Star Light, Star Bright

A couple weeks ago I attended and participated in Gaia's Temple's Winter Solstice ritual.  Besides being the ritualist who called in and released the spirits of North, the element of Earth, I also lead a guided meditation.

Solstice, if you're not familiar with it, is the observance of the point on the Wheel of the Year where days start getting longer and nights begin getting shorter. In Earth-based religions this is seen as the birth of the Sun and is normally a boisterous celebration of the return of the light.  There is a reason Christmas is also celebrated at this time of year amongst so many other festivals of light.

This year was a little different. With the recent elections there is a general sense, at least in the circles I frequent, of added heaviness and darkness -- the rising to the surface of such fear-based belief patterns as misogyny and racism -- which required a more somber tone for not only tuning in to the returning light of the sun, but the necessary return of the personal light and power of each one of us to heal these dark waves washing up around us.

The following is an adaption of the meditation I shared that night, and is my gift to you, toward that vision of awakened, empowered, light-filled passionate people changing and healing the world. This meditation is largely based on and inspired by the teachings of Sandra Ingerman, in particular her book and workshops entitled "Medicine For The Earth." In fact the quote that appears in the body of the meditation is hers: " It is not what you do, but who you become that changes the world."


Solstice 2016 Meditation

Close your eyes and take a deep breath.

Take another and connect to the earth, feeling grounded and safe.As you take another, in your mind’s eye and find yourself looking into a large, dimly-lit room which you realize is your heart.

In the center of the room you see a chest that is emitting a soft glow. Walk forward to get a closer look, and open the chest, releasing a brilliant light that fills the room.

From the bottom of the chest floats up a small star that hovers, twinkling before your eyes.

This star is your own light, your own essence. This is the pure Divine light and love of who you were when you were born, and it is the pure Divine light and love of who you came here to become in this lifetime.

Your light has been covered over and hidden for long enough. It is now time to reclaim your light. It is time to shine. The time has come for you to become the light that you were meant to be because “it is not what you do, but who you become that changes the world.”

Now gaze into your star as you would gaze into a flame, and ask in your mind the question, “Who am I to become?” Continue to look into your star as you await an answer, which may come in an image… a scene…  words or feelings…

…Now that you’ve received an answer, and even if you haven’t, with your eyes still closed I want you to reach out in front of you, with your physical hands, as if you are reaching for that star.

Once you have the star in your hands, begin to slowly draw it back to you until your hands are resting on your chest, holding there the tingling, buzzing ball of light.

Now, again take a deep breath.

And exhale, emptying your lungs of air, then…

Inhale, drawing the light into your physical chest…

And as you exhale again, feel your ball of light settling into your heart.

As you continue to breathe, feel every breath fanning the flames of your tiny star, causing it to burn bigger and brighter until it radiates from every cell of your body. Feel it lighting up every atom as if each were a tiny star of it’s own.

As you get lighter and brighter, feel your light radiating out and filling this room… Then filling this city… Then this country… And then this planet. Congratulations, you just changed the world! 

This is who you came here to be. This is who you are. You are a star. It is in radiating this light that your very presence raises the vibration of and heals the world. Doing whatever brings you joy connects you to this light. Feeling that joy is your gift from the Universe.  Expressing and radiating that light and joy is your gift to the Universe. Every act done from this center of light, this center of love, heals and changes the world exponentially. And as every atom of your body was lit up from your one tiny star, when we shine our light we ignite the light of others around us.

Now, with your light still blazing, slowly and at your own pace, begin becoming aware of the physical room where you are... Feel yourself returning to your physical body... Feel the chair or floor beneath you… Wiggle your fingers and toes… Pat your legs… Stomp your feet... And when you are ready, open your eyes.