Celebrating the Return of the Sun in the Heart of Winter

It's the end of January and, at least here in Ontario, it has been grey and cold and snowy.

January can be one of the hardest months of the year for people. The gloom and the emptiness and the post-holiday bills can make it hard to focus on anything bright and beautiful.

And yet, in their infinite wisdom, many of the world's cultures have chosen this coming weekend to celebrate the return of the light. Right now, we're celebrating:

• Candlemas
• Chinese New Year
• Imbolc
• St. Brigid's Day
• St. Anna's Day
• and, of course, Groundhog Day

Each one of these celebrations is, in its own way, a festival that welcomes the Light back into our lives. It's a time to step out of the darkness and hibernation of the winter months and begin to open our arms up to growing Light.

Maybe you haven't noticed it yet, but the days are getting longer and the sun is already higher in the sky.

That makes it one of my favourite weekends of the year.

I encourage you to check out this week's article and gently step into celebrating the Light and the seeds you wish to plant as we move deeper into 2014.