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Loading...My Solstice Wish for Us All
Tonight is the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere and the longest day in the southern hemisphere. Usually on the northern hemisphere’s winter solstice, I write about my experience in Maine, where the darkest night also represents the turning of the year toward light.
This year, perhaps because I’ve been conversing regularly with a couple of people in Australia and New Zealand who read my blog, I’m struck by how limited my solstice message is each year. I’ve really just been writing for those in the North above a certain latitude. Not only are my musings not applicable to the temperate South, they also don’t mean much nearer the equator where most people in the world live. Their days are relatively stable, hovering around half night and half day. The metaphors of entering the darkness and bringing light don’t carry much power.
I’ve always been struck by the fact that the light immediately returns after the winter solstice and immediately ebbs after the summer solstice. Just as summer begins, with its promise of luxuriously long days and nights that go on and on, it is in fact growing darker; and just as winter begins, with its promise of cold and dark, it is in fact growing lighter.
And what this reminds me of, that I hope is applicable to everyone everywhere on this solstice, is that things are far more intricate than they seem. Longest day/longest night – these are the extremes that mark the vastly larger, more complex, more nuanced life that lies between the poles. Yet it seems that we humans so often cling to those poles, defining ourselves, casting our vote, throwing our lot in with those who profess often simplistic either/ors. We are surrounded by these simplicities, whether they come in the form of partisan politics, diet fads and health regimens, religious dogmas, or economic absolutes. Too often they lead us away from wise solutions to our challenges.
And so my solstice wish for humanity is this:
Let us remember that the extremes of longest day/longest night happen only twice every year and that the solutions to our myriad problems will be found in our muddy, complicated, daily world by those who are willing to listen, learn, explore and think deeply and creatively, rather than attach themselves to the loud and obvious absolutes that we humans are so prone to notice and cling to, to our great peril.
Related Stories:
Non-Human and Human Animals: More Similarities Than Differences
Earth’s Best Friend is a Changemaker: The Glorious Work Ahead
Stretching Our Minds to Include the Whole World
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Zoe Weil is the president of the Institute for Humane Education, which offers the only graduate programs in comprehensive humane education, as well as online courses, workshops, and dynamic resources. She is the author of Nautilus silver medal winner Most Good, Least Harm: A Simple Principle for a Better World and Meaningful Life; Above All, Be Kind; The Power and Promise of Humane Education, and Moonbeam gold medal winner Claude and Medea, about middle school students who become activists. She has given a TEDx talk on humane education and blogs. Join her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @ZoeWeil.
Read more: introspection, mindfulness, most good least harm, perspective, third-side thinking, winter solstice, wisdom, zoe weil
Image courtesy of photos71.
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
Recent Comments from Causes
Time for the couple to move to Blue America.and get married.
Unless the children are adversely affected by the situation (which they obviously aren't, since the couple…
thanks
13 comments
+ add your ownThanks for the reminder, Zoe. And peace, happiness and prosperity to all who congregate here.
Very interesting. To tell you the truth I didn't even know it was today. But I share in your wish and hope it will someday come true.
Help stop he Christian war on Solstice!
I am metis... and solistice ia a time of thanksgiving and celebration... we are on our way back to the light...someone ought to let the politicians know it is time to return to light
The sun dies on the cross and rises again 3 days later....
winter solstice is my favorite it means the sun is on it's way back to me...
With the state the world and the country is in now, may this solstice mark the end of the global darkness and the return of the light.
I dont mean to be rude but I dont have a clue of what your talking about here (Imust be ignorant) altough I doubt it...to me its just one more day in the year.
As Far as Winter is concern its my 56th and they are not what they use to be and THAT is a MAJOR concern to me, we use to have four season's and now it seems we have only 3 winter, summer and a very short autumn.
So my wish to the world is that they take conscience of there actions towars environment
Hmmmm
Commenting on the equinoxe, I do pay attention and I find it so amazing our world is just like a giant clock.
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