This Little Light of Mine

"I'm going to let it shine." 

A Song from My Childhood
Did you ever sing it?

Winter solstice is behind us. I am reminded of the importance of all the little lights we shine.

This month we will honor Martin Luther King, Jr.'s contribution to our history.

So, it's fitting: 
The song, "This Little Light of Mine," was considered and African-American Spiritual and eventually adopted by the Civil Rights Movement.  

But the words originally were those of Jesus:

"You are the light of the world...let your light shine." (Matthew 5:14-16)
This month, we celebrate
The little lights that we shine.

Cultivating the Light Within
"Winter is the time of love and of taking the light within." -Terry Taylor

In this season, the plants in my field are not reaching for the light.

They are nurturing it... deep within.

Below the soil surface there is life. Light.

In this cold, dark season their life & light is:

Cocooned
Cradled
Given Time
To Rest

And I see the value of tenderly cultivating and honoring my own light within.

Creating Sacred Space
"By lighting a candle you affirm that you are opening a sacred space." -Robert Moss

As I write these words: 

A teacup sits adjacent to my hand.

A candle burns just beyond that.

And these words feel inspired, sacred.

Do you create such sacred spaces when you journal? paint? read? create?

Or perhaps you attended a Christmas Eve service in which candlelight was passed from hand to hand.
 

Recently, I was asked:
"Why do you light a candle when you pray?"
My response:

"The light transforms the space into the sacred."

Shining in Darkness
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

Did you know...
My tea farm is adjacent to designated "Dark Sky." 

When the sun sets here, it is dark... really dark.

But then...
One glance upward, and I am in awe.

The moon.
The stars.
The "Dark Sky" is breathtaking.

In this season, there is darkness.
Our response? It must simply be to shine.

As a sky full of stars.
As a moon rise.
Over this herbal tea farm.

"The moon looks wonderful in this warm evening light,
just as a candle flame looks beautiful in the light of morning.
Light within light.
It seems to me to be a metaphor for the human soul,
the singular light within that great general light of existence."
-Marilynne Robinson

Dear Tea-Drinker, 
This month, may we each be inspired to shine our little lights out.

May we:
  Cultivate rest. Stop reaching. For just a moment. Nurture our light within.
  Create Sacred Space  A cup of tea. A lit candle. Our inspired hearts.
  Shine in the Darkness, creating awe, as we each contribute to dark skies filled with each of our little lights.

As always: 

Thank you 

I'm honored to be your herbal tea farmer. 

Be well,
Shannon