Red Hot Ruby's

Have you ever held that first sacred cup of morning coffee, sat in the darkness and waited for the sunrise?  Watched how black and white silhouettes slowly filled with color as the light grew brighter? 

This is daily magic.  Try it and see!

It’s like darkness hosts the light . . .  holding hands with it at the beginning of every single day! 

It’s almost like they need each other.

As this page is written, if you peek at our traditional calendar, winter has just begun.  Simultaneously, aligning in perfect contrast, is the ancient celebration of solstice, the return of light.  This is a glorious paradox.

The calendar winter says break out the parkas!  Find your boots.  Make sure there are enough clean wool socks in the drawer.  January is cold, February even colder.  Plan ahead.  Candles.  Batteries.  Chapped lips.  Studded tires.  Driving to work in the dark.  Driving home in the dark.  Lots of darkness.

Endless fuel for depression.   

Solstice, however, reminds us to celebrate light.  In the darkest time of the year.  Yup.  Right there.

Because this is NOT about flipping a switch: light versus dark . . . on or off. Dark bad/light good. Celebrating light MUST mean celebrating dark also.  This is not about getting rid of darkness, so much as honoring it and allowing it to be.  Respecting darkness.  Our darkest days are restful containers of hibernation and recuperation.  Our calendar can remind us that there is time for this stillness embedded in all cycles.

Did you know that our brain chemistry requires sunlight and darkness to function chemically?  Your brain needs both light and dark. These processes support mood, memory, and sleep.  Our brain, our bodies, we ourselves . . .

. . . need both. 

Just like a sunrise. 

Hmmmm.