Reflections on the Turn of the Year – December 21, 2024

When one gazes at the distant edge of the coniferous forest on the horizon, it becomes easy to forget the year-end fatigue and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. That timeless landscape endures from one millennium to the next, even as the climate and human constructions change—if not precisely in that spot, then somewhere in this land, on this planet. And even if the landscape were to become a desert, its ageless quality would remain. Countless generations have observed something like it, too, when they turned their eyes skyward, seeking answers from the moon’s tranquil face and life from the sun’s warmth. It is something that unites all living beings more broadly than any religion—both before and after Christendom.

The cycle of nature affects everyone, regardless of their education or beliefs. Even the staunchest materialist cannot help but complain when sleet lashes his face in the midst of the dark winter. Like a flower of the field, he turns toward the light to bask in it for a moment—only to forget that he, too, will eventually be cut off at an unknown hour. Psalm 103:15–16 beautifully captures this transience:

“The days of a human being are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field.
When the wind passes over it, it is gone,
and its place knows it no more.”

Natural phenomena have shaped the deities worshiped by humanity likely since the earliest dawn of life—at least as far back as we can conceive. Even if those faces still traverse the sky or linger in the depths of the forest, they have been given countless names by tribes and peoples as their gods. Have you considered that if a certain god truly has an entity—a possible spirit—behind it, it might be the same being it was at the dawn of time? Only the names have changed countless times, much like how a beloved child can accrue many nicknames.

That eternal spirit continues to be present in the worship rituals of our age, even though many people forget all spirituality while pursuing material goals. The moon and, soon enough, the rising sun remain right where they have always been.

Reflecting on these matters, we come to the winter solstice—an annual celebration observed since ancient times. In ancient Rome, December 25 honored Sol Invictus, the Invincible Sun, and the Germanic midwinter festival Yule eventually lent its name to Finnish Christmas (joulu). Beyond the name itself, Christianity has absorbed a great deal of religious content from prior cultures. It is no wonder, then, that these days anyone may don a Santa hat.

Whether or not we believe in divinities, certain facts hold true. A mortal life here amounts to only a brief visit compared to the celestial bodies that have been worshiped for millennia. Believers find consolation in their hope, and the most devout among them dedicate their lives wholeheartedly to serving their Creator.

Indeed, the only certainty we possess is this moment—and it is already gone. If there is no hope, or if one does not believe in it, this earthly existence becomes everything. When a person dies, an entire world comes to an end. Thus, the ever-approaching reality of death gives this life meaning, especially if death is the end of all things.

Some of us live, metaphorically speaking, in darkness—in the “dark night of the soul,” as Master Jung described—like a wounded animal hidden under the forest canopy. Those who have tended to themselves in this place have discovered the light that emerges from the darkness. This experience becomes their symbolic Winter Solstice—the turning point on the path toward the light. One could call such a path Luciferian, which is why I believe that the darkest day of the year, the winter solstice, would be a fitting day for Lucifer. The Light-Bringer would then set out, literally bringing more light with each passing day on the journey toward Spring.

And so, as 2024 comes to a close: may each of us find strength on our personal paths of transformation, which can be painful at times. May the darkness guide you to discover Meaning and a new direction during this journey.

Ex Borea Lux!

Text: Carita Hännikäinen