KATHERINE NEVILLE’S Winter Solstice Newsletter Dec 20-21, 2010

KATHERINE NEVILLE’S
Winter Solstice Newsletter
December 20-21, 2010

 

The Solstice Money Tree

All my friends, both spiritual and material types, have asked me to write something about Money. So here it is. The first day of winter, the Solstice*, is the shortest day of the year, the day when we have the least sunlight. At this year’s solstice (tonight) we have a full lunar eclipse that can be seen throughout western Europe, North and South America, and eastern Pacific. This means that our major celestial lights, the sun and moon, at precisely the same moment are “on a dimmer.” So let’s take this opportunity, as we head into winter, to close our own eyes, enter the quiet darkness, and reflect upon what we’ve been doing this past year – especially with regard to Money. Everyone seems concerned about money right now, and in my opinion, it’s about time. Many of us have recently realized that we may not have “squirreled away” quite enough nuts to last us until Spring. But hoarding things only benefits animals that hibernate. (I only suggested that we should close our eyes, not crawl under a rock!).

 

The Tree of Life

In ancient times, “Matter” (materia = matter = mater = mother = the earth) was always connected with “Spirit” (idea = sperm = seed = the father = the sky). This time of year, the Solstice, when the sun “stops”, is the perfect time to connect spirit and matter. One of the five pillars of Islam requires us to provide money to help others. The Confucian philosophy requires balance between yin-yang (female-male.) And when it comes to investment, maybe Jesus threw the moneylenders out, but he advocated dividing our loaves and fishes, and casting our bread upon the waters. So let’s take a look at our own “bread” and figure out how to make the world a better place. People always say that money “doesn’t grow on trees.” But money does grow AS a tree grows. Maybe we need to plant flowers or grains after the danger of frost, but right now – between Solstice, December 21, and Candlemas (Groundhog Day), February 2 – is the best time to plant trees, when the earth is cold and the roots have many months to establish, before the tree is required to expend its energy in producing leaves, flowers, and fruits. It’s also the optimum time to plant money. So this newsletter is about how each of us can plant and grow a Winter Solstice Money Tree that makes the world a better place for us to live. (Personally, I own a 20-year-old car that still gets 36 miles to the gallon. I’m not buying a new one to aid the automotive industry. But I’m “planting” books in libraries and educational grants in the arts, for what I might have spent on a new car and unnecessary gas.) So in this next six weeks – from Solstice to Candlemas, as the sun returns – let’s see how much bread we can cast forth. And how much we get back.

You’ll be amazed.

 

*For the ancient meanings of Winter Solstice, see my 2009 Solstice Newsletter.

 


Please visit me on my website www.KatherineNeville.com

Facebook @AuthorKatherineNeville & Twitter @KNeville_Quest