December 21 is the darkest time of year and also the most potent spiritual moment for many cultures. It is the still point of the turning year, the great pause in the Earth’s breathing, when the heavenly portals open and directions for the future are revealed to those who can read them.
In some ancient Shamanistic societies, the winter’s solstice is when the Shamans ascend the World Tree and read the augurs of the future. Numerous studies reveal that some of our Christmas traditions and icons have their roots in such a society. The Reindeer Herders of Siberia and Lapland had special ceremonies around the winter solstice in which the Shamans would dress in red and white fur-trimmed coats and black boots and go into the forests and gather the sacred hallucinogenic red and white mushrooms, Amanita Muscaria. The reindeers were fond of these delicacies and after eating them they would start prancing about, while the Shamans who also ingested the mushrooms had sensations and visions of flying on their sleighs. The Shamans would then deliver sacks of mushrooms gathered under evergreens to the semi nomadic people of their tribes through the smoke hole at the top of their yurts. These ‘gifts’ from the medicine men were carefully hung by the hearth fires to dry, so they would be less toxic when ingested. In this way all the tribal people had access to visions of the year ahead. Cave and rock depictions of sleighs with flying reindeer have been discovered that are over 3,000 years old in the area of Siberia and Lapland. These Shamanic Santas with their flying reindeer and sleighs were popularized by the English Victorians, who had visited the North pole; hence we have our Santa with his bag of goodies and magical reindeer.
By honoring the fact that our seasonal celebrations have roots in Earth- based cultures gives them more depth, meaning and connection to nature. Winter is a time to return to our core being and engage in rest and reflection in order to replenish vital energy and prepare for the coming year. Chinese medicine associates the kidneys and adrenals with the season of winter. By giving ourselves some down time during the Holidays to deeply rest, we can lower stress levels and help restore the adrenals which are considered to be the energy battery- pack of the body.
So Best Wishes for some healthy hibernation time and for a Joyful, Prosperous New Year. Dr. Shanti
