The change of the Season and the Winter Solstice is upon us as so are the longest nights and the lack of sunlight to shine upon our ever so hopeful faces with the shortest days; yet the Reindeer and its medicine carries us through another Season with guidance, endurance, wisdom and vision.
Reindeer or Caribou are the symbol of the season. Their Medicine comes in the form of Guiding us toward the Light. They show us the way to the light in the Northern Hemisphere where our nights have grown long and we personally long for those beautiful sun filled days again. In the Northern cold regions of the world the indigenous peoples revered the Reindeer as the keepers of the Sun. They bring the power and wisdom of the light to us. In Celtic culture they are the Gatekeepers to other realms and guides us to and from this world into the next. I find that interesting as a practicing Shaman that journeys to other realms in ceremony, I have always been guided by a huge Stag that walks beside me into those realms and waits for me to return me safely to this world when I have completed by journey – I never knew this until researching this totem and always wondered why the Deer always guided me and now I know. Maybe a personal totem, yes, but to the Celts, the Reindeer is everyone’s Guide.
Known for endurance and perseverance they are adaptable to change, their wisdom allows them patience as they are slightly cautious in unknown territory, but open, friendly and communicatively social with those in their family; they do not trust outsiders. They stay centered in their power and remain flexible to their surroundings. They are quiet and very still, going unnoticed because they do not have to boast, show off or prove anything to anyone; their know who they are at their core and if provoked, will fight any opponent when pushed. Some are well known for exploring and adventures to new places; they remain in wonderment of their surroundings; they enchant the ground they walk on with the magic and medicine they carry. Tightly connected to the Sign of Taurus as their genders are that of a Bull and a Cow and they do embody that Taurean energy of Venus and the pleasure of the senses, the Spring and the birthing of their calves during that cycle as well. They are very grounded creatures that enjoy the comfort of their nests when it is time to lay their heads for the night.
Within the Antlers lies a powerful magic used by man for power, strength, virility, fertility and wisdom. The Antlers show us the Seasons of death, transformation and birth as they shed and regrow their Antlers again and again, year after year. However, only the male Reindeer do this and the females retain the Antlers to protect themselves and their young and maybe to prove that they are the most powerful? It would suffice to say that Santa’s sled is pulled by female Reindeer all sporting their proud racks as the males have dropped theirs by this time of year. The Antlers are a symbol for the cycle of life and a symbol of hope that the light and growth of abundance will return once they have rested, rejuvenated and restored their energy.
Solstice gives us all the opportunity to pause regardless of our Hemisphere; typically three days of darkness before the return of light and the change to Winter or three days of light before the return to the darkness in Summer. The shift to Winter brings us more light each day as we move toward Spring, after Summer Solstice each day becomes shorter as we move toward the Autumn. This year’s Solstice occurs on Tuesday, December 21st at 10:59 a.m. EST when the Sun officially moves into Capricorn.
Living in the Season is embodying the energy of that Season. Here in the Northern Hemisphere we are preparing for Winter and that looks differently depending on where in my country (United States) you live. This gave me pause to take a look at the World and the many Seasons that we may be living through. Cities and Countries closest to the Equator experience one true Season; the Artic and Antarctic Circles experiencing extreme cold, the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer also experiencing extremes in weather, climates and Seasons – everything in between those Tropics can vary between four full Seasons, three and sometimes just two, but we all experience the Solstices and the Exinoxes that mark the traditional four Seasons and to confuse you all a bit more, dependent on the Hemisphere we live in determines a particular Season. My viewpoint here today is based on a four Season Northern Hemisphere perspective.
Living in the Season from my perspective we are entering Winter and by the time of the Solstice the cooler and sometimes frigid weather has killed off most foliage. The leaves have fallen, the perennials have retreated back into the ground and have descended into their slumber – a retreat to rest, restore and rejuvenate for the coming Spring. Animals too have made their Winter nests and burrows; they take their queues from the Autumn Season and the cooler weather and shorter days, they prepare. Autumn is a busy time as they harvest and build for the Winter protection. They store away food and make cozy and safe places to rest their heads at night away from the cold, wind, rain and snow. My thoughts of living in the Season were taken directly from watching the wild life around me each Season; watching and observing what they do, their actions and inactions, the way they utilize the sunrise to sunset. They do not have clocks or devices, they just know by nature, it is pure instinct. So when Winter rolls around we too should be thinking of living by the sun and the moon. Our homes should be ready for the coming months. Maybe we have made batches of food from the garden harvest and jarred or froze it for use during the non-growing season? I try to get everything done, cleaned and prepared by Solstice so that when the time to pause comes, I can. I honor the darkness by lighting a fire and candles and give thanks for the many blessings of the year. This is our time to slow down, rest, restore and rejuvenate as well. Many animals are known to hibernate during the cold and barren Winter months; having eaten three times their weight during harvest they live off the stores of fat to get them through the leaner times. It is a misnomer to think that Bears sleep all Winter long, they like other hibernating species can slow down their digestive systems and bodily functions, but they will venture out of the burrow once in a while, so beware if you think you are safe in the woods in Winter, they are probably very hungry! The point is what if we too took a Winter break, a break from pushing and striving and plotting and doing and just allowed ourselves to enjoy the Season? When Spring rolls around we become active once again, we awaken refreshed and renewed ready to begin preparations for the warmer weather; the planning and planting cycle begins again.
What would it be like to live by the light, live by the Season where the only light is from the Sun, a fire or candle? Going to bed earlier and allowing ourselves to wake in the morning naturally? Living by Season, living by nature, the thought is enticing. Time to quite and pause, turn out the lights.
Happy Solstice, Happy Yule, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thank you all for a prosperous and fulfilling year.
Solstice gives us all the opportunity to pause regardless of our Hemisphere; typically three days of darkness before the return of light and the change to Winter or three days of light before the return to the darkness in Summer. The shift to Winter brings us more light each day as we move toward Spring, after Summer Solstice each day becomes shortr