The transition from the old into the New Year in the Gregorian calendar occurs in the middle of the Holy Nights. From Christmas to Epiphany, or rather, for the first two weeks of Winter, we are invited to slow down, and commune with our Soul. To nurture the inner Light.

“The Winter will arouse in me the Summer of the Soul,” ponders Rudolf Steiner. The warmth and the brightness of Summer are now stored inside of us. At the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, we can perceive the warmth and brightness within us in a new Light. We can continue to bathe in the soft lavender healing glow during the sun’s visit with the Archer, from December 20 through January 18.

However, we need to consciously turn our gaze inward, away from the artificial shine of the New York City’s Times Square. Away from the intruding glare of the media. Away from the polished gloss of emptiness.

Surrendering to spirit revelation,

I gain the light of cosmic being;

the power of thinking, growing clearer,

gains strength to give myself to me,

through quickening from thinker’s energy

my sense of self frees itself.

~ Weekly Verse 39 by Rudolf Steiner from The Calendar of the Soul
(trans. Ruth & Hans Pusch, with a slight revision by Marta Stemberger)

Deep in contemplation,

I perceive the Spirit Light.

As thinking becomes clearer,

I behold myself in me.

In the quiet of my Soul,

my I emerges, purified.

~ Soulful Spark 39 by Marta Stemberger

“The magic is in the mess,” writes Brené Brown. Mhm, yes, we are born through the mess of pain and blood. The fresh young sprouts of plants have to push through the dirt to meet the Sun. When we look at the people gathered in a circle, they are not the picture-perfect speci(wo)men, showcased on the newsstand’s magazines. The real human beings are unique: each with their own struggles and wrinkles. Their beauty meets you from within… because it’s the heart that matters. The genuine “How are you?” that reaches out to you. A sincere smile that touches you.

Many need to return to work during the first week of the year, to the duties of daily life that bring in the check we all need to pay our bills. Yet, we can still practice kindness in the midst of busy schedules. We can share our inner depth with family, friends, coworkers, acquaintances, strangers—day after day, moment after moment—through mindful communication. Connect with others through thoughtful words and heartfelt action.

May the brightness of the Sun, cultivated within you, illuminate the dark months. May the warmth of the Summer, nourished within your heart, flow into the cold world to bridge the gaps and spasms among us. May the glow of heart-to-heart human interaction awaken the humanity across the globe. Be generous to breathe out to give; be open to breathe in to receive.

---

Over to you, dear Soulful Reader:

HOW WILL YOU SHARE YOUR INNER LIGHT WITH OTHERS IN THE NEW YEAR?

I invite you to share your thoughts + impressions below.

---

Treat yourself to insightful name analysis…

---