December 21st Solstice and Dark Moon

We are coming up on the shortest day of the year, the Winter Solstice. I look forward to this day  only because it means that once again we are shifting into a new phase where the days slowly get longer. It is the promise of Spirit that dark mornings and dark evenings will not last forever. It is also the date of the dark moon, although some calendars are listing it the 21st and some are listing it to be on the 22nd. No worries. The energy of darkness is still upon us.

Darkness is not always a bad thing. The darkness of the  moon reminds us to go within ourselves and find the wisdom and the power within ourselves to move forward in our lives. Symbolically the dark moon is all about releasing what no longer serves us or is healthy and nurturing to our souls. The darkness of the solstice also reminds us that this is the time of year when much of nature is sleeping.

I believe that Spirit gives us messages through the activity or non activity of nature. So many times we as humans are constantly on the move. We are racing towards real or imagined goals. We are constantly living in a state of chasing our dreams. Sometimes it feels like those dreams are just beyond our reach, not unlike the carrot that is dangled just beyond the reach of the racing horses. Now truthfully, I don't even know if they still do that dangling carrot thing, I know that I have seen it on television so it seems like a good analogy.

Are you feeling like that horse that is chasing after a carrot that always seems just beyond your reach? You always ALMOST get there. You almost reach a goal, only to see it drift away or, upon finally getting hold of that carrot, you find another obstacle staring you in the face.

May I suggest that you use the energy of this particular solstice and dark moon to just stop chasing that carrot for a season?

Yes, I am suggesting you take inventory of all the things that are working in your life. Look around you and count your blessings. Enjoy family. Eat too much chocolate. Be content with where your life is at this very moment. If you have nothing to be thankful for, then be thankful that you woke up this morning. That you  have breath, and life.

This dark moon is all about releasing and reinventing yourself.

Sometimes you have to release what you have been trying so hard to manifest and just enjoy your life the way it is.

Surrender to Spirit is all about things not having to work out the way you expected that they would.

Just for today, enjoy your life exactly the way it is at this moment. Be kind to yourself. Love those extra pounds you have packed on while being tempted with eggnog and Christmas treats. Love that guy ringing the bell for the Salvation Army that reminds you that some people are worse off than you are this time of year. Love the frost on your windshield. Love the lines at the mall. Take some time and just BE. BE HERE.

Tomorrow is another day.

Today's Winter Solstice

Many of you know that today is what is known as the winter solstice. Today is the shortest day of the year and starting today, we begin the progression to more and more daylight hours.

Symbolically, today is an excellent day for going within. It is a day of darkness, symbolizing taking time for inner reflection. Winter itself speaks of taking time for letting go of the need for outside stimulation and allowing our roots to grow deep. In the winter the trees shed their leaves, the flowers are dormant, many animals are hibernating. And yet we humans very often don't take the time for rest and reflection. This is a need that is so essential in our busy busy lives.

Instead of finding time for inner reflection, many of us will be hitting the malls, on that last minute shopping frenzy to find that "perfect" gift. What about taking some time and give a gift to yourself? I don't have time!! you might protest. Yes you do!!

I often hear this protest from my daughter, a single mother of two who works nights as a security guard. Everyone has at least a moment or two to breathe in and breathe out, thank the Universe for the blessings you have enjoyed, focus on your heart, and send love to yourself and others. One day last week I was blessed to be in the position of taking all three of my young grandchildren to the grocery store. At one point I was standing in line and two of the three were grabbing everything in sight. After losing it for a moment, I said out loud, "breathe in breathe out breathe in breathe out." and it was all better.

I like to take my ten minute drive to work to send love to every person I will interact with that day, to all my family members and to all that each of them will interact with that day. I send love to my heart and to my unseen Helpers.

Each of us must at some point go to the bathroom or take a shower. These are perfect opportunities to send love to your heart!

If you have more than a couple of moments today, you might create a ritual to thank your soul, your higher powers, and the energies at work in our lives for the past year. Give thanks for the blessings, the hard times, the challenges, and then release it all to the Universe so that you can be ready to take on the new year!

Invite into your heart all the unseen Help that is available and ask that your heart be aligned with its highest purpose and the highest energy available. Imagine that your physical body is lining up with your soul body. Imagine light and love being poured into every cell in your body. Even if you don't believe that there is power in visualization or that the energy of our souls is amazing and powerful, this meditation will make you feel good!! That in itself is the best reason to do this!

You might want to find a soothing picture to look at, or gaze into the flame of a candle. Meditate on your favorite deity, or even a houseplant! I can get to my happy place gazing at a pen! There is god force energy inherent in every object that graces our lives! All we have to do is expect to see the god in it!

Just for today, take a moment for yourself. Give yourself the gift of inner reflection. Find something to be thankful for. Release the old, and welcome in the new!

Remember that everything in our lives is a gift if we can just find the blessing in it!