Lancaster School of Psychodrama and Experiential Psychotherapies
  • Home
  • Events
  • Online training
  • About
    • About Karen
    • Staff
  • Methods
    • Psychodrama
    • Family Constellations
    • Sand tray
    • Tarot
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Links
  • Sand tray figures for sale
  • Home
  • Events
  • Online training
  • About
    • About Karen
    • Staff
  • Methods
    • Psychodrama
    • Family Constellations
    • Sand tray
    • Tarot
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Links
  • Sand tray figures for sale
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

12/21/2020 0 Comments

Especially now, the winter solstice shows contradictions of the season

Picture
By Karen Carnabucci, LCSW, TEP
​
The Winter Solstice – known as the longest night – has opened the way to the coming light.
 
From this moment, each day will become a few seconds longer and each night a few seconds shorter, as our planet’s Northern Hemisphere twirls closer to the sun.
 
The Winter Solstice, which we popularly call the first day of winter, is the holy day of our ancestors, one not burdened with the hurry and commercialism of our modern Christmas Day. The solstice only asks that we pause and look to our relationship with the sun, the light, the dark, and other great powers beyond our comprehension.
 
**Our ancestors celebrated** the “fire” festivals to acknowledge the rebirth of the sun, and these festivals are found in variations throughout the ancient world. 
​Holiday historians tell us that the Roman festival of Saturnalia took place at the time of the solstice, when people cut and brought in evergreen boughs  to decorate the house, the children and the poor received gifts, and the regular business of the day stopped for frivolity and feasting.
 
The Persian Mithraists saw the date of Dec. 25 as marking the birth of their most important sun god, the one they called Mithras. This god was related to their values of obligations and contracts, honored by common meals and celebrated as a victory of light over darkness.
 
In Sweden, Dec. 13 was considered sacred to the Goddess Lucina, the “Shining One,” and celebrated the return of the light. On Yule itself, on or near Dec. 21, people lit bonfires to acknowledge the powerful gods Odin and Thor.

Once again, the coming of the light
 
So now we once again celebrate the coming of the light. The Jewish people already celebrated Hanukkah, the festival of lights, earlier this month. The next several holidays continue that celebration in many forms: Christmas marks the arrival the holy Christ Child; the newer African American holiday Kwaanza starts on Dec. 26 and uses ceremonial candles to recreate the importance of the sun’s light; and Jan. 1 marks the beginning of the new year and new opportunities for the Western world.
 
There is no doubt that having experienced the darkness of this past year, we yearn for more light. The pandemic and the collective trauma that it has stirred has been teaching the harsh but important lessons of isolation and division.

No certain answers, only experiences
 
We are asked to learn these lessons, which have no certain answers, but rather only experiences that point us to possible new directions. At this time of light and dark, we are especially asked to look at the intermingling of the opposites.
 
We are asked how we can mourn and celebrate at the same time. We are asked if we can recognize our own good fortune while acknowledging that many people and families are struggling and desperate, standing or parking in long lines hungry for food to eat. And more…
 
We need light to enter to not only illuminate the places that have been hidden and lost but also help us find a way to new landscape of inclusivity, connection and opportunity.
 
I dare to take the challenge, in my humble human way. I may make mistakes, and I don't expect to do it perfectly. But I invite you to join me and venture into new landscapes of light, openness and truth. Let us find our way together.
 
Wishing you and yours the joy to be found and the darkness to be understood and illuminated.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Karen Carnabucci, LCSW, TEP, is an author, trainer and psychotherapist who promotes, practices and teaches experiential methods including psychodrama, Family and Systemic Constellations, mindfulness and Tarot imagery.

    Archives

    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    July 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All 2016 2017 2020 2021 Conference Abuse Adam Blatner African Americans Alan Swanson Alison Mezey American Society Of Group Psychotherapy And Psychodrama Ancestor Healing Anger Anti-racism Anxiety Art Of Play ASGPP Authenticity Azizi Marshall Bert Hellinger Brain Science Breathe CE Credits Chicago Christmas Conference #constellatepeace Constellation Work Coronavirus COVID Dear Abby Decolonizing Mental Health Decolonizing Therapy Documentary Series Donald Trump Dr. J.L Moreno Eating Disorders Edward Tick Election Day 2016 Empathy Essential Oils Experiential Psychotherapies Experiential Psychotherapy Ex[periential Therapies Family Constellations Food Gratitude Group Psychotherapy Groups Group Skills Health Hidden Messsages Of Water Hoarding Illness Intergenerational Trauma Interview Japan Joseph Moreno Juneteenth Karen Carnabucci Kate Hudgins Kenosha Lancaster Lancaster School Of Psychodrama & Experiential Psychotherapies LIberty Place Light Linda Ciotola LNP Love Marcia Karp Mark Wolynn Masaru Emoto Meditation Memoirs Mental Illness Mice Study Nancy Alexander Neurobiology New Year Office Office Protocol Online Conference Online Training Pandemic Play Playback Theatre Play Therapy Politics Practice Space Psychodrama Psychodrama Books Psychotherapy Puppets Racism Regina Moreno Reiki Resources Rice Experiment Ritual River Crossing Playback Theatre San Bernardino Sand Tray Schaumburg Seed Point Selena Fox Self Care Self Love Sleep Social Change Social Justice Sociodrama Sociometry Solstice Spirituality Spiritualty Spring Equinox Stephan Hausner Stress Studies Stuffed Animals Systemic Constellations Systemic View Thanksgiving Theatre Of The Oppressed The New York Times Therapeutic Spiral Model Training Transformation Trauma U.S. Election Vacation Vaccine Veterans Video Training Visualization Warm Up William Moreno Winter Solistice Wisconsin Women's March Yoga YouTube Zerka T. Moreno

    RSS Feed

Located in beautiful Lancaster, Pennsylvania


What People Say

  • “A wonderful mix of relaxed professionalism, humor and up-to-date information.”

  •  “…awakened my creative spirit and pushed me to stretch myself professionally and personally beyond what I could have done with any other type of training programs.”

  • "She inspired the rest of our team with her ready smile and easy-going presence."

Subscribe to Karen's e-letter!

Join our mailing list today!
Subscribe!
Photos used under Creative Commons from anieto2k, CrimsonDarko