Winter Solstice or Yule- Reverence

After our meditations on death at Samhain, we turn our attention now to re-birth and the growing of life after death’s rest. At Winter Solstice, the darkness begins to lift and the days begin to become lighter longer. Many cultures mark this time by using light, usually in the form of candles, to symbolize this change in the seasons. Reverence is defined as deep respect for someone or something and derives from Old French and from Latin reverentia, from revereri ‘stand in awe of.’ The definition of awe includes wonderment as well as fear and dread. Unpacking this aspect of awe, we can see the influence of Abrahamic notions of deity as we see fear in this definition. Certainly, we can understand why some fear the unknown or the incomprehensible. However, Paganism rejects such notions and asks why should we fear the gods/goddesses, fear the unknown? We seek relationship with our deities, not to be cowered by fear. Reverence with love, wonderment with love, allows us to experience the magnificence of life itself in all its glory. This could be our encounters with deity or our experiences of nature on this planet that are truly awesome - the Grand Canyon in the US, the Iguazu falls in South America, the majesty of the Swiss Alps, the abundant colors of fall or the fish of the coral reefs, the Earth itself from space, the Waitomo caves in New Zealand, and so many other incredible examples on this planet of life’s amazing ability to make us wonderstruck.

Let’s stop here though, and contemplate what having reverence in the dark might signify. In Paganism, we do not see the darkness as negative. Darkness is the rich, mysterious place where we encounter deity, where seeds start their journey, where the stars live, where the growing baby lives in the womb until birth. Darkness takes us deep inside ourselves to discover the wondrous self that is us. In darkness, we dream. In mediation, we “see” in the darkness, allowing us to commune with deity, uncover and engage our own shadow for healing and find the calm space within for renewal. We can “stand in awe” of the darkness, of all that it provides to us.

Seeds are a perfect symbol for this time of year. Part of the cycle of plant life and animal life, the seed is the continuation of life renewing itself. The seed’s path is to grow. Much as our own lives in our current bodies is to grow and change as we age. Are we giving ourselves good watering, good nourishment, enough light to grow towards and clean air to allow ourselves to breath in and out easily? Are we stuck in a pot that is too tight for our roots or are we allowing ourselves to reach and grow easily? Do we need support at times to grow towards our light? Do we embrace life in all its magnificence - including joy and sorrow?

We can also direct our minds to re-learn that darkness is to be revered, not feared, as a step in our anti-racist journey. Our US culture has too long regulated darkness as indicative of evil or wrongdoing which is symbolically harmful to people of color. Symbols are powerful and must be used with awareness. How different we all might feel to see darkness with reverence, to see darkness as rich with possibilities, fertile soil for growing a magnificent life. Pagans have an opportunity here teach others that darkness is not to be feared, that the unknown is the unmet and we draw strength by opening our arms and establishing relationships with the “unknown” so that we can see clearly and without bias.

Some see birth as a potent symbol for the Winter Solstice as the sun returns and begins to grow towards fullness at Summer Solstice. Depending on where we live in the Northern Hemisphere, we may not actually see the sun on the Winter Solstice, but we know it is there and have certainty that the light will gradually grow longer as each day passes. Some cultures believed that the rituals performed at the Winter Solstice actually did help the seasons to continue. At Winter Solstice we can reverence Life itself, the animating force of the universe that flows through all things. When we feel anxious or unsure, we can reflect on this certainty. Nature shows us that the seasons follow one another in constant rhythm. We do not need to believe, we can see the natural world and how it changes. The regular procession of the seasons gives us something to hold onto even in the midst of uncertainty.

Scientist Robert Lanza offers this profound statement: “Life creates the universe, instead of the other way around” in his groundbreaking book Biocentrism. Life is not a by-product of this world, but the actual force that creates it. We can definitely stand in awe of this perspective. It forces us to re-think our notions of life itself and recognize that life does not necessarily begin at birth. Rather life creates us on an ongoing basis. How awesome is that!

Actual human birth is also awe inspiring, to which most people who witness a birth will agree. I have had the experience of witnessing both birth and death, each a truly amazing experience. It makes sense that we would feel reverence at the returning of the light, and the experience of birth, whether an actual human birth or the birth of a creative activity or the birth of a new identity.

At this time of year, there are so many traditions to draw upon to enhance our reverence. A solstice tree in our home, a Yule log patiently waiting, a hearty feast, giving and receiving and music to lift our hearts on the longest night of the year. We may have cultural traditions from our families for this time of year. See if you can find the reverence in those. Perhaps it is the reverence of ancestor traditions, perhaps it is that walk in the woods or the beach. How do you feel when awe struck? What experiences have you had of reverence? How does bringing oneself into a state of reverence enrich your character? What is awe inspiring in your life this year? What moves you to wonderment? Consciously, allow that into your life. Your answers to these questions can offer clues to where you may need to engage with the virtue of reverence more deeply.

When we consider reverence and love, we can see that reverence is a form of love or that awe can bring love forward in us as we experience awe itself. We may see an amazing sunset and feel the love of that experience fill us with wonder. One aspect of awe is that we never want it to end. If this sunset filled us with joy, we are eager to experience one again. Our experiences of awe brings forward love that is unconditional which mirrors the core of who we are and thus brings us closer to our true being-ness. How awesome we would be to radiate unconditional love to all we meet.

In modern times, we can see the incredible lights some people put up on houses for “Christmas” as a reminder of awe and reverence. Many light displays cause is to stare with smiles on our faces with all the lights reflected in our eyes. We may not be able to take ourselves away and feel sad to have to leave. The northern lights in the far north sky can offer another chance to feel awe. Even our own Yule or Christmas trees can bring awe into our homes when only the tree is lit and all the other lights are turned off.