Welcoming Winter's Light

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Welcoming Winter's Light

I’m writing to you on the first day of winter and summer, depending on your hemisphere. Last night was the longest night of the year, and we can look forward to longer and longer days, and more light in each day. After one of the darkest years in many lifetimes, I know we’ll all welcome the light.

My spouse David and I went out to San Francisco’s Ocean Beach last night to see the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter. The sun was just setting, and there were a few cloud streaks in the sky, but we could see the planets with the naked eye.

I was not surprised, but I still marveled at just how many people were out to see the planets and celebrate the solstice. California is again in lockdown, and most people are going on 9 months of general isolation and disruption. The solstice always marks the turning point toward the light, and even with the news of the vaccines, we are all looking for moments of beauty and grace amidst our feelings of overwhelm, loss and grief. Nature and the night skies provided last night!

I’m extremely mindful that a typical year-end newsletter would be heavy on planning and the ‘set your intentions for the new year’ sorts of messaging. But the end of 2020, a year unlike any other, calls for something different. Personally, I’m still setting intentions – an evergreen practice for me! - and doing some personal archeology around letting go of what no longer serves me. I’m also trying to rest, as I recently noticed a deep-seated exhaustion I can’t readily explain, but I know needs attention.

My wish for you is to do whatever you want: whatever supports you, and helps you feel safe and spacious. There is no right way to move forward, just as there was no right way to bear all that 2020 brought. If you need it, you have my permission to rest, breath and relax; or curl up with a book, or our now dear friend Netflix (with popcorn or chocolate or wine); or get outside and be with nature; or dream and plan for all good things in the year ahead; or something else entirely that feels good and right to you.

Meanwhile, we have our Charlie Brown Christmas tree, taller than any in many many years, in the living room. David cut it down and brought it from his property in the Sierra foothills. After years of putting a few ornaments on a potted ficus tree, it feels really good to have a tree and to be home.

Whatever your holiday décor looks like, I’m wishing you all good things for this holiday season and the New Year ahead. I’ll meet you there!

A Few Things I Found Compelling Recently:

This sculpture made me think of all the good things that grow inside us…

Because LEGOs are for kids of all ages, and art

A different kind of puppy love: a wolf puppy mummy found in the arctic

And finally, the Quote of the Month (which is really a poem):

With love,

Susan