The Return of the Light

The return of the Light, time to hold your dream close to your heart!

We have been feeling the depth of the darkness in so many ways and for a while now that it is time to be ready to welcome the Light back while we fully acknowledge and process "the darkness."

I am sure this year, and especially those past 3-4 months, you all experienced facing "the darkness" in your life, family, community, and country. For many who do not have access to ancient teachings or Love, the pitfall of anger, hate, and separation becomes the only path that can feel like belonging and safety.

From Christmas to Hanukkah, from the Solstice to Yule, Chinese, Native Indians, Druids, and Vikings, all traditions through the ages of time, have been celebrating this holy time of the year.

I wanted to share some of the meanings & practices to give you concrete tools to finally BREATH IN after what seemed to be an infinite EXHALE.

The Solstice word comes from the Latin words for "sun" and "to stop"; the Sun stands still. This is the time of the year when the night is the longest and when the day/light will finally grow again.

A long time ago, the Vikings, the Old Germanic people, and the Norse gods celebrated this event called Yule with a 12-day celebration starting on the Solstice. Yule is, in fact, said to be the pagan Christmas. I shared a beautiful video in a recent Facebook post (Watch here).

I see in those beautiful celebrations an opportunity not only to acknowledge the passing from darkness to Light but also the necessity to hold a communion of prayers with all our brothers and sisters on this planet, our ancestors, regardless of their religion, faith, color, belief, and spirituality. We have to build bridges if we honestly talk about "being spiritual," lending a hand where we might have created cracks and separations, and we have to include others in our prayers, however dark the life is for ourselves.

Here are some ideas on celebrating, praying, and tuning into this cosmic cycle.

But remember, every single cell of your body, every part of your soul, is designed to connect to the Sun and its energy, so there is no wrong way to celebrate. The most important thing is connecting to what rings true inside your heart.

Follow your instinct; TRUST the voice inside your heart.

- Clean your space/room/body with sage or mugwort smudging. You can use feathers to send the smoke of the smudge around, below, above, and on your body. If you feel like wearing "ceremony clothing," it will increase the acknowledgment that you are entering a sacred space (clean or new clothes, white is ideal). 

You can also wear your crystals. Going outside and connecting to Nature (sky, Sun, moon, stars, trees, plants, animals) is an excellent way to tune into higher frequencies.

- Take a few deep breaths in & out. Get into your body. Feel every part of it. Be present.

Stop doing, start being. Feel the rhythm of your breath, the beating of your heart.

- Light a fire or a candle. Offer some tobacco to the fire/candle. You can make a bundle of all you want to release and offer it to the ancient ones.

- Say an opening prayer. To God, the Universe, your guides, your ancestors, the directions, the elements, your higher self. Call in support and Love, call in Grace and call in compassion and kindness.

Offer more tobacco to the fire/candle (tobacco spirit carries your prayers high in the sky to Spirit). If you have a drum or a rattle, it's a good moment to play them. They call Spirit to support you and help you connect to the invisible realm.

- Acknowledge the darkness. Be genuine, honest, and naked in front of your own Truth. Review this past year. All the part of your life where you have experienced darkness. As a receiver and as a giver.

In relationships, in your family, in your community, in your words, in your actions. Where did I fall short? Where did I act from Ego? Where did anger prevail instead of compassion? When did I act from fear and not Love? Make a list, write it on beautiful paper, take your most beautiful pen, or write it in the sand with a stick. Want to go further, make amends, and reach out to those you wish to reconnect with.

- Pray (God, the Universe, your guides, your ancestors, the directions, the elements, your higher self). Thank them for sending you those teachers (dark moment / dark encounter / dark experience).

Connect to the growth that you have experienced, thanks to anger, fear, and pain. Connect to the learning. Acknowledge them in your heart. ALLOW darkness to be seen, welcomed, and heard.

- Release. Take your piece of paper and get close to your fire/candle. Watch the paper in your praying hands. And be ready to burn it. The release time is done with LOVE & COMPASSION. Allow Grace to touch you by surrendering fully to your vulnerability. Be WHOLE, do not judge yourself, do not feel sorry, do not feel broken.

Feel your power in this moment of Truth when you see yourself fully. And burn the paper.

- Pray (God, the Universe, your guides, your ancestors, the directions, the elements, your higher self). Thank them for taking away darkness and connecting to the Light of your guides/god/universe/sky/higher self. Let the Light descend on you to fill in the space left by the departure of the darkness. 

Breathe deeply, breathe in the Light, breathe out the darkness. Hold your prayer in your heart, smile, feel, Love. Add more tobacco to the fire/candle.

- Welcome the Light. The Solstice is happening. It's Yule time. Feel the energy of the return of the Light in your body, around you, in the sky, in the world.

Feel, be in your heart, breathe, smile, surrender, and allow Light to shine inside you. Feel that Light in your breath, in the beating of your heart.

- Visualize what you want to create in this coming year. More open & authentic relationships, more compassion and peace, Love and Grace, and a call for forgiveness.

Be specific about people, family, situations, actions, and words. See and FEEL this new you being reborn in this new Light. Add more wood to the fire, light many candles, offer tobacco, and pray. 

Stay in this feeling for as long as you feel necessary. Expand that Light from your heart center to your chest, to your whole body, your house, your land, your family, your ancestors, your community, your country, the entire planet, the Universe.

Hold that vibration of pure Light for yourself and for everyone. Smile, breathe, and allow.

- Close the ceremony with a prayer (God, the Universe, your guides, your ancestors, the directions, the elements, your higher self). Hold Gratitude and compassion.

You are doing this for everyone, not only for yourself. Let the candle/fire burn until the morning (if safe!).

As you practice this allowing of the darkness, you will grow more compassion for yourself and others.

You will allow the ultimate Truth (we are all One and yet all unique and different) to be FELT deeply in your body, you will see the people around you shift into more Light, and you will become the change you want to see in the world.

Wishing you all a magical Solstice, a blessed Yule, a Merry Christmas, Hanukkah Sameach! and Chag Urim Sameach! Aho, my brothers and sisters, I see you on the other side!

With my gratitude,

Angell Deer