Hello, my friend.
I want to get right into the card that I pulled for today. Ok? Not that I am in a hurry, but because I am amazed at the message today, and it just works to start off with this particular energy. And, also because it is the perfect reminder of the balance of it all as we have already been reflecting on together so far this month - the cycles of life, the seasons, and all of the energy of December.
The first mini-letter in this series was inspired by the Spirit Keeper of the North card. It felt perfect to begin with all of those wintery, cold, earth, ancestral, magical, wild vibes of the north. And even if it initially seems completely unaligned to shift immediately to a few reflections on Spirit Keeper of the South card, I found myself smiling from deep within as soon as I saw this card. It is, in fact, also perfect to ponder in the beginning of December.
First of all, it is a reminder of the presence of everything all at once. The light and the dark. Winter and summer. And so on… as I wrote about in the previous letter.
It’s completely fitting to simply remember that, though we are deep in the cold, dark winter, the sun still rises (even if for only a few hours, depending on where you are) and warmer days will cycle back again. In fact, in just a little more than two weeks, with the winter solstice, the light will begin to return and the days will literally start getting longer minute by minute until the summer solstice.
But, for a couple for weeks now, we are slowly still spiraling down into deep, dark December. And, this is exactly where we are supposed to be - whether the weather around us is cold and wintry, or not. The energy is still waning. We are settling in.
More importantly than this reminder of the balance of the cycles of life and the rhythms of the seasons, though, when I first saw this card, I felt joy.
I knew that it was a deeper reminder to not forget to enjoy this season - winter, Christmas, Yule, the New Year, Hanukkah, or whatever you celebrate or don’t celebrate. The message was clear to me and I feel it was a message from my dearly departed dad.
My dad embodied the Spirit Keeper of the South energy.
He was full of life and light and laughter. He was always up for a spontaneous road trip to who knows where and an all day adventure of exploring and learning and sightseeing. Lorelai Gilmore had nothing on his “I smell snow” love of winter. As soon as the flakes began to fall, he wanted to get out in it. And this continued throughout his whole life. And he loooooved holidays. Especially Halloween and Christmas. It was the traditions and the decorating and the gathering of the family. Oh, and the magic. Though he never talked about it, I am certain that my dad believed in magic. He basked in the wonder of it all, spreading his unconditional love and childlike joy year ‘round.
It is this carefree, summer energy that he radiated his whole life and to everyone he met - friend, family or stranger.
And, while I love the deep, contemplative, inward energy of winter and this season, this card reminds me to set free my childlike wonder as well. To soak in the twinkling lights of the city outside my window. To decorate and celebrate and enjoy and laugh. To keep traditions alive. To not forget the simple, joyous magic of it all.
My sweet dad passed away 2 month ago today. So this is the family’s first Christmas without him. None of us will be together this year, as my mom and brother and his family are in the States ,and I will be staying in Sweden, celebrating with my wife’s family. Still, even across time and miles and spirit, I feel my dad in everything I do this month.
Today, I am inspired by him and his Spirit Keeper of the South energy. To remember that even in the darkest month, even in the darkest times, there is light and abundance and joy to be found.
Ultimately, even in the midst of the slow, contemplative moments of this month, to lighten up, to be silly, to create space for laughter and love and simple, wondrous magic that we can find in rituals and traditions, in nature, and in those around us.
Where do you usually find magic during this season? Do you have any old traditions that you can bring into your present life? Are there new traditions you want to create? How can you radiate the light and and warmth of the sun?
Here’s to bringing light and laughter and love to the world. Here’s to the Spirit Keeper of the South. Here’s to you, dad.
xoxo. liz.
Blessings to you, may you feel love and warmth coming from the other world and I am wishing you lots of strength for this Christmas which will feel so different.