Week 2: Embrace the Darkness

We spend our days in sensory overload. Screens, traffic, people in the shops, offices, and classrooms we travel through every day. Even when we finally arrive home there are meals to prepare, laundry to sort and fold, the needs of those (who we love) who’ve waited impatiently for our attention. And in just a few weeks, the holiday season begins in earnest.

Man-made influences tell us this is the busiest time of the year. Holiday celebrations, work and family obligations, and unreasonable expectations. Nature, however, knows better. The leaves are falling, becoming compost and haven for all kinds of small creatures. Reptiles and bears hibernate. The night comes early and lasts long. The natural world is at rest. Follow this cycle as best you can by managing your commitments. It’s okay to say no or to suggest alternative plans. A movie night in as opposed to an after work happy hour. I promise, once the January doldrums hit, no one will remember your absence, but the people important to you will remember your presence. And as an added bonus, you’ll be much more rested, with a bit of a brighter outlook.

Mantra: “In darkness, I find clarity.”

Meditation exercise: Draw the Ten of Wands from your tarot deck (optional). Take a moment to reflect on how darkness is represented in this card. In the RWS deck, the figure has buried his face in a load of wands, blocking out the light as well as the road ahead. Has he given up, or is he taking a momentary break that will allow him to refocus on his task?

Dim the lights and settle into a comfortable position with your feet grounded on the floor. Close your eyes and take several rounds of four-square breathing while feeling the calming effect of the darkness surrounding you. With each breath, welcome the quiet comfort the darkness brings, as both a respite and an opportunity to recharge and refocus. If you wish, immerse yourself in the image above. Feel the balanced weight of the wands; the smooth, firm ground beneath your feet as you imagine yourself walking towards your destination. There is no need to rush, no need to push yourself.

Between this night and the night of the Winter Solstice, think about 13 things you want to bring to the next cycle when the light begins to return. Cut 13 individual strips of paper and write one of the 13 things on each one. Note the energy, aspects, and intended results directly attributed to these 13 things. Imagine bringing them to fruition as you fold the papers and put them in a safe place such as a jar, a small box, or a pouch. Tell no one what you’ve written. This is between you and the universe. Take your time. You don’t have to finish all this in one go or even write one every day. Keep a notepad or use the notes app on your phone when a thought floats across your brain so you can meditate on it later. Repeat this exercise and engage your tarot cards to help you understand what’s just below the surface.

Come back for this part on December 20th (don’t worry, I’ll remind you).

Between the solstice and the new calendar year, burn one strip of paper, without opening, to release it to the universe. This will be twelve in total and you will keep the thirteenth one as the task that you must tend, as it belongs to you. This task will become a mantra until Imbolc, when you'll begin doing the work required to transform the idea into reality. We'll talk more about that after the winter solstice.

Until next week,

Mary

If you would like to know more about my ancestral connection work, my Daoist path, or my other offerings such as tarot readings and classes, spiritual guidance, and mindset mentoring, you can find more detailed information by using the drop-down menu on my website:  https://the-mystics-parlour.ghost.io.

This coming February, I’m presenting a workshop for the Tarot Association of British and International members (TABI). The topic is: Romantic Archetypes of the Tarot. The fee is very reasonable, with a recording of the workshop if you can’t attend the live session and all proceeds will be donated to the animal sanctuary The Misfits Coven in Pennsylvania. More information will be available on the TABI website soon and you learn about the work they're doing at Misfits Coven here: https://misfitscoven.org/

You can also contact me via email at themysticsparlour@gmail.com and I’m @themysticsparlour.bsky.social on Bluesky and @the.mystics.parlour on Instagram.

I appreciate your continued support and encouragement.