This is what I love about blogging (aka journaling) for a number of years…to look back and read about my first experience hearing the sound of Paul Winter’s sax ringing out in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in my city. Fast forward to today…and even though this year I’m in Arizona…yes, it will be different…but no doubt there will be candles, a big fire in the backyard fireplace, and time to release what is unwanted and set intentions for bringing light into the lives of others…oh, and most definitely a round or two of wolf howls!
But why this image? Well…this afternoon I spotted this roadrunner which has become somewhat of a rarity here in the desert. The Native American Indians (specifically the Hopi of Northern Arizona) would use prayer sticks with roadrunner feathers during the winter solstice to carry prayers to the spirits for when the sun needed strength and swiftness to get through the winter. Well enough said!
So I thought once again I’d share this tale of the winter solstice from 2012…
Once upon a time there was a little girl who loved Christmas. Her parents emphasized the birth of Christ (as good Christian parents should) as well as weaving in Santa Claus, the Christmas tree and jingle bells. Family meals…church plays and nativity scenes…stove popped popcorn for decorating the tree…baked cookies for Santa’s arrival…Christmas day afternoon at her grandparents’ house (after church of course)…she adored it all. Years went by…she had a home of her own…and slowly the desire to decorate and partake in Christmas began to disappear. You see, so much commercialism had taken over and it all seemed such a chore. And without children around, well… she pretty much lost her Christmas spirit.
But there was New Years! Being a southern girl her mom would often cook black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day in hopes to bring luck and prosperity throughout the year ahead. Then as she grew up there were dinner parties…New Year’s eve overlooking Times Square or at the top of the north tower of the World Trade Center…ringing in the new year in far away places. All with the intent of out with the old and in with the new. A time for change, a time for self-fulfillment. Resolutions made, but rarely kept which soon turned into a time for disappointment. The spirit for even promised changes had disappeared as well. (Now don’t get her wrong. She absolutely loves a good party, regardless of the reason, so that never stopped her from enjoying the beginning of a new year!)
And again this year, no decorations and not much of a Christmas spirit, even though she does plan to spend New Years with friends. (Yeah!) But something changed and she’s blaming it all on Paul Winter. Huh? You see she attended Paul Winter’s winter solstice celebration of music, dance and the return of the sun at the Cathedral of St. John Divine in NYC. A sense of renewal, a rebirth of sorts…of hope and goodwill…a different kind of spirit – the light – had returned to her that night.
The concert began with Paul Winter playing his soprano saxophone stationed in a nook high in the back of the cathedral. The sound carrying across the vastness of the interior of the largest cathedral in the world was eerie, yet evocative. This was only a beginning of a three hour amazing, bone chilling performance. The recorded wolf and whale cries incorporated into Mr. Winter’s pieces sent chills throughout her body. Dramatic musical elements filled the vastness of the cathedral as Mr. Winter took her on a symbolic journey through the longest night of the year. A spiral tree filled with bells, gongs, and chimes appeared, intended to symbolize diversity. The Forces of Nature performed with vigor and emotion. A giant Earth made its way through the aisles, rising above while the musicians lead the audience in a round of wolf howls. Yes, she howled like a wolf! Tears poured down her face. At the end that lost spirit had been found and she left yearning to learn more about the history and symbolism of the winter solstice.
The arrival of winter solstice, the shortest day and the longest night of the year. In the old days as winter approached, people watched the sun sink lower in the sky each day and would fear it would disappear completely and darkness would prevail. To entice the sun’s return, certain rituals were performed…bonfires were built and candles would burn in hopes to ward off the spirits of the dark. Today, winter solstice is a celebration of nature, light and giving. That’s why she’s chosen the word share as her intention for the new beginning….to spread the love, to share her divine light, to practice loving kindness, to lend a helping hand, to share her gifts. And you better believe she’ll be celebrating winter solstice for many years to come.
…and she is…
Solstice blessings…so thankful for each of you in my life!
Here’s to a new year of spreading love…sharing the light…lending a helping hand…sharing gifts…and practicing loving kindness.
A roadrunner….a real roadrunner, I only know the cartoon…with all the disasters to happen.
I love your story, I know it is yours for I follow your blog. Christmas to me is also not the Christmas anymore like it used to be when I was a child. A lot of the commercial things flew over from the USA. I did not grow up with a Santa with elves and Rudy the Red Nose reindeer. To me that does not have a meaning.
