The faintest of rain on the air this campervan morning, hardly discernible, but it’s there. The cloud is broken and fast moving. It’s colour flickering between white, ominous grey, then pink and then back through the cycle again. A grey light mixed with a blue sits in the air. An occasional breeze pushes through the oak , sitting beneath her this morning the sound is that of the scraping and rasping of dry leaves yet to drop. It’s funny how long the coffee lasted over the last few days as the thaw kicked in. The air is busy with a small flock of starlings, foraging robins, the bigger sounds of crows and a solitary magpie in the Ash. Blackbirds are also out foraging and dip in and out of grasslands, hedges and bushes. A busy morning in the sky and on the ground. And as I sit the rain starts to fall. I huddle a wee bit, but not prepared for the sudden change retreat quickly to the van. Yesterday was a Specials day and the house resounded to Ska for most of the day, the Christmas music taking a backseat for 24 hours. And now the winter solstice is upon us and a period of spiritual significance for many with ritual, ceremony, reflection, renewal, gift giving, gathering, community and celebration. A period of looking in and looking out, connection to yourself, others and especially nature and the seasons.
"The longest night gifts us with time to enter the darkness, fully. We hold our breaths with nature, where life is suspended, waiting in extremis. The stillness behind action gathers as we empty and trust in our renewal. What will you give/lose to the night?" Oak Chezar
I shall spend time today reflecting on the year past and looking forward to the returning light and out in nature and intend to greet the morning sun heralding the change. Brush off my connections with friends, be in nature and continue to reflect.
Jan Richardson writes :
“This is the night when you can trust that any direction you go, you will be walking toward the dawn. “
Lovely days people.
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