Winter Solstice…
I woke up this Winter Solstice morning– well to be honest it was afternoon…
(Side-note: I haven’t been sleeping well most of the year. I have been living out of suitcases and boxes, traveling to Oregon, California, New Mexico, Illinois, Pennsylvania & New York, working on a role that has enhanced/exhausted my emotional capacity, and I think my body has finally decided to REST. My appetite has been limited as well, I just haven’t felt like eating much. Yet the minute I got home to NM I’ve been eating serving after serving of homemade meals, sleeping so soundly, and I realized that being home in New Mexico has shifted me into a mode of sustenance and recuperation.)
So, I woke up today and saw this post by my mom:
Winter Solstice has been a special day for me and my mom for almost 20 years now. We would regularly take walks along the Rio Grande river since I was able to walk, with our various dogs (Chula, Simpre, Sola) throughout the years. We ventured to a particular spot along the Bosque that had a little juniper tree growing amongst the cottonwood trees. At the beginning it was only about 2 ft tall, and today it is about 20 ft. I feel as if this tree and I have been growing together, like she is my Bosque sibling. (My name Sabina translate to a species of juniper tree) We have created a tradition of decorating the tree with edible goodies for the birds and coyotes of the area to enjoy. Most of the time we make bird seed ornaments with peanut butter and pine cones. But this year we decide to just leave some cinnamon raisin bagels on the branches.
After decorating the tree we find a space along the river to sit and watch the sunset while watching the migrating cranes, Canadian geese and other fowl. We usually bring a little picnic and hot beverages… It is a celebration of the final light before the longest night. The time before the days begin to get brighter. A moment of silence in nature to reflect on the year, the ups and downs, the in-betweens.
I am so grateful to have had this moment this year, because what a year 2017 has been…
Walking along the Bosque trail.
The path to the tree…
My Tree Sister, who has been trimmed for passing bikers…
Mom decorating the tree…
We found a pine cone from years ago that we had hung on the tree with peanut butter and birdseed.
Bagel decorations for the birds!
Bosque Tree decorating accomplished!
Panorama view of our Winter Solstice picnic area
Salud to our days getting brighter!
My inspiration for looking towards the future, one of the brightest sources in my life to help me keep going…
EL SOL, the life force that will grace us with more and more light after today…
Winter Blessings to you and all of your loved ones, may your days not only bring you more sunlight but also more love, joy, hope and action towards change. May your kernel of courage unfurl and bring strength into 2018!
HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE!
Stepping into Magic: an actor's journey... 