For those of us living in the northern hemisphere, the earth has traveled to the other side of the sun, causing the North Pole to point away from the sun. We are entering into the darkest time of the year, and this is no small occurrence. The sun is the primary source of physical energy for planet earth; without its light there would be no life. The food we eat, for example, is nothing other than condensed sunlight. Our bodies definitely take notice of the lack of light; scientists tell us that prolonged darkness plays a role in depression, heart disease, and diabetes. More people die between sunset and sunrise than during daylight hours. For all of these reasons, the yogic celebration of Diwali, otherwise known as the Festival of Lights, attempts to counter the chilling effects of winter’s darkness. Especially with covid still lingering in the background of our lives, we must work to bring light and festive joy into our day-to-day existence. Most importantly, we must endeavor to bring the warmth and light of God’s light into our hearts and minds.
Divine Mother,
You teach us to say,
“I am the light of the world.”
