Happy Return of the Light!

HAPPY RETURN OF THE LIGHT!

Though many people are running around, being with family, partying and over eating, most do not really know of the significance of what this season really means. If one is aware of the I-Ching which is defined partly from Wikipedia as “Book of Changes” is one of the oldest of the Chinese classic texts.[1] The book is a symbol system used to identify order in random events. So for the event of Christmas I will refer to the 24th Hexagram Return (The Turning Point). (Hexagram 24 is named 復 (fù), "Returning". Other variations include "return (the turning point)". Its inner trigram is ☳ (震 zhèn) shake = (雷) thunder, and its outer trigram is ☷ (坤 kūn) field = (地) earth)


If you look at the Wilhelm/Baynes translation of "The I Ching or Book of Changes" you will see an explanation of the 24th Hexagram relating to this time of year. There is a reference to the dark lines have pushed all the light lines upward and out of the hexagram, and that light line enters the hexagram from below. It is stated that "The time for darkness is past. The winter solstice brings the victory of the light." This hexagram is linked to the December- January time period. Correlations of the powerful light that had been banished (the diminishing sunlight ) is now returning, however the return is gradual, based on nature making it a natural rising spontaneously.

So out with the old, in with the new. It is also noted that in China that it is celebrated as a time of rest at the onset of the new year. The movement is gradual, like planting a seed and nurturing it or slow like a return to health after illness or a return of understanding after an estrangement. So take your time and concentrate and be still. This is where a conscious yoga practice can help you focus to be calm, still and observant.

Happy Return of the Light! Check out www.bometernally for the workshop for the new year and celebrate the sun!