Here we go again! It’s that time of the year when the great cosmic pendulum swings as far as it can, for us folks in the Northern Hemisphere the days are the shortest, the nights are the longest, and by this time next week will be starting our slow swing back to the other side.

On one hand, it feels like things are grinding to a complete halt, on the other this tends to feel like the busiest time of the year.

I ran across this unattributed little seasonal piece the other day, and thought it would fit well into today’s note.

You don’t need to believe in Yule, the Scandinavian fertility god, to enjoy the tradition of Yuletide carols and greetings.

You don’t need to be a Wiccan to enjoy the tradition of wreaths or decking the halls with holly.

You don’t need to be a Druid to enjoy the tradition of hoping for a kiss under the mistletoe.

You don’t need to believe in the god Saturn to enjoy the tradition of decorating a Saturnalia tree in your home.

You don’t need to believe in Thor or St. Nicholas to enjoy the tradition of a visitor bringing gifts at night.

You don’t need to believe in Sleipnir, Odin’s flying eight-legged horse, to enjoy the tradition of listening for the sound of hooves on your roof top.

You don’t need to believe in Mithras to enjoy the tradition of celebrating the sun’s rebirth on December 25th.

And you don’t need to believe in Jesus to enjoy the tradition of renaming this ancient holiday to Christ’s Mass.

All you need to enjoy these winter festivities is to be merry.

Gratitude and levity require no prerequisite. I like how the proceeding message wraps up so many historical traditions with a nice egalitarian bow.

You don’t need to do much more than pause, reflect, and take a deep breath before approaching the year ahead.

More than anything, this is the time of the year to look in the rearview mirror and take stock. When I had a retail store many years ago, we used to take inventory.

Every newspaper and website right now will be doing their ‘best-of’ and ‘top-10’ lists. Now is the time to compile your own.

Soon it will be time to turn the page on the calendar, and shout “out with the old, in with the new” from the rooftops.

Much like the cosmic dance of the planets, we do well to expand and contract, go forth and return, and flow with the cycles of nature as they occur.

Solstice is a special time, regardless of which end of the planet you’re experiencing it from. Approach it all with an air of enchantment and bring forth your best self into the year ahead!

Much love till next Monday, see you on the other side!

M+

ML #606

Mark Metz
Director of the Dance First Association
Publisher of Conscious Dancer Magazine