Light and darkness

The winter solstice 冬至 (vinter solstånd) is round the corner, and this day has been observed all over the globe, through all the ages, by countless cultures and civilizations (some of which have come to be and others diminished/ uprooted). An observance like winter solstice makes us think about light and darkness; good and evil, and see that our world is indeed beautiful as it is terrible.

Currently in Stockholm the sunrises 08:44 and sets 14:47. For several weeks now the cloudy shifty darkness is depressing many. Is the darkest day of the year finally over so that all can start to get  brighter again? Today the sun is beaming alas over a blanket of fluffy white snow. It is onto the narrow stone-paved streets of the Stockholm Old Town for me to enjoy some Christmas markets and some Swedish mulled wine in a 15th century cellar together with some friends. Tomorrow we will commemorate winter solstice by making traditional Chinese Tāngyuán  just as our foreparents made and savoured them – pink, white, chewy and sweet. My body and mind will get very nourished by such cosy activities indeed.

Lighting candles becomes a way to survive. In Swedish, we have a saying (Förbanna inte mörkhet, tänd ett ljus istället) that we should not curse the darkness, and should light a candle instead. Fittingly so, a friend wrote in Swedish recently something simple and beautiful about light and darkness, and I would like to share it here:

“Light also bears a divine meaning. Light triumphs over darkness, just like God triumphing over the devil. Try this small experiment at home and you will see. Go into a dark room, light a small candle, and you shall see that the darkness does not overpower the light, but instead is forced to fold/ retreat so that you can see around you.”

Hope you find light and see your new bearings, even in your darkest hours.

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