Hello everyone,
Today, I want to talk to you about the current period when we would really like to hibernate, when we can feel a little "down," and how, in India, they experience this time of year.
The days are getting shorter, the light is fading, and everything seems to slow down. This isn't just a feeling: the Earth continues its journey around the Sun and, in the Northern Hemisphere, is moving away from it. We receive less light, and when its presence diminishes, something within us naturally goes into standby mode. The cycle of nature continues: seeds no longer germinate, animals hibernate, and sap retreats to the roots.
In India, at this same time, Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated. It is a festival that symbolically marks the victory of light over darkness, of courage over fear, of clarity over ignorance. The stories vary from region to region. In southern India, for example, Diwali celebrates Krishna's victory over the demon Narakasura. The word “Naraka” literally means “hell.” This demon represents the darker aspects of humanity: suffering, anger, fear, and despair. When Krishna defeats him, it is not an external battle, but an inner transformation: the capacity each of us possesses to overcome negativity and open ourselves to new possibilities.
Traditionally, Indian homes fill with small oil lamps – diyas – that flicker into the night. These lights dispel inner darkness and illuminate the soul, providing undeniable well-being to the inhabitants of the house. They also symbolically remind us that even when the outside world darkens, it is possible to keep one's own flame alive.
These lamps remain lit until the winter solstice, when the days finally begin to lengthen. This Indian wisdom reminds us not to let the natural inertia of the season overwhelm us. This slowing down is not an invitation to depression but rather an opportunity for meditation and contemplation. A moment to refocus, reconnect with ourselves, and cultivate the conditions for transformation.
To navigate this period with ease, you can draw inspiration from this Indian wisdom: by bringing more light into the home—multiplying small light sources, placing lamps at different heights, lighting candles or oil lamps with a soft, vibrant flame. Create a warm and inviting space where you feel comfortable, where you want to relax, read, draw, or play music. If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove, now is the time to make it a central gathering place!
You can also create a meditation space, a place to sit once or twice a day when you feel tired or things are getting hectic. A place where you can let go of the pressure to "do," where there are no expectations; a place to simply learn to "be": quite difficult in reality! But so beneficial for putting things into perspective.
And then there are all those little pleasures that make you feel good: wrapping yourself in a soft fabric, preparing a fragrant tea, settling in warm with a dim light, listening to the silence that settles in.
I wish you much gentleness to keep your energy alive and radiate it within you and around you!
Chrystelle
India Sampati
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