As we come forward into this vibration, I, Albion, wish to enter into a four-part series designed to focus on the four earthly seasons. We turn to this topic so in hopes that dealing with this it can be of benefit in helping those who hear our words to come into a closer, more personal relationship with the Earth and with Nature. This will allow those who hear to experience a more conscious relationship, over time, will join the forces of those who understand and live by the “at-one-ment” of all life. Yes, we are talking about the four major kingdoms of life, but there are many more kinds of beings that are not necessarily thought of as being living entities.
Entities: this is a very important word. An entity is a “coagulation” of atoms of matter that exist in a specific form or body. Form becomes the deciding factor in qualifying a particular type of being – be it animal, plant, human, mineral, or part of one of the “invisible” kingdoms. We want you to get accustomed to thinking of the four seasons as entities.
Entities: this is a very important word. An entity is a “coagulation” of atoms of matter that exist in a specific form or body. Form becomes the deciding factor in qualifying a particular type of being – be it animal, plant, human, mineral, or part of one of the “invisible” kingdoms. We want you to get accustomed to thinking of the four seasons as entities.
Let us break this down into words simpler. Let us say that all of you have used the term Mother Nature in your conversations, and have heard it called such all your life. Whether or not it has encouraged you to view Mother Nature as a symbol or as a living, evolving being. We encourage you now to think of Mother Nature the same entity that is referred to as Mother Earth. We also want you to think of the entity Father Sky. We would say that, for the moment, we ask you to consider Father Nature and Father Sky as one and the same. It is Father Nature who perpetuates the lives that Mother Nature gives birth to. Think about that sentence. It is a very important sentence. Just as easy as it is for you to think of Mother Nature as an entity that goes beyond thinking of her as a purely mythological figure. Let’s apply this to the concept that Mother Nature is composed of the Four Seasons. The seasons are the result of various dynamic forces, including the earth revolving on its axis and its placement in the solar system, and many other factors. It does not matter what Mother Nature gives life to, that life must be perpetuated. It must be nourished with life force, for without life force, no life in any form can or would exist. We want you to think of the seasons as being masculine and feminine in their nature, for this is a basic way to define and, hopefully, to proffer a clearer understanding of what we are trying to say. Dividing the seasons into masculine and feminine does not mean that we are, in any shape or form alluding to “gender” as one might think of the gender of a human being and members of any kingdom of life. Rather, we are thinking of the pure energy that is generated by each season. That generator is a living form or being. The season of winter is masculine, the spring is feminine, the summer is masculine, and the autumn is feminine. In fact, autumn is the most feminine of all four of the seasons. Summer is masculine due to its close relationship with Father Sky, and thus its relationship with Father Sun. Solar energy is life force. Thus, the dynamic “being” that is summer is a tremendous source of life force and power for all of the lives that exist on Earth. When an entity is perceived to exist, then the next intellectual step is to give a name to the four entities. If you deem that this is appropriate and adds to your understanding of the seasons, then by all means do so. I, Albion, suggest that winter is the name; summer is the name, and so forth. These are the age-old names of the Four Seasons.
In a few weeks it will be the time of the winter solstice. A solstice is a time when a given season generates the power of “redemption,” a time when the Earth, due to the extreme cosmic and astronomical events that are bombarding the planet at any given time. This bombardment can throw a season off balance. For example, it may be a bright, warm day outside, but the season is actually winter. The day is “out of season,” you see. So whether you experience this kind of “out-of-place” temperature and light, it would be good for you to remember the word “redemption.” The Lords of Redemption, i.e. the Lords of the Four Seasons, and the Lord of Winter will indeed re-create and bring the proper and natural energies about. This can be a long and difficult process, but sometimes it is not. The reason for this is that the imbalance that can be experienced, in our example, is causing the energies of the seasons (heat) must be stronger so that the energy of low heat can be transformed into what is normal to the season, in this case, winter. The biological part of all Nature’s form require four full and balanced seasons in order to live in harmony and accordance with the entities that are Mother Nature and Father Sky.
