The Sacred Tilt: Why Feeling Off-Center is Part of the Design
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Hi Reader, The Winter Solstice is the moment when the Earth's Northern Hemisphere is angled furthest from the Sun. From that moment on, it begins to reverse its tilt on the familiar journey to the longest day. We can imagine it as being like going to the bottom of the well, furthest from the light. So, this morning, we in the Northern Hemisphere visited the bottom of the well of solar light. Equally, those in the Southern Hemisphere reached the greatest amount of light. And now, they're on their way toward the bottom of the well. This physical phenomenon doesn't only affect our material bodies. It also subtly influences how we view ourselves and our world. As incarnated beings, we've chosen to inhabit this place with its combination of tilting, spinning, and revolving. It's a complex pattern that we can look to in our own lives. So often, we only focus on one thing. We may be revolving around a specific focus, such as a job, a relationship, or a personal accomplishment. Or, there are times in Life when we're most aware of how we're spinning and feel unable to find a point on which to focus because everything within our view is moving. And then, there are the moments when we're most acutely aware of our Life tilting, and we fear we may never return to center. The Winter Solstice offers us a mirror in which to see our own experience of the world tilting off-center, creating more darkness. And, the solar system provides a model for us to contemplate and apply to our own evolution. Perhaps one of its greatest gifts is the understanding that when Life is off-center, it's natural for it to tilt toward darkness. The darkness isn't permanent. When you find yourself in the 'longest night of your life,' recognize it for what it is: an indication that you are off-center and have likely been moving in that direction for a while. Therefore, there's no instant correction or 'magic pill' solution. The fact that you can't correct your tilt instantly isn't a sign that there's something wrong with you or that you're failing. The Earth and Sun are literally telling you that it's natural for some tilt to happen, and the remedy is the patient reversal of the path that got you there. They're also telling you that this isn't a one-time thing. You can expect Life to go off-center with some regularity. What's most important is understanding that you do have a center and a path. You're meant to move along it with its ebb and flow of light and balance. The fact that you've come to a dark patch isn't a sign that there's something wrong with you, or anyone else, actually (although that's a discussion for another time). The message is also telling you that you're not consigned to live at the bottom of this well. You're meant to journey between the light and dark of your own Life, faithfully trusting in the mechanics of the design. Now, that doesn't mean that the darkest nights of Life aren't cold or don't leave you feeling isolated and distant. Looking into the model of the Earth's journey around the Sun won't make those visits to the bottom of the well warmer or more fun. They won't. If you don't feel the experience as it's designed, you won't receive the depth of insight you're meant to. What you bring back up from the bottom of the well is equally important to accepting that the journey is a natural part of Life. So, if you're in the Northern Hemisphere, take a moment today or tomorrow to contemplate where in your Life you're feeling like you're at the bottom of your well. Where do you feel cold, dark, and alone? Can you make room for the trust that Life hasn't brought you into being so you can suffer? Can you open your mind, heart, and body to recognize that Life is offering you the full range of experience for you to ingest, digest, and be nourished by it all? It's important to keep in mind that just thinking about these ideas isn't enough. Your body has its own way of engaging with your experiences. There are simple, innate tools that you can draw upon to support, particularly your Sympathetic Nervous System, as you receive the richness of the gifts from the well's depths. If you need help getting started, I've curated five biohacks that let you optimize what your body already knows to do to deal with stress. And, if making time for self-care and stress relief is a sticking point for you, four of these hacks take 2 minutes or less. All of them provide immediate relief. And, lasting relief comes from using any of them, or all of them, over time. So, your most resilient and richest approach to those off-kilter times in Life that bring you to a cold, darkness is two-fold.
And finally, trust that your world will keep spinning and the darkness will recede, especially if you give yourself permission to leave that darkness behind, carrying with you only the wisdom you received during your visit. Warmest, Zette |