The season brings with it abundant darkness along with glorious, festive lights. We enjoy the whimsical nature of the decorations that surround us; the lights enter the early darkness and light our way.

Yet, entering the darkness is to enter our inner world — a slow steady internal movement of luminescent dreams, as we reflect on our life with the backdrop of decay that winter brings—bare trees, cold, rain, snow and time to be thoughtful about the years end. We may take stock: we may have had loss, we may have had illness, we may have made deeper changes and crossed bridges that allowed us critical transformative experiences. We may be manifesting a new level of creativity.

Darkness is reflected within our society and the world. We have been embedded in roiling battles: the agony of climate change; the despicable nature of corruption who’s stench we can’t avoid; the meanness that has co-opted our society.  Yet, the counterpoint is our own unique will that demands fairness, a kinder world and a respect for all human struggles. We embody, in all dark ages, that the spirit of consciousness will prevail and democratic values will win out in the end.