Light in the Darkness – From Lucia to Diwali
Today is Saint Lucy's Day, a day dedicated to light in the midst of the darkest time of the year. The name Lucia stems from the Latin word lux, meaning light, and Saint Lucy was the patron saint of the blind and people with eye diseases.
Although she lived in Sicily and died a martyr in the year 304, we still remember her and her light here in Denmark every year on December 13th – with lit candles and song.
In our modern society, where many old traditions have disappeared, I think it is beautiful that Lucia Day still exists. Perhaps because it is about something as universal as light in the darkness. And precisely at this time, when the days are short and the nights are long, it feels like the perfect occasion to light candles, nurture the light within ourselves, and let it shine even more brightly.
Darkness amplifies and emphasizes.
Although Lucia Day is celebrated on December 13th, the darkest day of the year is actually the winter solstice on December 21st. This is when the night is longest and the day is shortest. From this day, the light slowly returns, making the entire month of December a time when we especially need to celebrate and hold on to the light in the darkness.
But light in the darkness is not just something we celebrate here in Denmark. It is a universal symbol that transcends cultures and traditions.
Diwali – The Festival of Lights
Another beautiful celebration of light is found in India, where the festival of lights, Diwali, brings entire communities together to celebrate the triumph of light.
The Indian festival of lights, Diwali (also known as Deepavali), is one of the largest and most significant holidays in India. It is celebrated in late autumn and is somewhat like a combination of Christmas and New Year's Eve – spread over five days.
Each day during Diwali has its own meaning and special rituals, but the third day, Lakshmi Puja, is the highlight. This day falls on the darkest new moon night of the year in the Hindu calendar. Here, people celebrate the victory of light over darkness, the triumph of good over evil, the light of knowledge over ignorance, and the strength of hope over despair.
During Diwali, homes and streets are filled with light – lamps, candles, and lanterns alike. Families gather for prayer (puja), share festive meals, and exchange gifts. The night sky is illuminated by lanterns and fireworks, symbolizing light and joy in the midst of darkness. It is very beautiful, if we just ignore the pollution involved – but New Year's Eve here in Denmark isn't much better.
Lucia Day and Diwali are both reminders that light – both external and internal – holds a special place in our lives and needs to be nurtured.
Let us choose to nurture the light
In a time when energy can feel heavy, it is more important than ever to nurture the light – both within ourselves and in our surroundings. Compassion, care, and love for one another, regardless of differences, can make a huge difference. What we nurture grows, and even a small kind gesture can light a candle in the darkness for both ourselves and others.
Winter is also the time when the body and mind react to the darkness and cold. Many feel it in the form of heaviness, fatigue, or physical tension in the lower back, back, neck, and shoulders. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, winter is associated with the bladder and kidneys, which carry heavier emotions such as fear and insecurity.
This understanding of nature's rhythms and the body's signals goes hand in hand with elements of Vedic philosophy, which focuses on harmony between body and mind.
In the book The Energy of the 5 Seasons, we delve much deeper into this interplay between TCM and Vedic philosophy. Here you will get the tools to understand and balance your energy in sync with the changing seasons of the year. Read more about the book here.
Working with these energies, and especially the energy of winter, can feel like a challenge, but it is also where we can find the greatest strength.
We must be able to contain both the darkness and the heaviness, for it gives us the opportunity to transform it. Sometimes it helps just to focus on the light ahead, preserve hope, and nurture the beauty in life.
A time for reflection
On a day like this, when we celebrate light, it is also a good opportunity to look inwards. Winter in general is the ideal time for reflection and introspection. I would therefore like to share a simple breathing meditation with you, which you can find in today's door on my page.
As a small extra gift, you will also receive a guided introduction to the meditation exercise Trataka. It is a yogic exercise where you focus on the flame of a lit candle. Trataka helps to quiet the mind, strengthen concentration, and bring calm to both body and mind.
Trataka – Candle Gazing Meditation
Trataka means "to gaze intently at a fixed point". It is one of yoga's six cleansing exercises (shat kriyas), which is also said to have a strengthening and purifying effect on the eyes.
Here is a short guide if you would like to try the exercise:
- Place a lit candle about one meter in front of you, either on the floor or on a table.
- Focus your gaze on the flame, and let all your attention rest on its movement.
- If thoughts or feelings arise, acknowledge them without judgment and gently return your focus to the flame.
- Try to avoid blinking and gaze at the flame for at least one minute.
- Then close your eyes and imagine the flame in your mind's eye.
Note: Remember to remove contact lenses before the exercise.
Diwali, Lucia, the winter solstice, and Trataka remind us that light is not only found outside us, but also within.
May we each take the time to nurture it, let it shine, and bring warmth and joy to ourselves and others – especially in the darkest times.
With love,
Isabelle
