Light the Spirit of Winter

The winter season often holds bittersweet nostalgic memories. In the Southern hemisphere, locals will recall long winter days and a BarB at the beach, but in the Northern hemisphere, the ghosts of Christmas past are released during the longest nights before solstice. For many, 'tis the season of Anhedonia. The lack of interest, enjoyment or pleasure is a common symptom of many mental health conditions.

Fulton J. Sheen said, 'Each of us makes his own weather, and determines the color of the skies in the emotional universe which he inhabits.' However, the brief appearance and low angle of the sun’s light are associated with seasonal affective disorder and reduced Vitamin D availability that leads to weakness, depression and aches. Supplementation is recommended to generate positive mental images. Mental images are emotionally arousing and can replace memories of real events that enhance change and reduce stress.

The long nights make it easier to view the mental images provided by the lights of the night sky seen in notable winter stars like the Big Dipper, the North Star, Orion, and the dog star Sirius. Sirius, the brightest star in the winter night sky, appears after exactly 365.25 days. In the Northern hemisphere, Sirius first is visible around the fall equinox, when daylight periods shift and then disappears in the spring. Since Egyptian times, Sirius has indicated timing of flooding of the Nile.

Sirius became known as Isis, a virgin, defined as the strong, independent, female guardian spirit. Parallel myths of virgins giving rise to the sun god of light and wisdom, born on or around the solstice, are found in the Asura of Hindu legend, Mithra, Tammuz, Buddha, Horus, Zeus, Hercules, Bacchus/Dionysus, Sabius, Sabaoth, Hermes, Zarathustra, and Jesus.

The annual cycle of Sirius reveals trust in the true faith that fertility will soon be possible. Isis wears the two-feathered crest of the phoenix called Bennu, that represents the dual nature of the Sun King. Horus, the symbol of hope and Osiris ( the constellation Orion) symbolizes death, resurrection and redemption.

The festival of lights celebrated Isis aka Sirius, the 'sun behind the sun', and the season of merriment during Io Saturnalia. The 'dies natalis solis invictus ' (day of the birth of the unconquered sun) was based on Astronomy, a secular science, that has become embedded in Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Asian, African and other cultural and religious traditions.

A social evolution, from as early as 4000 BC, led to a shift from matriarchy to patriarchy. Mythical stories conflated and evolved omitting the female. St. Nicholas became Father Christmas, a gift bearer around 300 AD. He transformed into various Santa Claus’; some were kind to good kids and others were rough on naughty ones. Many perform feats of magic.

Stars change far slower than humans myths. The journey of the Three Magi from Persia, following a star from the East to Bethlehem. represented a breakthrough in understanding the night sky. The recent discovery of the rare interstellar comet 31/ Atlas, that crossed into our galaxy, has elicited mutterings of alien invasions. Additionally, warnings that a rogue asteroid is predicted to hit the moon in 2032 has reminded mankind of our smallness and limited knowledge of the universe.

Nevertheless, light from the stars, candles, LEDs, the fires from a hearth, or the twinkle reported in Santa's eyes sparks a complex response that embodies the spirit of winter associated with Xmas.

X is the unknown that marks the spot. X refers to the transcendental transformational Christ know to the Christian masses. The liturgical mass is a repertoire of ideas, phrases and observances that celebrates the Eucharist, which means 'thanksgiving', and is associated with bread and wine transforming into body and blood. Many religious traditions are based on conditional immortality and transformation.

Mass measures a collection of a quantity of matter, that is neither destroyed or lost but changes form. Einstein showed energy, mass and light are each part of a transformational package.

During the dark season, changes in light can alter melanopsin pigment in the retina, that directly inputs into the optic nerve of the brain, causing neurological and cognitive changes. Exposure to short wavelengths of high frequency blue light, and less energetic longer wavelengths of red light, affects the complex manifestations of the G-protein coupled receptors that control different biological functions including shifts in melatonin. Melatonin affects multisensory feedback loops that shape perception through spatio-temporal activity. Melatonin controls sleep/wake cycles, neuroendocrinol, and neurobehavioral responses, synaptic plasticity and synergy.

You may get a sentimental feeling while viewing twinkling lights. They elicit a hypnotic strobing effect that can alter consciousness by stimulating cortical synthesis of new proteins in the brain. These can affect learning or memory, or form hormones that deal with stress and anxiety.

Changing light is the transformational hallmark of the season. It can trigger memories from youth, associated with gratitude and awe, to become bittersweet nostalgia longing for the feeling of love or security that has been lost. Darkness can elicit a poorly conditioned response of indulging in traditional treats made with sugar and creamed fats delicately altered by the Maillard reaction, that favours fat accumulation and often leads to regret. However, the rituals of a traditional walk in the cold air, viewing the light of night sky, and LED's adorning houses, plus Vitamin D and eating fewer sweet treats, might serve to transform you to be lighter as well.