Let’s use another example: let’s say that it is summer and the month of July. Summer is when it is supposed to be hot and humid. The human body responds by sweating to rid itself of excess moisture and to protect itself from the perils of the heat. Modern technology has produced ways by which the heat can be controlled or moderated with devices such as air conditioning for the heat of the summer, and oil and gas stoves for the winter. When a human responds to the energies of the seasons, those actions are physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.
At this point we wish to assign colors to each season. Winter is white. When you look carefully at white, you will notice a sort of “radiance” that emits a
very light pink and blue. There is a radiance about white that makes the color purer than how you see it with your physical eyes, as well as how your physical body responds to the essence of Winter throughout one’s life. Spring is yellow; summer is a blend of red and orange which we will call “flame”. Autumn’s colors are brown and gold. Certain events take place during each of the seasons. Some of these simply mark time. However, some events have long been treated as “holy days” that have become sacred due to the ceremonies and festivals that take place, and so on. With each season, the most important and powerful of the sacred days are: winter and summer solstices, and the spring and autumn equinoxes. These are times of “passage”…of the Earth going through, every year, its own Rite of Passage. Humans experience such times in their own lives by experiencing going through a Rite of Passage. One is never really the same when one-steps out of one stage of human life into another. Saying that a person is never the same should not be interpreted as something negative. Quite the contrary. If there were no change, the Earth, symbolically speaking, would be stand still, be useless and bereft of its own “self” and power.
There are other times within each of the seasons when cultural and religious and pagan festivals take place. Winter is Yule Time, a time that most know as Christmas…the Mass of Christ. Christmas has icons…angels, Santa Claus, the elves who are Santa’s helpers, the snowman, etc. But notice that winter is the season when the Sky Father and Mother Earth merge together. Look at Christian mythology. Go back and read the Biblical scriptures if you cannot understand this. In mythology, the Star of Bethlehem and the Christ child being born on Earth. Thus the Star Nation and the Earth are joined together in the winter.
When we move on around to summer, once again we see the Sky and Earth blended. Summer is the “time of the Sun.” It is symbolized by the Sun. Summertime, summer is depicted as the Sun having a face with flames spreading out around it…a rather joyful symbol we would say. Thus the Sun joins forces with the Earth Mother in the summer. In the spring and fall, there are other entities that unite, but we will save that information for a future lesson.
December 21st is the winter solstice. Winter has been described as a time when all hibernates. This does not mean that there is no activity going on, it simply means that most activity in the various life forms will slow down to one degree or another. People tend to remain in their homes more so than at any other time of the year. All members of the plant kingdom “go to sleep” and nourish themselves, as if the Earth’s womb has opened so that all the members of the four kingdoms to turn within for warmth and nourishment. We leave out the minerals because these lives are totally adept at existing and surviving in all the seasons.
MEETING THE SPIRIT OF WINTER
Imagine for a moment that you see a landscape in front of you; a landscape that has a beautiful mountain on it. Maybe it is a mountain you have experienced, perhaps a sacred mountain. This is a scene provided by winter to let all that lives know that the season has changed and winter has come. This is why many cultures worldwide, down through time, have observed the “passage” of time from one season to the next. Wintertime is a time when the “veils” between the worlds or dimensions to Time/Space are thinner than at most other times during the year. In the forests, the biggest trees to the tiniest seedlings are bent over with the weight of the fresh-fallen snow. In this scene, in the center of a grove of evergreens, there is a tiny little cottage. You can see by looking that there is light inside. By the flickering you know that there is a fire in the hearth and candles to light the inner space. There is someone – a male energy – that takes on form right now ---and we project an image into your mind right now. You go up to the door, feeling no anxiety or fear, and rap. You hear a voice that beckons you to come inside.
When you enter the cottage, the first thing your body experiences are the difference between the bitter cold outside, and the warmth of the fire inside. The next thing is that you see that the man in the room is dressed completely in white. His hair and beard is as white as snow. You are offered a warm cup of tea or cider, and a seat close to the fire. You ask no questions, you just sit and listen to what Old Man Winter has to say. You receive three messages, given to you from the Spirit of the Winter.
