I know, I know, the Winter Solstice is an astronomical fact. But there has always been a magic that surrounds the day. Almost a fairytale quality, so along that line, I will say, it is hard for me to ‘believe’ the Winter Solstice is at the heart of the very beginnings of our path towards Spring. Here in VT, it always feels like the beginning of Winter. Thank you,Jason , beautifully written . I am “…tilting toward the light…” hopefully with a copious amount of snowflakes between now and the Vernal Equinox ❄️☃️.
Wishing you a wonderous landscape of white, and now more than ever, I wish you resilience for the coming year ( or 4 ).
Interesting. That's a south-facing cove here on Muscongus Bay in coastal Maine. The Maine geology is similar to that part of the world, I believe, so maybe that's why. Thanks for the note.
this is so gorgeously written i audibly said “wow” while reading. Thank you for sharing and perfectly articulating the magic of this season & this existence. 💙
Thank you for this thought-provoking read. I like the perspective that "So much of what the new world holds dear is adolescent - constant growth, transactional relationships, sensations over sensibility, energy over purpose" - because adolescence means this phase can be overcome; that this phase was maybe even necessary and doesn't need to be demonised; but that we can now leave it behind.
That's nicely said, Hannah, and I think the right path to follow. Having spent several years working with adolescent boys, though, I can say that while demonization of behavior is wrong a firm set of guardrails is useful. And the models of adulthood to follow are not ahead of us but behind us (and still around us) in the millennia-old cultures who generally lived within their means.
Good essay, Jason. I love this line: "After all, from the miracle of photosynthesis and the rhythm of seasonality we build our bodies, our families, our societies, our economies, and our wobbly empires." Good stuff in curated news, too. I shared on Facebook. Note: the share button directs to your last essay, Rubber Meets the Road, and not this most recent one.
Thanks, Jim. Always good to hear from you. And thanks for the heads-up on the link. I often cut and paste my format from the previous week's, but didn't realize those Share links were specific.
Jam transeunt tenebrae. A very fine piece of writing Jason- Our moods and energies seem to mirror the solstices's rhythms, we wax and wane with the light. Dylan Thomas wrote, "Rage, rage against the dying of the light" by which he meant our mortality. But the Sun's light never appreciably waxes or wanes- it is a constant, and Life itself is constant and there is always this journey between dark and light as our planet swings around its lover.
Breathtaking piece! Thank you - I am sharing this like crazy.
Thank you, Stacey. Happy that you're spreading the word.
I know, I know, the Winter Solstice is an astronomical fact. But there has always been a magic that surrounds the day. Almost a fairytale quality, so along that line, I will say, it is hard for me to ‘believe’ the Winter Solstice is at the heart of the very beginnings of our path towards Spring. Here in VT, it always feels like the beginning of Winter. Thank you,Jason , beautifully written . I am “…tilting toward the light…” hopefully with a copious amount of snowflakes between now and the Vernal Equinox ❄️☃️.
Wishing you a wonderous landscape of white, and now more than ever, I wish you resilience for the coming year ( or 4 ).
Right back at you, Lor. May your days be merry and bright with snow.
Your opening photo strongly reminds me of a recent October trip to Wisconsin's Door County peninsula.
Interesting. That's a south-facing cove here on Muscongus Bay in coastal Maine. The Maine geology is similar to that part of the world, I believe, so maybe that's why. Thanks for the note.
Beautiful -- thank you and happy Solstice
Thank you, Jan. Happy solstice to you as well.
this is so gorgeously written i audibly said “wow” while reading. Thank you for sharing and perfectly articulating the magic of this season & this existence. 💙
Thank you, Eden. That's very kind of you to say. May your season be merry and bright...
Thank you for this thought-provoking read. I like the perspective that "So much of what the new world holds dear is adolescent - constant growth, transactional relationships, sensations over sensibility, energy over purpose" - because adolescence means this phase can be overcome; that this phase was maybe even necessary and doesn't need to be demonised; but that we can now leave it behind.
That's nicely said, Hannah, and I think the right path to follow. Having spent several years working with adolescent boys, though, I can say that while demonization of behavior is wrong a firm set of guardrails is useful. And the models of adulthood to follow are not ahead of us but behind us (and still around us) in the millennia-old cultures who generally lived within their means.
Yes, absolutely.
Good essay, Jason. I love this line: "After all, from the miracle of photosynthesis and the rhythm of seasonality we build our bodies, our families, our societies, our economies, and our wobbly empires." Good stuff in curated news, too. I shared on Facebook. Note: the share button directs to your last essay, Rubber Meets the Road, and not this most recent one.
Thanks, Jim. Always good to hear from you. And thanks for the heads-up on the link. I often cut and paste my format from the previous week's, but didn't realize those Share links were specific.
Thank you Jason for restoring the Light in us all one beautiful word at a time. Happy Healthy Peaceful Solstice (belatedly).✨
Jam transeunt tenebrae. A very fine piece of writing Jason- Our moods and energies seem to mirror the solstices's rhythms, we wax and wane with the light. Dylan Thomas wrote, "Rage, rage against the dying of the light" by which he meant our mortality. But the Sun's light never appreciably waxes or wanes- it is a constant, and Life itself is constant and there is always this journey between dark and light as our planet swings around its lover.