In this post:

• Exploring the ancient traditions of Imbolc and their relevance to modern life
• Reflecting on how our relationship with survival and community has shifted in urban settings
• Examining the difference between creative solitude and the loneliness epidemic
• Discovering a simple mirror practice for self-acceptance and authentic connection

The Snow Full Moon and Ancient Midwinter

On the day of my writing this, it is the Snow Full Moon. It is February 1st, Imbolc, St. Brigid's Day, Dísablót, Lichtmess. So many traditions and celebrations coming together. For my northern ancestors, this day marked mid-winter. It was the end of the darkest time of the year and new hope glimmered upon the horizon as the sun grew stronger. Yet the harsh, cold season was not yet over, and those who had not saved enough stores risked dying from hunger.

A Power Outage in Amsterdam

I find it so strange and so interesting what our lives have become—that our fears are no longer real in the sense that we can touch them in the everyday. I sit here in Amsterdam remembering when the power was out just a few days ago and us bustling, hustling inhabitants of this liminal city were reminded of the fact that we barely keep enough stores to get us through the rest of the day. As supermarkets closed and there was no clear answer as to when the energy would come back, I was grateful for the palates of my children, who were happy enough to eat pasta with butter, salt, and parmesan.

As things go in the world I call home, power came back before my neighbors could come for a drink by candlelight, and instead of gathering close together in community for comfort, we immersed ourselves back into our city lives, connected by screens rather than beating hearts in the same room.

The Loneliness Question

As we head into February, these reflections remind me of the loneliness so many experience during this time. The statistics can at times be shocking, and many name loneliness an epidemic of the modern age. But I do wonder if our ancestors were also lonely. After all, they lived in a time when many could not put words into writing, so we do not have the records of the maid or the farmer's wife, the farmer himself, or the errand boy. Did they feel deep connection to the land, each other, and their own beating hearts? Or were they as lonely as we are, perhaps more so in a time when it could cost your life to share your strange ideas and innermost heart?

What My Sister Taught Me About Loneliness

In the podcast I recorded last Friday with my sister Serafina, we spoke about the antidote to loneliness. What is the medicine, the cure to this feeling? And my sister brought up the point that loneliness is perhaps not something to be cured. I marveled at all the art, poetry, and cinema that touched and changed me, and might never have existed if its makers had not been profoundly lonely at one point or another during the creation of the work.

Two Kinds of Loneliness

There must be several types of loneliness then. Some loneliness inspires and is a necessary part of the retreat we need ever so often in life, when we draw back inside our shells, wonder at our existence, face the abyss, reflect upon our faults and shortcomings, only to rediscover our cosmic connection to all of life as we remember we are made of stardust and are nothing short of a marvelous speck in the infinite dance.

Then there is the loneliness which might very well be an epidemic. This loneliness stems from not living authentically, from not being yourself in the world and thereby neither meeting yourself fully nor letting anyone else see you for who you truly are. How do we ever find the love of our lives or connect with our twin flame if we do not accept ourselves for who we are? How can we ever even dream of living a dream reality if we are not okay with being ourselves?

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The Mirror Practice That Changed Everything

There is a practice that has helped me immensely on my journey to self-acceptance, self-love, and curing a loneliness I carried inside of myself up to my late twenties that was very much part of the cause of my wanting to escape existence rather than participate in it, sharing my gifts freely and not withholding them. The first time I did this I was in a very difficult time in my life, grappling with an abusive partner without the bravery to admit the truth of it to myself. I often felt grief and my tears were frequent.

I remember doing this practice with tears at a time when my self worth was very low. Seeing the spark in my eyes reminded me of the miracle of life that was at home in my body. I got to see my soul, which despite all that was happening in my life, was very much alive and filled with joy.

Here's how the practice works:

Look into the mirror. Focus on your eyes. Look until you see the spark of life, the sparkle of stardust, in the twinkling reflection of your eyes. This can be done whether you are happy or sad, laughing or crying.

A lot can come up when doing this practice. You might feel a lot of emotion and intensity. It is ok to keep this short. You might find yourself laughing like a crazy person or breaking out into tears and not really know the reason for either. Memories might surface. You may also feel awe and wonder at the beauty you find.

Do this for as long or short as feels good. Allow yourself to be free and take it easy as you explore this practice. Trust in the process as you connect to the beautiful spark of life twinkling at you!

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Sending you all the love of the cosmos, Pipaluk