New Year’s Eve. Another cool, wet stretch, the ground saturated, water standing here and there. This morning’s wan sun has disappeared behind thick cloud. Dark will fall early.
Christmas has passed and we await Christmas. As I have aged I have become more aligned with the traditional Christmas date of January 6th, Epiphany. Last year we were in Spain for the long holiday, and experienced the community joy that accompanies nurturing the Christmas season through the twelve days ending in Epiphany.
It seems to me that in our uber consumerist culture we have forgotten that the first gifts were meant for the Christ Child, and that the Child was, almost from the very beginning, in mortal danger. Epiphany celebrates the journey of the wise ones who sought, brought gifts to, and honored the newborn child. Then, “having been warned in a dream,” they went home another way.
Surely Epiphany reminds us that we are all searching for the Child and all children are at risk. How easily we forget that each child is the incarnation of the Divine! How routinely we incarcerate, exile, and abuse children, ignoring the most striking mandates of Jesus and the sages! I suspect Jesus minced no words when he threatened those who harm children, whether institutional or individual, with Hell Fire. Surely harm done to children comes back to damn all of us.
But I am getting ahead of myself. Before We arrive at Epiphany, we must pass into the New Year. Our contemporary New Year is out of sync with the ancient Christian liturgical calendar and Nature’s cycles. Traditionally, the European New year was celebrated in early Spring, and marked the return of growth; it was a hopeful green, holy day. Just as people tied Jesus’ birth to the return of the sun, they celebrated the rebirth of Nature as the start of yet another year. Easter and Passover now mark the renewal of springtide as New Year languishes as a sort of mid-winter bacchanalia.
Still, tomorrow we begin a new calendar year. Days are noticeably longer than they were just two weeks ago. The sun rises a bit further north each morning, is a tad higher at midday, and sets later each evening. Yet, here in the mid latitudes of the northern hemisphere, even in this year’s mild winter, spring seems far off. The true renewal of the year has to wait a while.
Dreaming the World 
A very nice message, Michael. I’m sending you and your wife wishes for good health, many days with well managed pain, and joy and peace within the circle of nature and friends that surrounds and encompasses you.
Thank you, Pat. May you be similarly blessed.
A walk and drive today. Lovely to be near the ocean. Chilly though, even tho winter has been very mild.
Be sure to take lots of photos for your blog as soon as it is warm enough to venture a stand on the rocks – oh wait, I’m thinking with my 20 year old body and I know you are a few years past that, too.
Pat, my 20 year old body was still a wreck. LOL!
When I wrote that reply, I knew we were different physically at 20. But I don’t know you as a body, I know you as a mind, spirit, and soul. They are strong and accomplished, beautiful and inspiring. I love seeing your world through your eyes. I’m sorry my words were insensitive about differences in our bodies.
Oh! I loved your note! Of course our bodies were different at 20. I enjoyed mine! Anyway, I was not at all offended or harmed!
Happy New Year to you and yours, Michael.
I didn’t know, that you visited Spain this time last year. I hope, that both of you enjoyed.
Irene, Happy New year!
Yes, we were in Cost del Sol for three weeks beginning Christmas Eve. It was marvelous.
Good to hear so, Michael. I’m happy, that you enjoyed.