Do you feel this Solstice Moment?

The moment after the solstice ‘minute’ – either the longest night or day depending which Hemisphere you live in. The term solstice comes “from the Latin solstitium literally : the (apparent) standing still of the sun” from sol sun + sistere to stand still”. (Collins English Dictionary)

The day of the Solstice or the days leading up to it are full of growing intensities in our lives. Deadlines, shopping lines, parking line-ups, and every relationship needing our attention including our dogs, cats. The days couldn’t be fuller. Taxing our senses, our consciousness.  Doesn’t feel particularly connected to the ‘holy’ does it?

Now, the crises and angsts of before have changed. Perhaps they are still there in form but the inner feeling has changed.

This (apparent) standing still  for three days provides an unexpected opportunity to turn toward the depths of soul and spirit. A slowing down.

For example

Yesterday, I tried to write this blog post and oh dear, what a frantic example of ‘got to get this done’ writing.

Plus I thought I had been doing ok so far in getting ready for Christmas. Everything seemed in hand, or well on its way. Like menus and gifts.

Now I realize it was as if I had been on some kind of ‘automatic’ pilot centred from my head.

Today I am also more conscious of my breath. Which means I can breathe more deeply as well. My shoulders are down. Yesterday my deadlines frustrated me. Today I am living into writing very differently.

Today I spent driving in construction line-ups and grocery lines. I didn’t seem to mind! I look around at folks. Glancing at their faces – even wondering about their lives, their concerns. What a change from last week.

A short story

I remember meal times with our daughter, many years ago now. Her posture was so interesting. So she would be sitting at the dining table, facing her plate, and eating, so everything seemed okay, right?

Then one day I realized that her lower half of her body, was not in sync. In other words, her legs and stomach were sort of twisted as if she was getting ready to leave the table, even though her upper body was facing forward. Wow!

Straightening our body, soul and spiritual posture

I sense this is what the Solstice brings. Noticing when our inner and outer consciousness is out of sync. Not everything is resolved of course. Yet the Solstice Moment enables us to notice and straighten our ‘posture’. And breathe. And we can let go, undoing doing.

How can we honour this cosmic invitation to straighten our individual and collective ‘posture’?

Let us light candles for this Solstice Moment leading into the twelve Holy Nights.

Let us have the courage to light candles in the dark, for those living in our hearts, for Peace, for Earth.

The light of the star that led the shepherds and wise men.

May the light of our candles give us courage to open to this place within us that flames with the wholeness of the visible and invisible worlds.

In Peace and Love,
Linda

I welcome sharing of your own noticings of your Solstice Moment!

 

 

Cross-quarter Days!

Yes I know it’s Halloween, All Saints Day, All Souls Day, Day of the Dead.

But I am referring to what the ancient peoples noticed and we call Cross-Quarter Days. Four in total during the year. And one this weekend: November 1^st.

I have come to love these Cross-Quarter Days: Approximately on November 1^st, Feb 2^nd, May 1^st and August 1^st.

You probably notice these are not the dates for the change of the four seasons, heralded by the solstices and equinoxes so well.

These Cross-quarter Days are midway between each of the solstice/equinox pairs or quarters of the year.

Specifics

Thus: November 1^st (also known as All Saints Day or Day of the Dead) this weekend, is midway between the Autumn Equinox (first day of fall in September) and the first day of winter, the winter solstice, Dec 22^nd.

February 2^nd (known as Candlemas or Ground Hog Day now) is midway between the winter solstice (Dec 22^nd) and the equinox on March 20^th.

May 1^st (also known as May Day now) is midway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice June 20^th.

August 1^st (known as Llamas (first harvest) Day) is midway between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox, Sept 22^nd.

Same dates for Southern Hemisphere, just opposite seasons.

For more details,you can watch this 47-second video, or read its accompanying article:

http://www.archaeoastronomy.com/seasons.html

A Soul Perspective

Regardless of where we live, Cross-Quarter Days are nourishing times for our souls! And don’t we need something?

There is an intensity to living, even surviving, all over the world now. I know that is an understatement!

I find Cross-Quarter times are best approached ‘in the moment’. You will know it is coming, of course. I find it really helpful to mark all the C-Q days in my calendar ahead.

I have been anticipating the current one all this week. But now, only a day or two prior do I actually find any kind of openness in even paying attention to something beyond my own life concerns.  It is so interesting.

It is usually a time for a subtle noticing. Which is just what the soul loves, right?

I am learning to lean into a trust in the universe. It’s way beyond any one of us individually of course, yet it’s individual as well. While C-Q days have roots in Middle Ages and Celtic traditions, Cross-Quarter Days are really available to everyone now.

Here’s what I do

I notice when the C-Q day arrives. I make a point at some moment to notice what’s going on within me that day. Just notice what I notice.

I name what I am caught up/living in right now. Is it what I thought life would be like in this time?

Then I take an inner kind of ‘inventory’ of what is on the horizon – looking at the season approaching, the holidays, expectations of myself and others, births and deaths approaching, what changes I want to celebrate, honour in the coming season.

I just notice. Then I let it all go. Take it in and then dissolve in my heart.

And then I begin to notice what else is here. A phrase, a gesture, a word, a tone. Something that is not all about me. Something that includes the Earth, an inner spiritual listening. Something that wouldn’t have come or I wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t made time to open my heart in love and trust. It could happen at the end of the day, or first thing in the morning.  Our soul is ready to notice

I find it helpful to journal. Or be artistic. A poem, drawing, creative movement. To embody whatever I hear.

Does it matter if I miss the actual C-Q day?

If you do any research on the internet you will see there are all kinds of variations. Even dates on the solstices and equinox vary slightly. I use the ones I mentioned above as ‘markers’ for my intention. If I forget or don’t get to it on the date I marked, then I do so as soon as I can.

What’s happens ?

When I make soul space in my life like this, I discover I can choose to focus differently on what is coming towards me. I feel more connected in my heart and the world.

Sometimes I forget everything I noticed in the C-Q time. It is SO helpful to review later on as a reminder of my inner noticing for the new season. It’s our own research.

Next week

I have been sensing since I launched A Short Guide to Lighting a Candle two weeks ago, that you could be interested in having more beeswax candles in your life! Either for others or yourself. And especially in the coming season.

Next week I will have two offers just for you, for being on my email list.

 

If you have been meaning to download my Guide and haven’t, you can do so here:

https://candlesconnectinghearts.com/go/lighting-a-candle/

 

Enjoy your Cross-Quarter soul time!! Would love any comments!

Warmly,
Linda