Welcome, Night

Recently I had the pleasure of spending an evening with the talented teacher and writer who taught the death midwife class I completed in person last December. She introduced our small group to several goddesses of the dark and night from various cultures around the world. Angie loves this time of year, when we can sit, be quiet, go in. And so do I.

Truthfully, a lifelong morning person, I have felt this love grow quietly inside me through the years until at this time in life, I am finally able to fully appreciate the move inward to the cave and the dark of night. Yes, I still rise before the sun and am at my waking best during the day. But the night brings a quiet dark- or occasionally a dark in which the wind howls and cries and speaks loudly through the chimes at the door or the hissing ringing power lines off the alley. And the night is a time to sleep, and sleep brings dreams. And I do love my dreamworld.

Yesterday I flew into Calgary, quite a bit farther north than where I live, and I was quickly reminded how much more night there is at this latitude this time of year- and how much cold. It's a bracing cold that keeps people inside. I love to be out in that cold for a bit, wind or not, to commune with the very present, hello I am right HERE, element Air. And then to go back inside. When it snows, I relish the presence of Water, whether pelting hard grains or giant fluffy trance-inducing flakes. When it does not snow, I lament that we need precipitation, but admire the hard, stable crunch of Earth beneath my feet, or in the form of bare rock outlined on a mountain by the austerity of the seasonal conditions. And I acknowledge the fading heat and glow of Fire, which takes a rest this time of year.

And brings the quiet of night.

I imagine I've written this before, maybe every year at this time. That this is the time of year people gather to bring warmth not provided by the elements- at least the closer to the poles one goes- and to bring hope and cheer to each other and themselves by meeting in community. There are all sorts of holiday meals and parties and gift giving events, and beautiful decorations on houses and trees and in parks and green spaces, on office buildings, in homes and commercial and professional spaces- everywhere. People rush to shop and cook and meet for a cocktail in their nice clothes, or in their outdoor gear to build bonfires to encourage the return of the Sun. Singing and playing music and dancing. Wishing and hoping for Spring.

But the Bear sleeps. And this time of year is important for making that inner journey, too, carving time for that. The Sun takes a break and asks us to take one too. The weather commands us to spend time inside, and not necessarily inside a structure with a bunch of people, but inside ourselves, our own unique home, to tidy up and even plan for the future when we go out and about again. Or just to dream. To relive the past, to create stories, to curl up and rest.

Wishing you time for just that this season.

Peace.