Christmas is in the heart.
The concert however touched you in the heart, the light came back and I am so happy for you that you have now something to look forward to. It sounds great and for tomorrow there will be more light and the day after tomorrow there will be even more light……
To a bright and sharing and excepting 2016.
Love and hugs
LOL! Yes, a real roadrunner! Aren’t they adorable? I used to see them all the time when I first moved to Arizona…now you’re lucky to see one a year if that! Thanks always Astrid for your words and friendship! Yes, 2016 is going to be amazing and will look forward to sharing our images and words!
As one who believes in giving (for it truly IS more blessed to give than to receive) and one who identifies with the Wolf Spirit, I love your words, “bringing light into the lives of others…oh, and most definitely a round or two of wolf howls!” I cherish that we can follow each other’s stories to see from where we’ve come and to where we’re going. This is an inspiration to us all. We need each other to grow into whom we want to be! Thank you, Robin.
Oh me too Ginnie! Total inspiration! Thanks always for your kind words and support. Like I mentioned to Astrid above…so looking forward to another year of sharing both images and words! Hugs and love to you both!
Christmas, for Bro and I is about the birth of Jesus and that is the reason we celebrate the entire season. Bro and I don’t buy gifts for each other we just celebrate our love and the many blessings in our lives which is our family and friends… and YOU my dear are a beacon of light to Bro and I. We love you to the moon and back and so much MORE!! Can’t wait to see you real soon. After we hike, eat, drink. and make merry, we can celebrate winter solstice and howl like a wolf out here in the desert San Tan Mountains and we just might get some coyotes to join in with us… xoxo
Celebrating love and blessings – that sums it up as well my sweet! Thank you always for your friendship and I just can’t wait to see where you two go and experience in 2016! See you soon! Yes, I’m sure there will be a few howls! LOL! xoxo More!
Oh so lovely…..Wishing you many blessings at the Solstice., Robin..I used to see roadrunners in north PHX when I lived there in the early 80s…what a wonderful bird.
Thank you Donna! When I moved here in the 80’s I’d see them all the time…not so much anymore which is sad…I guess all the building has moved them further out. Same with the coyotes. Rarely do I hear their nipping in the night anymore. I so miss that! Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Winter Solstice is a celebration of light, nature, and giving. Oh Robin, this is surely my favorite holiday. Can we celebrate this holiday all year long? The wonderful thing about photography is that it satisfies all of these criteria. I am fascinated by your description of the Native Americans and the road runner. And your own story touches me deeply – as I come to know you more and more in this place that permits us to be honest and true and open. I look forward to 2016 with anticipation and I am sure we will learn much from each other. So grateful for you!
Mine too Donna! Thank you for getting it! 🙂 Yes, I look forward to 2016 with you! Thank you so much for all of your wonderful comments…has meant so much to me during the year! Ditto on the grateful! xo
I love a good saxophone and can only imagine what it was like in that setting … how could you not get that holiday spirit going? Thanks for sharing this touching story and the image of the desert roadrunner. Remember, there is magic in the most unexpected places xo
So so true my sister…in the most unexpected places! Love you!
Ahh, the lessons learned from our feathered friends. Thank you for reminding us all of the medicine power of the road runner, to be quick on ones feet, and take action when needed. What may be even more important is to know we each have a choice on how to move through the world, whether it is with the medicine power of the road runner or turtle, just be true to who you are.
Your photography and writing allows you to be very true to who you are.
To even more of your shared wisdom in 2016!
I’ll always remember that fox we came across multiple times in PEI…and then you turning me on to the book – “Animal Speak!” by Ted Andrews. Love that book and it’s amazing how often I reference it! Thanks always for your comments and here’s to both of us in 2016!
Oh Robin – my English is not good enough to tell you what went through my head (and heart) reading your wonderful story. Loving and giving without expecting anything back seems to be the true message of Christmas and a reminder to all of us. All my love for the year ahead.
Gosh my dear…your English is perfect…I’m at awe at anyone that speaks more than one language!! Thank you so much…your comments touched my ❤️.
I love the solstice, too:)
And your story.
And your desert travels.
And your eye for beauty.
And you nights by the fire with wolf howls:)
Thanks for sharing,
Jennifer
Thanks Jennifer! Happy New Year to you. Thanks so much for all your visits!
Loving the roadrunner…:)