A Winter Letter on Paradox

by Heather Ash

Dear Friends,

This is a paradoxical time of year: The cloak of darkness is at its farthest reach, and the energy of the Earth and her creatures goes inward, to settle for the winter in silence and rest. In the human realm this is the time of community, a time to gather with friends and family and celebrate the return of the light at Winter Solstice.

In the time of deepest darkness, the seed of new light is born. We can balance this inner and outer pull by working and playing in a way that allows us to create, inwardly and outwardly, larger than limited selves. Our first mission is to remodel and redecorate our own inner temples, and to open this temple in a communion with all beings. Doing this work with others as mirrors and guides helps us all the benefit and grow more quickly.

The process is a dance, a work of art rather than a linear progression. We open our temple to the divine, and find the energy to release an old habit or belief. We clean out an old agreement, and find more space to connect with the divine. Working within our own individual temple, we gain access all things. By connecting with all things, we gain access to our own inner temple.

Take some time this Winter to go inside. While the world bustles around you, give yourself the gift of silence, even if only for a short while. Enter into your own inner temple space and ask yourself, what does it need? How can I serve my spirit? Go for a long walk, take a bath, sit in silence with friends, eat a meal with reverence. Listen. Breathe. Open to nature. Ask yourself: Where can I let go of some place I've been trying to control, and invite spirit to enter the new space? When we try to fix the outcome of events or people in our lives, we create suffering and stress.

When we learn to shift our attention to the flow of life rather than our need to control it, we begin to surrender to a greater energy. And this life force can carry us exactly where we need to go, without all the effort. All of us our in the midst of big transformation. We can fight the change, or decide we know how it should look, or we can stop and listen to the deeper song that is calling us. The world of human agreements, beliefs, and our societal emphasis on the mind all hook us into fear and mistrust. The news exploits and feeds these fears. But what is your deeper song? What is your true purpose, and are you living it? Can you readjust your direction just a titch in this time of darkness? Use the energy of the Solstice to realign with your Spirit.

Each moment is a choice. Choose again in every second. When you find you are making the same old choices, try something outrageous or silly or unexpected. Laugh at yourself. Choose again in this second, and the next, and the next. And embrace the paradox: When we most want to control or hold onto something is the time we need to surrender and let it go. Surrendering does not mean to give up. When we let go of trying to control (in order to be liked or appear a certain way) and invite Spirit to move through us, we are surrendering. We surrender not to the fear or judgements, but to the life force. We surrender and let ourselves by carried, letting life be effortless, simple, and sweet, as it truly is.

Blessed Solstice to each of you.