Eid, Diwali, Sacred Fire, Hanukkah, Candelmas, Kwanza, HumanLight, Yule, and Lantern Festivals, are among some of the different religions and customs where light is featured prominently. Light which shines in darkness, whether literal or metaphorical, can bring inspiration, healing, and encouragement.
During walks in my neighbourhood, I have reflected on how people use lights to mark festivals like Diwali and Eid. I’ve also noticed how one of my neighbours tuned their programmable lights last spring to yellow and blue in solidarity with Ukraine. Another house last summer used rainbow colours in their eaves during Pride week, and another neighbour in October used blue lights to coincide with the funeral of Constables Morgan Russell and Devon Michael Northrup.
Different faiths and cultural traditions will use fire, colour and light in aiding celebrations or in providing meditative and restorative space. Some faiths and philosophies think of personal actions as providing light that can inspire others, sometimes during times of significant trial or communal stress. We sometimes use phrases such as, “Let’s shed some light on this,” as a means to invoke clarity of thinking.
As we approach the winter solstice and journey through seasonal dark nights, and decide on how to decorate our homes with displays of light, or participate in those practices that are meaningful to us, I invite you to reflect on this quote from Leo Tolstoy: “Just as one candle lights another and can light thousands of other candles, so one heart illuminates another heart and can illuminate thousands of other hearts.”
By: Padre (Capt) Michael McGee
