Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice – the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. From Sunday onwards, the days will lengthen as we start the journey back to the light.
I’ve followed the Celtic Calendar for many years, and written about it in this blog. Even so, I’ve felt shy about talking about it in my professional life. The hard-headed former City lawyer in me fears ridicule for my “hippy” ideas, remembering how some litigator colleagues denigrated my passion for mediation over litigation. I was patronised and occasionally ridiculed for being “soft” when others thought I needed to be hard.
(The Post Office Enquiry this year has amply illustrated the dark side of adversarial litigation!)
A year ago I decided to face into my fear of ridicule and talk more openly about the Celtic Calendar – I expected a moderate amount of interest – offset by indifference or eye-rolling.
Yet I’ve been delighted by the response – I’ve been invited to give talks, guest on podcasts and give webinars to international audiences.
I’ve realised that in these brittle times, many people hunger for a gentler way of navigating life and work – to use our precious energy in a way that respects our personal rhythms and helps us feel connected to a larger reality than global capitalism.
The things we most want to hide about ourselves are often our hidden treasure. As we approach the darkest day, I invite you to think about:
- What idea or project are you passionate about but feel shy about sharing more publicly?
- How much do you allow the fear of ridicule to hold you back?
- What is one manageable step you could take in 2025 to put your idea out into the light?
Wishing you a peaceful and restful Solstice and holiday period with your loved ones.