from Fraser's Folio .com

Rudolf Steiner said that during the Winter months spiritual energy flows into the earth, and in the Summer the direction reverses itself, much like breathing in and breathing out. In fact, everything in nature exhibits this kind of ebb and flow. The solar system itself is cyclic, even in its form, pulsating in rhythmic vibrations from the very large to the very small. It is logical to assume that our lives would do the same, and when we observe our experience, we find this to be true.

Each day has its introspective period, usually in the early dawn just before daybreak. This is the perfect time for prayer and meditation. Likewise with the year – the Winter Solstice calls us inward so that we can experience the higher vibrations of the spiritual plane and receive the influx of its energies. This schedule does not prevent us from going within at other times of the year; it simply gives us the benefit of a cosmic boost to our efforts. It is a propitious time to make significant progress in developing our consciousness of the higher worlds.

Our lives have other cycles, patterns of activity both inner and outer. Sometimes, we feel like our train is pulling up to the station beckoning us to get on board, and other times we feel like it has left us standing on the platform. We feel as though we have missed an opportunity, that we are left with nothing, that all is lost. The important thing to remember is that opportunity, as in all aspects of life, is cyclical. It may only knock once, but ironically, it does so over and over again. Just so in our spiritual life. When it feels like nothing is happening, when we are stuck in the doldrums, the Horse Latitudes, the tendency is to feel that all is lost, that all of our efforts have been for naught. We feel like we have failed, that we are not worthy to tread the spiritual path, and we meekly turn back to the world seeking old patterns we know all too well. This is the tendency, but wisdom dictates patience.

As the physical sun rises higher in the sky, our spiritual light seems to slip below the horizon. We continue our spiritual work, our prayer and meditation, but we know not to expect inner fireworks. And this is okay. The full light of day calls us into outer activity, to take care of business so that when days grow shorter and the spiritual sun begins its ascendency, we will be prepared to take full advantage of the opportunities for spiritual growth. But for now, perhaps the best thing to do is to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty of God’s Creation and not get too hung up on whether we are advancing spiritually to the satisfaction of our ego’s demands for perfection.

Here’s hoping you have a great weekend. Enjoy!