And over all, the blessed Solar,
Telling of halcyon days begun.
David Macbeth Moir (1798-1851)
As I do every year round this time, I invite you to hitch me as we step right into a magical Time Out of Time known as the Halcyon Days. I first realized of this follow a few years in the past, from my buddy and favourite vacation curator, the late Waverly Fitzgerald.
And every year, equally to our rising custom of the Advent Solstice Wreath ceremony, increasingly more of you report you make this a aware a part of your vacation traditions, too.
It is a very previous custom that begins per week to 10 days earlier than Winter Solstice and ends a few week to 10 days after. Some want to start on Christmas Eve and proceed by way of twelfth Night time, or they could observe these time-out-of-time days between St. Lucy’s Day (Dec. 13) and New Yr’s Day.
This yr, I discover it particularly magical that the Halcyon Days will align with Mercury retrograde, which will get underway at 2:09 am Jap time Dec. 13. And which additionally looks like it could be a doozy.
As a result of it’s been an particularly onerous yr, I intend to start my private observance tomorrow, as quickly as I’ve despatched out my Card of the Week (extra about that additional down…).
In these hectic, too-bright-and-shiny fashionable instances, and possibly as a result of of the dramatic disconnect, I believe we want this greater than ever. So I observe them presently, relying on how properly I can clear my work schedule. Normally, I want to take the ten days every manner, as a result of this timing concludes on New Yr’s Eve.
And ta-daaa! Mercury stations direct on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Fairly divine timing!
Within the Halcyon Days, we enter a interval after we step out of our bizarre cares and the workaday world. This historical follow calls us to pause, honor the rites of Yuletide, and have fun with peace and kindness.
So for the subsequent a number of weeks, that’s what precisely I suggest we do.
The Story of Halcyon
As soon as upon a time, Alcyone (additionally known as Halcyon) was the daughter of Aeolus, King of the Winds, and the spouse of Ceyx, King of Thessaly. Alcyone and Ceyx liked one another devotedly and have been by no means willingly aside.
However, a time got here when Ceyx determined he should make the lengthy journey throughout the ocean to seek the advice of the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi. When Alcyone realized what he was planning, she was overwhelmed with grief and terror, for she knew the facility of the ocean winds and feared his demise.
Ceyx was deeply moved, however his goal held quick. Alcyone yielded ultimately, and let him go alone.
Alas! As everybody is aware of, males ought to take heed to their smart and loving wives, for Ceyx was shipwrecked and died the tragic demise that Alcyone had feared. The Gods appeared to Alcyone in a dream within the picture of the drowned Ceyx, and informed her of his demise. Alcyone ran to the seashore and located Ceyx’s physique drifting slowly in direction of her.
Stricken with grief, Alcyone jumped into the ocean to hitch him in demise, however the Gods took pity on her and earlier than she might be overcome by the waves, she was reworked right into a kingfisher.
Ceyx was reborn additionally right into a sea swallow and collectively, their love lives without end. To this present day, they’re at all times seen collectively, flying or driving the waves.
To honor their love and to stop any others from assembly such a tragic destiny presently of yr, Zeus forbade the winds to blow for seven days previous to and 7 days after the Winter Solstice.
The Tritons, attendants to Triton, the son of Poseidon, have been known as upon to make sure that this was made so. And henceforth, yearly presently, the Mediterranean Sea is meant to lie nonetheless and calm; no breath of wind stirring the waters.
For that is when the kingfishers brood over their nests close to the waters. After the younger birds are hatched, the attraction is damaged.
So yearly, at Winter’s threshold, lately of excellent peace are supposed to come, and they’re named after Alcyone, or, extra generally, “Halcyon Days.”
So beginning now, my associates, allow us to bid welcome to the Halcyon Days.
At our subsequent lighting of our candles throughout this threshold time, pay attention to the heightened energy that now comes upon us, for in solely per week, the standing nonetheless of the Solar arrives, bringing cosmic stillness to our anxious and agitated tradition.
RE-flect, RE-view, RE-new: Mercury Retrograde
This yr, my grieving journey for my father’s demise stands in stark distinction to the holly-jolly vibe of this time. Plus I’m nonetheless absorbing the truth that I’ve entered my seventh decade. So I’m wanting again to grasp who I as soon as was and would possibly but be – an ideal mindset for Mercury retrograde’s contemplative reflection and re-set.
For a lot of, a few years, I’ve stored journals of my Morning Pages, based mostly on Julia Cameron’s life-changing The Artist’s Way.
I’ve hardly ever gone again and reviewed any of those thirty-some years of journals, however I believe I’m lastly prepared to do that. I’ll be on the lookout for misplaced treasures, clues, and possibly even just a little peaceable decision right here and there.
How would possibly you step away out of your on a regular basis routine as a way to higher combine previous, current, and future?
Let Us Be the Peace We Want to See
Yearly, I invite my readers to do all that’s in our skill, to make sure that the stressed interior and outer waters turn into quiet, in order that the brand new beginning might come.
This yr, in view of the deep divisions amongst our folks, the brutal wars being waged, the ceaseless rancor that has settled over all the things, and the continued assault to the democracies around the globe, I believe we want this time greater than ever.
As a result of it’s all souls on deck in these particularly stormy waters.
Please be part of me in weaving a really particular magical spell for peace and kindness on this liminal time.
Maybe to align with this time, you could resolve to take a media break. Or flip off the information, or maybe step away from the clamor of social media — only for now.
Lowering our time within the artificiality of the digital world, aside from what is important as a way to be with our family and friends, could also be useful for you. The time we spend in Nature is a more healthy, extra grounded alternative than the countless loop of angst, concern, and seduction we’re pushed to devour.
Perhaps you’d like to hitch me in doing one factor — giant or tiny — day by day, as a random act of kindness, or to embody the peace we want to see. On day by day of this Halcyon time, allow us to every bestow with clear intention a particular blessing to our troubled planet.
Sure, there’s struggling past most of our comprehension, with warfare, destruction of human rights, and climate catastrophe unfolding.
To not point out the pivotal reckoning that lies forward for the USA: will we the folks select to protect our democratic republic, or will we hand our nation and freedoms over to the person who has been very clear about his plans to show our nation into his private dictatorship?
It’s formidable to anticipate the potential for violence and strife that’s more likely to accompany the 2024 elections. However this is a perfect time to organize for the psychological (Mercury’s specialty) toughness we’re going to want.
And meantime, even small acts of compassion and care could make an enormous distinction. Each act of generosity issues to somebody and ripples out into the broader world. How would possibly you provide your hand?
So breathe and be nonetheless.
Replenish your self by embracing the gorgeous knowledge of Nature presently of endarkenment. As an example, you would possibly want to observe one peaceable hour every night time with the lights and screens off.
What quiets and calms you? I invite you to submit and share your personal concepts and actions within the Luminous Sparks feedback.
In all circumstances, allow us to pray with all our hearts, after which observe by way of. Within the title of the Goddess, and by our personal fingers, might actual peace come to our troubled world.
And will Love abide without end.
