The Wonder of Light
Somewhat begrudgingly my husband finished hanging the holiday lights on our home and blue spruce tree. After all the grumbling and stumbling, we turned them on with our handy dandy remote. (gotta love technology) We both sighed and were awestruck for a moment as we walked around the yard looking at everything from several angles. Later a friend came by and continued the ooos and ahhhhs much to our delight. Most winter evenings I have candles glowing and always feel a sense of calm and ease.
This week begins the festival of lights, more familiarly known as Hanukah-its origins spring from the restoration of the temple in ancient times and was celebrated with 8 days of feasting and music and praise…someone suggested they have this 8 day festival annually and it became known as the festival of lights. From mid-October to mid-November the Hindu festival of lights (Diwali) symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance”.
For those following the Christian liturgical calendar, we have entered the season of advent with its teachings of waiting and watching with hope for the light of the star.
For my friends from the Republic of Czech this coming Sunday is the feast of St. Nick which I know must include lights of all varieties and for others in the world, we are in the Christmas season – again bringing light and joy to the world. If only I could quote accurately about what Quantum physics teaches about light ..but suffice it to say that we are immersed in a field of light and that light is the light of life.
Whether you enjoy light from a devotional perspective or from a beauty perspective – or a ritual or tradition- there is no doubt that light works its magic on us from calmness and ease to inspiration and hope.
As we move towards the winter solstice and the longest day of the dark, we appreciate a starry night -our candles- a fire in the fireplace and the glow of each person’s individualized light – which shines through all of us.
We are in a transition – from dissension and discouragement to new leadership and change…from fear and dis-ease to hope and health for all the world. From doubt to faith in the power of freedom and its gifts of choice and discernment – all the while guided by that glow of internal light and its reflection in the external.
I want you all to remember this week the light you bring to every moment – every phone call, every zoom meeting, every minute of wishing you were with friends or at a football game. 😊 No matter what the circumstances, and this has been a year of no matter what – there is always light at the end of the tunnel – light for the journey – light that may dim but NEVER goes out.
To my dear friends celebrating Hanukah this week – may the lights bring you renewed hope for peace in your hearts and in our world – and for all of us this week – watch for the light -its everywhere.
