WINTER
The trees are barren. They have shed their leaves, and the autumn wind has torn off the dead branches. It is time to go into hibernation and let what needs to pass in your life go. Let go. You are entering the pupa; wrap yourself tightly.
You cannot change what has happened, but you can do what you can to learn from it. Draw wisdom from it.
Here in winter, we are entirely in the dark and severely affected by the lack of light. It is no coincidence that there are lights on the streets and alleys – we need the light to get through this time. But we also need the darkness. In nature, darkness is death, it is decay, but it is also here that the new is born. Therefore, winter, and especially the winter solstice, is the best time to let go of things.
It is about slowing down and taking the darkness to ourselves in a loving and caring way.
God started the world by saying, “Let there be light.” The Scandinavian churches all face east, towards the rising sun. The dead are buried with their feet facing east, so that if they wake up, they will see the sun when they rise. We celebrate the good energies and say, “She has a bright mind.” This approach has created a fear of darkness. When it appears, we quickly drive it out the door. Light is good, darkness is evil. But nature knows that darkness is necessary for the continuation of life. It is part of the cycle. In nature, there is no good or bad – there is only being.
Many traditions celebrate demons and monsters: Krampus, Belsnickel, Frau Perchta in Germany, Grýla in Iceland and many others. Despite their frightening nature and sometimes obscure intentions, we can see this as an invitation to look at our inner demons and take them by the horns. Integrate them. Greet them. Because life is not all sunshine and healing. Fortunately, there are positive forces that are starting to welcome this, and Yule Goat caravans and many of our bygone traditions are being revived.
In the dark, we peel off everything we no longer need. It is a good time to get rid of things. Clean up, tidy up, throw away, sell or give away things that you no longer use. What we no longer use weighs us down, and by cleaning up and getting rid of things, we can reflect our inner life in our outer life. It is time to let go.