Dear Friends,

I write to you as we have been in the midst of a reverberating resonance generated by the Grand Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn; the winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere and summer Solstice in the southern hemisphere; and the cultural and religious celebrations around the globe—Yalda, the Daoist tradition of Yin-Yang balancing, Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanza, 2021 Asian/ European/ African New Year’s observances, and many more unnamed here.

Here is link to one of the most beautiful essays by Elizabeth Diaz, produced by Gray Beltran, Clinton Cargill, and Heather Casey with accompanying videos and photographs from The New York Times.

How We Survive Winter: The solstice arrives in the depths of the pandemic. But the season of darkness also offers ancient lessons of hope and renewal.

The wisdom of the indigenous within each soul on earth is awakened. We join with all humanity in the name of justice, truth, beauty, and peace as our presence invites and pulls the future towards us.

I am grateful for the wisdom of the elders of Taos Pueblo whose words below teach me to actively care for the earth, my family and friends, together in service of the long living spirit.

From the elders of Taos Pueblo in New Mexico:

Above all is the long living spirit
Which is the thread from generation to generation,
As long as the land we live on is everlasting,
And our children have a place to lie down.

I am but a footprint on the earth,
A wing against the sky,
A shadow in the water,
A voice beneath the fire.
I am one footprint going on.

From front and page plates, Taos Pueblo, 1989, Nancy Wood.

Please DONATE to The Taos Pueblo Foundation who provides care to those pueblo families in need of food, clothing, medical and mental health care. The Taos Pueblo Foundation will address the Taos Pueblo community needs by supporting programs and organizations to meet or to supplement funding in five focus areas: education, preservation, community wellness, environment, technology. Please use this link to the foundation to make your donation.

Wishing you a meaningful seasonal observance as those of us who are regionally close continue in our individual 'bubbles' and those far from each other geographically, prohibit an opportunity to gather.

We hold each other in our hearts and are grateful,
~Willow