Words by Mark Sparrow

Hello friends!

And so we have reached the darkest point of the year, just under 8 hours of daylight today (here in the southern part of the UK at least) and, therefore, a night which stretches for a full 16 hours. 

I often think about how this would have affected our ancestors – just 8 hours of daylight to get the day’s work done! No wonder that at this pivotal point in the year, celebrations sprang up the world over: Neolithic people built Stonehenge to align with the Winter Solstice sunset; the Roman feast of Saturnalia culminated in Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (Day of the Birth of the Unconquered Sun) on 25th December; The Feast of Juul was observed in Scandinavia when fires were lit to symbolize the heat, light and life-giving properties of the returning Sun; the ancient Vainakh people of the North Caucuses celebrated 25th December as the birthday of the sun. These cosmological celebrations marked the moment that the all too human fears and deprivations of dark winter nights would soon begin to dwindle and the longed-for light and warmth of the sun would return. It may be that formalised religions folded the power of these ancient traditions into their own worship: Hanukkah (which this year begins on 23rd December) is the 'Festival of Light' and celebrates the miracle of one day’s lamp oil being able to burn for eight days and Christmas, of course, marks the birth of the son, “The Light of the World”. 

Over the past two centuries, in much of the modernised world, we human beings have learnt to banish darkness from our lives. After tens of thousands of years living diurnally, electric lighting in our homes, our workplaces and on our streets means that we can live in 24 hour light; torches on our phones and lights on our vehicles mean we can continue to function despite the darkness. The dazzle of ever-present illumination means that we may miss the moment of wonder when natural light returns and the genuine sense of celebration that can hold.

Here on the farm, the Winter Solstice continues to mark a turning point in our year. Despite all the advantages of artificial light, the lengthening daylight feels like a relief: soon the chickens will roost a little later, giving us, and them, a precious few extra minutes each day outside; if we’re lucky, the bees might take a few exploratory flights; the hens will begin to lay more eggs and the winter-visiting robins will begin singing their territorial songs a few minutes earlier.

Despite the luminosity of human invention, there is still much to be gained, I think, from spending a moment or two stepping outside our everyday business - especially at this time of year - and, in the words of the eco-theologian Thomas Berry "coordinating the human realm with the cosmological realm". Why don’t we all take a minute to notice the returning light over the next few days? Why don’t we begin today – the Winter Solstice?

How about setting an alarm for 17:16 (nautical twilight in London - you can adjust the time to suit your location here) and stepping outside, just for a minute, to watch the last moments of daylight fade and darkness descend? As you watch perhaps you could reflect that, right now, the northern hemisphere of our planet is tilted furthest from the sun and from now on it will begin its gradual journey back towards it - for, as we now know, we are returning to the sun not the sun returning to us. Over the next few days, why not keep your alarm set for 17:16, step outside each day and notice the gradually lengthening day? Tomorrow night the moment of dusk will occur a full minute later. By Christmas Eve you will have witnessed an extra two minutes of light; by New Year’s Eve an extra seven and, if you kept this up until Twelfth Night (5th January), you will have enjoyed an extra twelve minutes of daylight - surely that’s something worth celebrating?! 

And if you have the inclination, why not click on this link for a piece of music that celebrates this time of year and brings us all, as we watch, into what Thomas Berry calls the "same soul space", partaking in a cosmological observance and witnessing the majesty of our unfolding universe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwxlMvV6LkE

With warm winter love

Mark

Want to retreat to the beautiful organic farm and campsite that inspired this article?

Join Mark Sparrow, Tom Mettyear and Jasmine Pradhan for “Yoga in Nature: A retreat for mind and body”

July 3rd-5th 2020

Haddon Copse Farm

Reset, rejuvenate and re-energise your body, mind and soul at this stunning weekend retreat.

Designed for people who could do with a break immersed in nature, but don’t have the time to commit to a week-long trip to a far-flung destination During the weekend we’ll do all of the following:

• Twice daily Al fresco yoga in the Magic Circle grove of trees

• Nature based contemplations

• Nourish ourselves with fresh, delicious, home grown and home cooked food

• Learn to blend natural essential oils into a luxurious skincare product to keep

• Sit round open fires, witness beautiful sunsets, enjoy dark skies and bright stars

• Relax and camp out in our gorgeous and comfortable bell tents

• Identify wild herbs and flowers and learn about the natural principles of the land in a relaxed and inspiring way

And much more!

Prices from £265. To find out more about the retreat - including how to book - please visit https://www.stretchandthecity.co.uk/yoga-in-nature-retreat/

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