Today marks the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year, and the beginning of the return of the sun. This scorching ball that centres the solar system, is a true diva. She has guided us since time immemorial. Ancient civilizations would use the sun to mark the year, to keep track of time, livelihoods, to make fires. Today, I reflect on the poetic antidotes against systemic issues that the sun reminds me of.
𝐉𝐨𝐲 & 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲. When I lived in London, a rare sunny day was a reminder to enjoy life. Offices would sometimes close earlier so people could enjoy a Pimms in the park. On Sundays, families and friend groups would prepare picnics and head to the lakes and parks. Sun that reminds us to dance together. To know about the relevance of joy as a revolutionary tool, you can look at the work of bell hooks, who passed away too soon last week.
𝐍𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬. I recently discovered that some indigenous communities in Mexico did not distinguish night from day, but they look at the position of the sun. Sun that reminds us that there are no boundaries, but perpetual nuances. Non-binarism is inherently revolutionary in a society where hierarchies prevail, see more here.
𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭. The other day I got anxious, so I went outside and found a spot where the sun could soothe me. I was forced to close my eyes in its potent light, I was forced to rest and abandon. Sun that reminds us that rest is imperative. Sun Day, day of rest. Rest is a practice of resistance, as The Nap Ministry teaches.
Happy winter solstice my friends, may you be reminded of these things today.
