By Helen Heath OAM, executive officer of Interfaith Network of the City of Greater Dandenong
Just recently, we in the Southern Hemisphere passed the Winter Solstice on 21 June 2021.
It is the shortest period of daylight in the year and the longest night of darkness.
The Winter Solstice is when the sun is at its lowest daily maximum elevation in the sky.
As a child I always thought the shortest day was less hours, less time and the longest night was dreaded as having way too many hours and interminable.
Winter Solstice is one the most powerful points of the year as the axis of the Earth pauses, shifts and moves in the opposite direction.
This pause is called the “solstice,” from the Latin words “sol” for “sun” and “sistereo” – “make stand”.
This Solstice or pause is considered an extremely spiritual day full of sacred rituals and is celebrated and revered in ancient civilizations, indigenous cultures, and various religions, all of which have their own rituals for taking advantage of the unique energy.
This pause or temporary stop can be reflected on as a ‘still point’ in the turning world – a moment of being peaceful, at rest and relaxing so a new liveliness and daring fearlessness can be sought – and found.
Marianne Williamson in her poem wrote that “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.”
While we are still to experience some darker mornings and shorter days, we are past the halfway mark and are moving towards longer sunlit days where our energy may be rekindled.
May your coming days bring renewed vigour, revived hope and expectation and a boldness of courage to face each new sunrise with fierce determination.