1. Nature goes into the coming winter with some serious problems. Most of these are caused by industry, and in places where industry is prominent; they will experience a stronger winter, much more so than the winter should be in any given area. There will also be times when it will be back and forth from warm to hot. You would do well to prepare properly. Every time it snows, we suggest that you give an offering to the snow spirits and to Old Man Winter. Give this offering of your choice in the spirit of love and prayers that the energies and forces of winter will return to and stay in balance.
2. At times, due to the dynamics of the earth as a planetary body, in January there will be a “message” given to the nation and the entire North American continent. The United States will hear winter ring out loudly in order to encourage you to see the wrath that winter can impose upon the earth and all her lives. You will recall Hurricane Katrina that was lauded as the strongest and most vicious, destructive storm since records have been kept. It was not so much that the storm was so unusual, but its intensity was. Right here in this Circle of Light we have heard many of you say it was as if Mother Nature was letting you know of her true strength…just how strong and destructive she can be. Winter will speak in January (2007). We did not say how or when it will speak, but you may automatically think that it will have to do with a lot of snow and/or excess cold, but that may not be the case. Whatever winter shows, it will do so as a reminder, just as Katrina did. However, the most delicate things about any season are the natural temperatures of each of them, and if there is great imbalance with this, this may be the way winter will speak. We ask that you watch and listen carefully to what Old Man Winter has to say.
3. Winter is the time when all sleeps on some level. It is a time of turning within to make contact with your own innermost being. Winter is the best time to do this and, as a result, get answers for yourself about whatever concerns you. It is also a tremendously creative time, a time for artists of all kinds to turn within and to seek images of forms he or she wishes to produce in whatever medium chosen, so that an image of balance can be presented. Those of you that write, we suggest that you do so to come up with plots and ideas that will speak of balance coming to an imbalanced situation, person, or world. To those of you who, like Priscilla, work with making patterns and designs, we would say remember the images and designs brought about by winter. White will challenge you to see what changes will manifest in the images you produce. We ask that you do this in your own environment.
SETTING UP A WINTER ALTAR
We ask that you set up an altar in honor of the season of winter in any place in your home you so choose. It needs to be separate from any other altar you may have because its intent and substance is different. This altar should be draped in white fabric. On this altar we ask that you place two white candles…glass candles or tapers. We also ask that you take one of the Bach Flower Remedies – holly – and place a few drops in a small chalice filled with water. Keep adding water and holly a little bit at a time so that it does not all evaporate during the season. Once each day, place your right index finger in the water/holly, and touch your finger to your tongue. This is a symbolic act of taking nourishment from the power of winter. The winter can quench thirst. It is not bare, but is rather is full of itself and its own energy. Winter does not deny fulfillment on any level.
Next, we ask that you find – or make – an image that will serve the purpose of representing the energy of Old Man Winter. Put this on the altar. We ask that you get a single star (easy to find during the Christmas season) and put this alongside the statue of Old Man Winter. This is a Star of Guidance that will guide you (when you ask for it) just as the Star of Bethlehem guided the Magi to the birthing place of a very special child. When you feel the need for guidance, go to the altar and ask…that is all….simply ask for guidance. Then, be brave and confident enough to listen to the guidance that is given, whether it comes in the form of a work of art, the lyrics of a song, a poem, a writing, or however it comes. And it will come.
The last thing we would suggest is that you put on your altar a small branch of an evergreen, we prefer cedar as cedar was and is the sacred tree of the Cherokees, the indigenous peoples of your area. To those in other locations, feel free to choose an evergreen of your liking. If there are any other things that you would like to put on your altar, and you are absolutely clear about their relevance to the season, then by all means do so. You may wish, on the days that it snows, to sprinkle a little bit of artificial snow on the altar.
When we come together again, we will speak about the energy and power of the spring and summer. So be it. God bless yourselves.
Originally published Nov. 24, 2006.
(c) Copyright Page Bryant, 2006 & 2011. All Rights Reserved. Image courtesy of Fotolia.com.