalia,  Christmas, Karachun, Hanukkah, Festivus, and Kwanzaa.

Christmas, like all holy or holidays, is a special time of remembrance of both the birth of the new divining power and all of the symbols of home and  family. It is a time when we can most acutely feel the greatest darkness  or the brightest light...a time of giving, of receiving.....or for some  a time of loss of light, and a feeling of going into the dark.

This  is a deep time and a sacred space, a time and a symbol for all of us about being lost, facing those emotions and feeling the sadness, the yearning, and the grief that such loss brings into our lives.

But  with that darkness, comes the sacred birth of a new light and all of  the wisdom, power, and knowledge that this sacred birth created and  brought into our lives for transfiguration and rebirth.

We create our gifts of abundance, we manifest blessings and peace, and we enter into a new place of well-being and joy.

Celebrate with the gifts  of nature, the gifts of our hands, and the many blessings and gifts from  our hearts.

I always celebrate with a Winter Solstice Celebration. On some years, I have invited my family (and my family's extended family) to our home, where we shared the fruits, nuts, and grains of harvests past and libations and toasts of good health and joy.

We welcomed in the bringing of the light into all of our lives as the new cycle began once again.

But most years we celebrate privately, each family in it's own way. We look at the moon, we feel the magic of the night air, we look at the mysteries of the stars, the planets and we feel such remembrance of times past, of all of those we have lost whether this year or in the past.  

It is our own secret anniversary of the heart. And most of all there are blessings, prayers and gratitude for all we love and are grateful for. 

I think of the year past with its Joy's and its challenges and I feel gratitude for having made it through them with as much grace as I did. 

Gratitude for those we have loved, gratitude and sorrow for those we have lost but always with gratitude for the returning of the light.

On Christmas Eve, I celebrate the passing of one year, and enter another. For it is my own birthday. This year I celebrate the beginning of my last year in the decades of my life.  The last year of my sixth decade.

Again, without fanfare but celebrated quietly yet still honored and grateful for what I have had and been able to do but more importantly what I felt blessed to give.

Happiest of Holy Days from the light of my heart, and my home, to the lights of all of your hearts and all of your homes,


Michele Bilyeu Creates With Heart and Hands as she shares her imaginative, magical, and healing journey from Alaska to Oregon. Creating, designing, sewing, quilting, and wildcrafting... from my heart and with my hands.

Winter Solstice and the Changing of the Light

From ancient times, the winter season has been seen as part of balance of nature...a time where the balance point changes between the darkness and the light.

With the shortening of the day and daylight, comes an increase in the lengthening of the night and darkness. It is a natural time for letting go of all that which seems dark within one's life, and a time for making choices to bring in the light...both to lessen the darkness within..... and to open ourselves to grace and beauty.

Throughout history, in all of the world's cultures, through belief systems, festivals, traditions and practices, the changes in the cycles of birth, death and rebirth have been intrinsically, and symbolically honored. From this honoring comes our holidays...our 'holy days.'

When we walk between the veils of one season and the next......or one change or one emotion and the next.......or even one 'holy day' and the next.......we find ourselves always balancing our emotions...balancing the dark emotions, the very ones which create power and change, or the light emotions, the ones which bring in joy and abundance.

One of hardest of the darker emotions is that of sorrow, grief and loss. Today, I am recognizing and honoring the gift that the darkness brings in, as I honor the sadness of all of us as we face, or as we remember the many energies of loss in all our lives.

I am remembering the 27 who lost their lives this December in an idyllic little town in Connecticut because of the darkness that lay within the soul of the 28th. I am remembering the two who loss their lives in Portland's Clackamas Town Center.

I am remembering the loss of so many loved ones, so many family members, and friends who left us all far too soon.  And I am honoring them in my memory as I think of the deeper meaning of this day of balance between the darkness and the reappearance of the light into all of our lives.

I am think of today, the day of our Winters Solstice and the 12-21-12 symbology of the 13th Baktun.....or the Mayan calendar ending, or really......just a holy transitioning into a new era of spiritual consciousness, and awareness.

A 'Solstice' is of a Latin borrowing and means 'sun stand', referring to the appearance that the sun's noontime elevation stops in its progress. It is both the shortest day...and the longest night of the year. Many cultures the world over perform solstice ceremonies. At their root is the ancient fear that the failing light would never return unless humans intervened with some vigil or celebration.

Many ancient cultures built astronomical observatories...tombs, temples, or cairns, to align with the solstices and equinoxes. Structures such as those at Stonehenge or Newgrange are illuminated by the winter solstice sunrise. A shaft of sunlight shines through the Newgrange chamber and lights up its chamber for 17 minutes from dawn of the 19th to the 23rd of December. The light illuminates intricate carvings of spirals, eyes, and solar shapes. Hundreds of other megalithic structures throughout Europe are oriented in similar ways.

The celebration of "Yule/Jul/Joulu" or winter festival, is at the time of greatest darkness and the longest night of the year. In pre-Christian times, Germanic tribes celebrated Yule from the late December to early January. Thus, the terms Yule and Christmas came to be used interchangeably in many countries.

 

The Winter Solstice has always been associated with the birth of a divine king in many different cultures, long before the rise of Christianity. Since the Sun is considered to represent the male divinity in many pagan traditions, this time is celebrated as the return of the sun god where he is reborn of the goddess. Other cultures have similar beliefs and associations.Many cultures celebrate or celebrated a holiday near (within a few days) the winter solstice... Yalda, Saturnalia, Christmas, Karachun, Hanukkah, Festivus, and Kwanzaa.

Christmas, like all holy or holidays, is a special time of remembrance of both the birth of the new, divining power, and the symbols of home and family. It is a time when we can most acutely feel the greatest darkness or the brightest light...a time of giving, of receiving.....or for some a time of loss of light, and a feeling of going into the dark.

This is a deep time and a sacred space, a time and a symbol for all of us about being lost, facing those emotions and feeling the sadness, the yearning, and the grief that such loss brings into our lives.

Such is the sadness, the loss and the acceptance of the dark into our lives that each of us is asked to face at different times. Knowing that the dark will eventually find its way back into the light again is also the knowledge of the power of this holy time in our own lives.

Remember the sacrifice, remember all of those beautiful and precious little children and what they have taught us. Remember that everything that happens is a beacon in the darkness to bring us to full consciousness and that it is no accident that their little town was named "Newtown".  It is time for transition, time for a metamorphic change into our better and higher selves. A time for awareness for how things should be, how we should be and not where and how we all are now.

Remember those 20 little beacons of goodness and light, and bring that light into your own lives, as I will mine. Let us never forget the sacrifices so many have made to teach, to guide, and to bring us into grace. This is a season filled with holi-days, let us never forget.


Michele Bilyeu blogs With Heart and Hands as she shares a quilting journey through her life in Salem, Oregon and Douglas, Alaska and all of her AAQI Quilting. Sharing thousands of links to Free Quilt Patterns and encouraging others to join in the Liberated Quilting Challenge and make or donate small art quilts to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) Help us change the world, one little quilt at a time!