This is the week of the Winter Solstice, the annual celestial event that features the shortest day and longest night here in the Northern Hemisphere.

It represents the time of “most darkness”, the point at which there is a subsequent “return to the light”.

Nearly every culture worldwide has a holiday associated with the Winter Solstice: Christmas, Hannukah, Kwaansa, Yule, Yalda, Dong Zhi – these are all holidays that feature themes around darkness and light, death and rebirth, renewal, celebration, and hope for all good things to come.

This theme of light and darkness has been important to human beings since ancient times.

In fact, our ancient ancestors worshipped the light (and gods or figures that they assigned to represent the sun, or light) because their very survival depended on it.

And they understood that the source of light that was so necessary to life on earth was outside of us, but also within us as well.

The stories and mythology around the Winter Solstice holidays from nearly every culture tie in this idea, that we can all individually experience the miracle that is light, and that the cycles in nature that bring us life, death, rebirth, renewal, and transformation exist within us as well.

Quite simply: YOU are the light.

I have come to believe that we reincarnate here on planet earth in order to learn how to share our own, unique, divine light, and that these are the gifts we have come to give and share with the world.

This concept goes beyond life purpose, as some of us discover that earlier in life than others, or express it in different ways – instead, this is about embracing our very nature as human beings.

In darkness, be light.

You are here to shine your light bright and share your gifts with the world.

Happy Winter Solstice!