Finding Glimmers of Light in the Darkness

Apparently we have made it through the 10 darkest weeks of the year (I initially mis-typed 'months' which is how it can feel by mid-January!). 

While the days are slowly growing longer, we can often feel the impact of the darker months within us. We might feel sluggish in our bodies, sleepy in our minds or heavy in our hearts. 

This isn't helped by the fact that nature is asking us to rest while society is asking us to have the energy and attitude of a perpetual summer. We sense the contrast and can think we are failing, but we are not. 

In addition, with the nature of world events around us, lighter days don't necessarily bring with them feelings of lightness.  Yet finding ways to remain connected to lightness - in our minds, in our bodies, in our hearts, - is so important.

We connect to light, not to pretend that the heaviness and darkness isn't a reality, but to find the energy and hope to move forward within it. 

Rather than simply waiting for lighter days to arrive, we might choose to see connecting to the light as a practice that we need to regularly reach into. A dear friend of mine describes it as "actively looking for the glimmers". I love this. 

So perhaps this week you might sense what lights you up.

That doesn't mean doing something hedonistic or forcing yourself to feel happy, but rather actively choosing to do something that lights you up and being fully present while you do it. Some suggestions could be: 

• Meeting with friends and loved ones. 

• Listening to the birds in the morning. 

• Lighting a candle and consciously soaking up its warmth and light. 

• Playing your favourite song and having sing and dance in the kitchen. 

• Journalling about the things that light you up and choosing to do one of them. 

I've popped a link below to a short 'candle gazing' meditation if you would like to give this a try.