When Monica, our operations manager, asked me to come to dinner for Christmas Eve she informed me that she would be preparing the celebratory meal that they have in Finland. I then thought about all the various cultural and religious traditions around the world especially at this season of Winter Solstice, Yule, and Christmas.  There is, quite possibly, a universal acknowledgement of this special time of the year steeped in a variety of beliefs – connected to nature’s rhythms, the returning birth of the sun/son, and the “light” of the world.  This LIGHT is seen as necessary to our physical, mental and spiritual survival in various ways.

Upon further reflection on this topic another thought surfaced that held significance for me.

In the Northern Hemisphere, during Winter Solstice, we experience the least amount of daylight and the longest night.  Yet, in the Southern Hemisphere, on December 21^st, the daytime is at its peak and they have their shortest night.  We ALL DO NOT experience December 21^st in the same way.  The Southern Hemisphere is celebrating its Summer Solstice on December 21^st while we in the Northern Hemisphere are celebrating our Winter Solstice!!  I was suddenly feeling enlightened by this fact.

I can understand how easy it is, and perhaps also how necessary it is, for humans to most often focus only on their own limited perspective in life – their own “piece” of the world as they experience it.  Our narrow view and experience of the world is usually determined by the culture we are born into, the people we are in contact with, and the natural world around us.  There is nothing wrong with having our own perspective, but a danger can come if we decide to believe that the way we experience the world is the “only way” or the only “truth.”

This reminds me of a story I heard once about three blind men who encountered an elephant.  One touched the trunk, one touched the leg and one had the tail.    When asked to describe what an elephant looked like, each man correctly gave a description from his own experience.  A debate ensued about who was “right”.  They were all “right” even though their descriptions did not sound the same.   In addition, from their separate vantage points they could not fully describe what an elephant truly looked like in its entirety.  If they had combined their descriptions they may have been closer to the truth, but even then, there could be some unseen aspect of “the elephant” that  required acceptance of their sensory limitations, a greater desire for peace than “rightness”, and a good dose of  “blind faith.”   

If we say December 21^st is the time of Winter Solstice we are correct, but it is also correct to say December 21^st is the time of Summer Solstice.  At first, this sounds impossible until we realize the “truth” is greater than either of the experienced perspectives.  

As I think about our cultural and religious celebrations,  I am aware of how easy it can be to narrow our perspective down to our own experience.  Can we open to the loving possibility that other people have experiences, beliefs, and practices different from our own, but perhaps still hold part of a greater story? A greater oneness?  A greater united wholeness that perhaps no single person, because of our limitations, gets to witness in its entirety?  Without giving up our own view, can we grow in understanding from others? 

Faced with our incapacity to grasp the “whole,” it is no wonder we grasp hold of the little piece of the world as we come to know it.  BUT, is it possible to celebrate our unique perspectives without diminishing the experiences of others?  In theory such openness sounds ideal, but in practice it does not seem to come so naturally.  We often need to consciously and mindfully work at it.  May this season open our hearts to such a task.

Whatever your religion, heritage, country, celebratory practices or beliefs are on this holiday season, those of us here at The Mandala Center send PEACE and LIGHT your way, in hopes of spreading love in your life,  greater understanding in the world…and joy all around…

Blessings and Peace,

Lori Coon
Executive Director

P.S. Here is a list of SOME December celebrations in the NORTHERN Hemisphere– in honor of our diversity and in recognition of our common experience. 

Although the ways of celebrating vary, there are strong central themes expressed around the world during the Winter Solstice.    These celebrations include references to and symbols of birth, the hero, the reassurance of continued life on earth, the time of giving and gathering, the time of balancing the forces of light/dark, yin/yang, and death/rebirth – and an overwhelming attention to the sun and to the importance of LIGHT in the world.

• Iran – Shabe Yalda – celebration of the rebirth of the sun; people gather to tell stories and read poetry all night
• Judaism – 8 Day festival of Hanukkah (variations in spelling) – Festival/ Feast of Lights; a candle lighting ritual.
• West African – Kwanzaa – Dec 26-Jan1, 7 day candle lighting ritual.  
• Native American – Soyal – 20 days celebration – giving aid and honor to the sun upon its return and giving thanks for its willingness to give strength to “budding life”.
• Christianity – the celebration of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth – son of God – the bringer of hope and the Light of Christ.
• Finland, Norway, Sweden – celebrate Beiwe Festival – the celebration of the Sun Goddess of fertility and sanity…who rides in the sky on reindeer bones.
• Japan (since 7^th Century)  Amaterasu Celebration – honoring the Sun Goddess who re-emerges from her seclusion in a cave.
• Scotland – Hogmanay Celebration – a celebration of solstice/sun and a time of gift giving.
• Celtic- Cornish – Newfoundland – Mummers Day, Dec 26^th– a celebration with masquerade to keep dark forces at bay and to ensure the “light” reigns over darkness. 
• Ancient Western Slavic – Karachun Celebration when Hors, the Sun God dies around Dec 21-22 and is defeated by the dark.  The Slavs dance a ritual chain dance called Horo, until the new sun God is resurrected on Dec 23^rd to ensure life on earth. 
• Early Germans/Alps – Perchta Ritual is in honor of the Goddess Hertha – Goddess of Light…and the decorations are firs and evergreens.  Baked breads and gifts are given…
• Ancient Sumerian – Zagmuk Festival – observation of the Sun God Marduk’s battle and victory over darkness. 

This entry was posted on Friday, December 25th, 2009 at 12:43 pm and is filed under REFLECTIONS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.