In my Reclaiming Witch Tradition we have just marked the Solstice, Summer in the Northern Hemisphere where I live, and the Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. It is now the time when the North turns back toward the sacred dark, and the South toward the sacred light. This cycle in the Earth's annual journey around the Sun gives each hemisphere an opportunity to revel in long days and short nights - a chance to play in the Sun, and see clearly what world work needs to be done by the bright light of day. It gives each hemisphere an opportunity to reflect in long nights and short days - a chance to slow down and "cozy in" and mend and repair and heal.
Last December shortly after the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, I came across a poem by one of my favorite Reclaiming Witch poets/writers, Gerri Ravyn Stanfield, called “bold dark hymn” that made me begin to rethink my own use of the language of “light” and “dark.” It made me begin to examine my own use of image and metaphor through the perspective of what has been going on in my country, The USA, as we continue to struggle with the legacy of slavery and the continued violence of racism. This link will take you to the poem on her blog http://www.gerriravynstanfield.com/a-bold-dark-hymn/
This week, soon after the Summer Solstice I finished reading "Bringing Race to the Table: Exploring Racism in the Pagan Community" edited by Crystal Blanton, Taylor Ellwood and Brandy Williams http://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Race-Table-Exploring-Community-ebook/dp/B00T5KABMS As a white person often blind to my own prejudices, unconscious stereotyping, and white privilege, I appreciated the wisdom of this book. It begins with a section featuring the voices of Pagans of color sharing their experiences of racism in various Pagan communities, then moves to the second section briefly exploring racism in Pagan history and mythology, and ends with the third section giving advice to white allies, from both people of color and other white allies (to paraphrase the Introduction).
As the Wheel of the Year continues to turn, blessings on all folk willing to work to change the blatant and subtle forms of racism in all spiritual and religious traditions. Blessings on all folk willing to work to change the blatant and subtle systemic and institutional racism in the country in which I live.
May indeed the arc of the moral universe spiral toward racial justice on our planet.
So blessings on us all this Solstice Season, whether we are moving toward the blessed dark or moving toward the glorious light.