Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Welcome, Winter Solstice

Here in the north, we've reached solstice day and the longest night of the year, and with a new moon coming soon, it will also be one of the darkest. Thankfully, we have candles, fires, and Christmas lights to brighten things up, which of course is no coincidence. 

These are also the days of the Green Man, also known as the Green King, the Green Knight, and various other names. His is a complicated folklore, but he is generally seen as symbolizing the emergence from winter and the subsequent rebirth of spring. A more modern interpretation of the Green Man includes a connection to ecology and sustainability, which feels very appropriate.

When my boys were in elementary school, they made Green Man masks in art class:


I love how they are so different and yet include many of the same wild and natural elements.

This brief reflection on the Green Man seems a fitting end to my year of "grow," in which I don't think I did much growing. But I am reminded that everything in life is cyclical, as the wheel of time keeps turning.

Take good care, stay warm, enjoy your favorite holiday traditions, and I'll see you next year!








 

3 comments:

  1. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. It's been a year where I think growing was almost impossible, but if you managed to stay on about the same path you've done well. I'd love to say 2023 is going to be an awesome year, but after the last 3, I'll settle for 2023 being a neutral year ;)

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    1. We did have a nice, quiet Christmas. I hope yours was lovely, AJ! I think we're all a little apprehensive about a new year after the last few, but I do hope it will be a great one!

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  2. Gah, that last was AJ Blythe (something updated somewhere and now I don't automatically get my name in the commenting box)

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