We who stay within the Northern Hemisphere have begun to expertise the shortening days and lengthening nights. Tonight is marked historically by the feast of the ancestors, which is related to the diminishing of daylight no less than because the time when Celts lived throughout Europe, nevertheless it could possibly be even an earlier prevalence.
One thousand years in the past, as individuals within the countryside stored celebrating the feast of Samhain, the monks of Cluny determined to christianize it, creating the double feast of All Hallows (Nov. 1) and All Souls (Nov. 2), which in some elements of Europe nonetheless resist consumerism and have retained the household spirit.
Impartial of 1’s faith, this time now could be a time for introspection and shadow work. A time to listen to what one’s ancestors must say.
This yr particularly I really feel the burden of darkness, not a lot as “darkish night time of the soul” however as “darkish night time of our species” and “darkish night time of democracy.”
Matthew Fox began to speak concerning the latter no less than one yr in the past, reluctantly including it to the record, within the ebook about MAGA as Antichrist. All three darkish nights, in fact, are deeply related.
Even when our soul isn’t affected by private tragedies proper now, it feels deeply — until we block it out — the ache of the Earth, its creatures, and particularly our fellow human beings who’re tortured, maimed, left bereft, disadvantaged of their livelihood, and so forth., and so forth.
If, as a substitute, you’re experiencing a darkish night time of the soul, I urge you to search out companionship in your folks, and if you recognize of someone who’s struggling deeply, I urge you to change into a companion to them presently. This time of the yr is when emotions change into rather more deep and tender for many people, and we must be nearer to one another.
In his treasured ebook Christian Mystics, Matthew talks concerning the Cosmic Christ as “gentle of the world” in ways in which appear to me very acceptable for this time that we live in. That is what he writes:
What does it imply to say that the Christ is the sunshine of the world? First, it means that there’s gentle on the planet. That’s vital info – typically we’re in a spot that appears full darkness (…) At such instances, it is extremely useful to know that, regardless of appearances, the Christ — who’s all over the place and in every thing simply as photons of sunshine waves are current in each atom within the universe — is current as gentle within the deepest, most innermost heart of issues.
And he continues: If we open ourselves to the depth in all issues, the sunshine of God shines by means of us. (…) Additional, to affirm the sunshine doesn’t imply to disclaim darkness. It isn’t to stay a lifetime of superficial positivism. (…) Melancholy usually happens when darkness takes over and lightweight appears banished. In these moments, we have to bear in mind that there’s gentle on the planet, a “gentle that darkness couldn’t overpower”(John 1:5). We breathe this gentle out and in each second of day by day.*
*Quotes from Matthew Fox, Christian Mystics: 365 Readings & Meditations, 6-7.
Banner Picture: Graves embellished for Ognissanti (All Saints Day) across the church of San Gallo abbey within the Moggio Udinese commune, Canal del Ferro / Friuli-Venezia Giulia / Italy / EU. Wikimedia Commons.
Queries for Contemplation
How do you propose to rejoice Halloween and its season?
Really useful Studying
Christian Mystics: 365 Readings & Meditations
One River, Many Wells: Knowledge Springing from International Faiths
Pure Grace: Dialogues on creation, darkness, and the soul in spirituality and science (by Matthew Fox and Rupert Sheldrake)
Authentic Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality
A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Consciousness with Social Justice
