Monday, December 20, 2010

It Was the Night before Solstice

It was the night before solstice and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.

The Winter Solstice is tomorrow and trotting along right beside it is a big old full moon and a lunar eclipse. For those who are fond of observing the movement of the moon and the stars, this is a pretty auspicious time. Evidently, a lunar eclipse hasn't fallen on the solstice in over 300 years. I think that makes it pretty significant. It may not supersede Christmas as the main event but it does deserve a look-in.

When my kids were young I enjoyed Christmas as a wonderful time to share the spirit of the season with them and to enjoy it through their eyes; magical and joyful. These were certainly good times and I can reflect back on them with fondness and love.

Today, however, is a different story and my children don't live nearby. We share our magical moments at different times throughout the year. It isn't limited to one day of the year but rather when we are together. At these times we eat, drink, laugh, talk and share our lives with each other. For me, this is the true meaning of Christmas and the one that I want to keep extending and extending until it is a year round experience.

The lunar eclipse that accompanies this winter solstice is a great opportunity to look a bit more deeply at what this time of year really means. Sometimes it can be painful as we see the gap between where we are and where we want to be. That is the message of the full moon, which is why it can lead to highly charged and emotional outbursts. A good indication that something is not working as well as we had hoped.

This is a season of hope and of love. To experience one, hope, you need to be the other, love. These are gifts that cannot be bought.

John Lennon was right; all we do need is love.

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