day after Alban Arthan

This year, Winter Solstice occurred on the 21st of December. I was spending Yule time at southern Osthrobotnia with my family and our parents, just like we have done for many many years.

Next morning, on the 22.12. we went to our own forest to pick up christmas tree. The forest looked ethereal and fragile, it was very cold (-23C) and sky was clear and of purest blue, like a giant sapphire.

After the tree was chosen and picked up we drove through (almost) empty but beautiful countryside towards home. It is really sad that these peaceful lands, fields and forests are slowly abandoned as people get old at their farms and their children move in to cities. The connection to our roots withers away.

We stopped by at one corner of these fields and suddenly we could see the new sun rise from the distance, the first sun after the death of dark period. A bright and warm sun, full of promise of new lighter season, new life. At this very moment I surely felt the greatest joy and hopefulness and connectedness in to our earth than I have experienced during the entire year.

A spiritual moment.