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Heartwings Love Notes 800 - Dark Time is Rest Time

Heartwings says, "Dark time means rest time for all."

The trees outside my window have lost most of their leaves. Some few still cling to their branches as a result of the late warm weather, however, not many. The trees are withdrawing from active participation in growth and expansion to rest and restoration, solidifying what has been gained. Nature is sensible that way, bringing opportunities for alternative modes of being. Most animals too are in their homes, resting from their work of gathering food and consuming it.

Once there was no electricity to keep us humming along 24/7. Many native people went into quasi hibernation mode in the winter. Judging from my own response the human body seems to be inclined that way. I always seem to sleep longer and even sounder during the darker hours between November and February. My body is happy with the additional rest. However I do not have to answer to a time clock at work or an alarm clock at home that tells me I must rise and get moving.

We humans do love the light. Throughout history various cultures have provided and still do provide their own opportunities to invoke it during the dark hours. In our Western European culture, our holidays devoted to light in one form or another commonly include Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. There are many other celebrations of light that are not as common because they have faded or been forgotten. They include interesting customs that include all kinds of symbolism as well as special dances and other activities. All of these opportunities help counter the inevitable lethargy brought on by the dark hours.

Although I do not count the years, I still celebrate my birthdays. Now I have another celebration coming up, and I am reminded that as a result of the numerous autumns I have lived through, the leaves of my days are indeed falling. Little by little they flutter down, gathering on the ground in colorful heaps. I have also noticed that as the days of my life increase, I am slowing down. I do not get as much done; I need to rest more. Sometimes this is frustrating. These days are precious and the daylight needs to be made use of. Still I need to be kind enough to myself to allow for the rest that I need to accommodate my strength, most especially as the days dwindle and the dark hours grow longer.

May you find time to rest during these hours and enjoy the days you celebrate.
 

I love to hear from readers and would be honored if you would comment and let me know any suggestions or thoughts. If a friend sent you this, you can sign up at my web site, www.heartwingslovenotes.com, where more love notes can be found in the archives.

Blessings and Best Regards,
Tasha Halpert
 

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