Just Another Winter Solstice?

 

The sun cut a small arc

Low in the southern sky

As it traversed the heavens

On this the Winter Solstice.

 

We have made it through

This year of challenge

To the shortest day

And the longest night.

 

Until now we turn

Towards the light as

The whole globe tilts

Both Towards and Away.

 

It is Summer Sostice

For my globemates

Who live and love in the

Southern Hemisphere

 

It is the longest day

And the shortest night

For those on the

Other side of our world

 

And so, our perceptions

Are opposite from each other

We could argue our viewpoints

And all of us would be right

 

But, here in the north

We move inside for warmth as

Fires and candles watch and

Warm us with their flame and light.

 

We gather together as

We are allowed on this day

In homes, on computers

And by outside fires.

 

And we tell our stories

Of these strange times.

We shake our heads

At the paradoxes.

 

An Aborigine Elder in Australia teaches

His worldview by drawing in the sand

Wiping it away and drawing once again

He teaches we in the north – on zoom.

 

He draws a circle for original wholeness

And a number one for one law

And a U to show the people understanding.

IOU he draws in the sand.

 

And we understand the symbols

And the play on an acronym

And his words and the sound

Of his didgeridoo – on zoom.

 

What would our ancestors

Make of that, I wonder.

Ancient sacred wisdom shared

Through time and space for us.

 

What magical stories are we telling?

What connections are we forging?

What solutions are we co-creating?

As we make the great turn together.

 

Just another Winter Solstice?

I think not.  Jupiter and Saturn

Think not.  They are aligned

In a Grand Conjunction, a double planet.

If the largest planets can come

Together, then so could we.

If the Condor and the Eagle can

Come together, then so could we.

 

And so, what will we intend

At this Grand coming together?

Open hearts?  Open minds?

Open hands?  Open ears?

 

And what will we give

At this Grand coming together?

Compassion?  Understanding?

Generosity? Patient listening?

 

It is up to each of us to play

The part we play in the whole.

It is up to all of us

To include all of us, everyone of us.

 

As we turn from destruction

To restoration

As we turn from death

To rebirth.

 

As we turn

As we turn

As we turn

As we turn together.