As I reflect on the power and beauty of this Winter Solstice, I am reminded of a very potent life experience…

It was only our second day together in a weekend intensive, but already we knew more of each other than many friends may ever know in a lifetime. Old wounds, deep regrets, lifetimes of pain, anger, sadness and joy were being revealed and healed. Miracles were happening, absolute, awe-inspiring miracles. I felt as though I sat at the edge of Life itself watching birth and creation burst forth from the people around me, and within myself too. I was in the middle of something big, something like I had never experienced before. It was as though I had awakened from a long dark dream and the true brilliance of living had been laid before me for all my having with the utmost care and ecstasy.

We sat in a circle, a room full of some sixty “initiates”.  Suddenly the building’s lights went out and it was so black I could not tell the difference if my eyelids were open or closed. I could not see my hand in front of my face. Not a speck of light appeared from anywhere; no windows, no closed doors with sips of light peeking in… just blackness, complete and total darkness. I listened to the gasps, sudden shocks and cries of others who sat with me in the room. The person sitting next to me grabbed my hand and held tight. We were plunged into an abyss, and moving together into a deeper experience of being.

We sat silently in the dark listening to prayers and healing words. We felt emotions move. We were dropped into the void, the mystery, and together we were unafraid.

Warm currents of energy moved through me. My body relaxed and softened. My Spirit began to sing. How lovely was the darkness. How comforting, soothing and nourishing was the nothingness; only my breath and being, our breathing and being-ness, permeating the darkness.

With no where to run, no way to escape or hide from ourselves and what lies deep within us, we witnessed what lay hidden deep in our shadows. Only the raw, authentic selves were revealed, flowing into joy, bliss, serenity, peace with every moment we faced.

Yes, there is beauty here in the shadows of ourselves. There is great beauty in the darkness.

Today is the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. Since neolithic times it has been celebrated and honored as a sacred time of renewal and rebirth. As the earth continues on her magical orbit the days now grow longer and nights shorter. The sun is dawning after the increasing darkness of winter.  The Winter Solstice is nature’s physical equivalent of a spiritual awakening and enlightenment.

My wish for you this Winter Solstice is that you awaken to the sheer brilliance of your being, the very essence of Life that you are, your inner most nature. And that with this new found strength you delve deep into the darkness, deep into your shadows and fears, and shine on them the light of awareness with love and compassion. Nothing is more powerful or bigger than this light and love. Like the sun, the light of awareness and love overcomes any darkness. It is simply it’s nature!

Many of you already know that through the practice of Rebirthing Breathwork, each session takes us through this process of emerging from darkness into the light.

When we dare to face our deepest, darkest fears and overcome them we can truly experience the ecstasy of life. We become confident and stronger. We discover our selves and we know who we are. We begin to trust life and know that it is a force that is both for us and within us. The Winter Solstice marks this triumph of the hero on his or her quest for a greater good. It is a journey we all have the opportunity to take, many times in our own lives.

If you are stuck in any area of your life or if you are in pain, the invitation and my wish for you here is to take that stuck energy, take that pain and compost it into something beautiful! Like the earth breaks down decaying, useless matter and turns it into fuel for life and growth, take your shadows and darkness and use them to create life and beauty. The Winter Solstice is a great time to realize this.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. -Marianne Williamson, from A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles.

Be bold. Be daring. Challenge and stretch yourself.
You are more powerful and beautiful than you know.

Nourish your Dreams in 2013!
I’ll see you there. 😉

With Breath and Bliss,
Sara