Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all those celebrating festivals of Light across the world.
The Druids here celebrate the Winter Solstice, the end of the darkest night and the Light of Arthur (Alban Arthuan in Welsh). I was fortunate enough to go to Stonehenge again to see the first shards of the ‘reborn sun’. Happy Hannukah to my Jewish friends who light their candles and celebrate the triumph of light over darkness. Happy Christmas to those celebrating the birth of Jesus, the Light of the world. The Persians celebrate Shab e Yalda when they would feast and read poetry to eachother. How civilised. And many other indigenous people observe the wheel of time and the cycles of nature. And of course the Hindus who just had the Diwali Festival of Light and love to celebrate everyone's religious festivals!
I love the fact that King Charles in his Christmas address also mentioned this multi-faith dimension to this period of year referring to his inspiring visit to Bethlehem’s Church of Nativity and also what bridges all the people of the world.
Photo: Smithsonian
But this time of celebration, many people are unfortunately suffering from storms and literally no light as electric power goes down in the USA, droughts in Africa, a cost of living crisis, war in Europe, depression and drug addiction. Whilst my challenges might pale in comparison, but between being hospitalised in a traffic accident in Egypt in November at COP27 and putting myself in a place to be betrayed by a business partner in December, I faced crisis at the end to my year.
That said, the darkness of the long nights has its role to play. Remember if you are facing difficulty , as many of us are, it's darkest before the dawn. It is said that St John of the Cross, the 16th Century mystic, coined the phrase Dark Night of the Soul. In these moments it's tempting to frantically look for the way out, to look for the light. I know I can speak from experience. There is a rich amount of literature on this, and I plan to write more about this, but the mystics across the world's faiths often suggest to surrender fully and stay in the unknowing of the darkness, for the darkness has things to gift us. It can be powerful to do vigils on these long dark nights and when you least expect it, something can change.
"That sweet night: a secret. Nobody saw me; I did not see a thing. No other light, no other guide Than the one burning in my heart. "
John of the Cross
Have a fruitful, inspired and light-filled year ahead. I hope I get to see many of you in 2023!!