Here’s another thing I am re-learning about that seems timely: St. Lucia.
Apparently, in the old Gregorian calendar today December 13th was the old Solstice. But honestly, that doesn’t make sense either, adhering to the cycles of the moon and holidays of light be celebrated by the year’s cycles make more sense to me—now. Which is interesting in regards to St. Lucia, a woman who sat in her fortitude and clarity.
I have cobbled together a few sources of information (which I will cite) for you, it would be unfair for me to claim authorship to the story of St. Lucia. Before we continue, I ask you to leave the literal perception of story and lines and enter into a softer space of metaphor and what it is to journey into the darkness and why that is necessary for light. To consider what vision is and how it is developed and why it may change.
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One trajectory is that Lucia refused an arranged marriage to an angry man and remained unmoveable when they came to take her. One story says they gauged out her eyes, and they grew back (now known as St. Lucy, patron saint of the blind). They tried to set fire to her for witchcraft, and get this, the flames would not take her. So there’s that part of her story.
One writer says: She is not just the patron saint of the blind, and not just the physically blind, but also when we feel blind to our path and our truth. She is a protector from abuse and the ability to heal. (originally posted on IG account, I know my English major self knows this is not a true citation; let’s keep moving.)
Another iteration of the light of St. Lucia situated in Waldorf perspective, a tale written by Tiziana Boccaletti is this:
“Once upon a time, a long long time ago, in a far away land there lived a young woman. Her name was Lucia and she liked spending time on the lake, quietly listening to all the animals and the sounds the water made. The swans knew her and liked her and would come feed from her hand during winter time. Mama hawk would often salute her with a loud screech when circling in the cool sky. She was a young girl like many others, she liked what everybody else liked and enjoyed spending time with friends in the woods, playing games and baking cakes with her mother. She always felt gratitude in her heart for what she had and her good kind loving family but there was one thing she always wished for. Lucia wished she could see with her eyes.
Born blind, she had learned at a young age to use her ears, her hands and her heart to listen. One day, after going for a long walk in the woods, she sat under a mighty walnut tree and fell asleep. She dreamt many colorful dreams of faraway places, unicorns, knights and palaces and in her dreams her eyes were as bright and clear as one thousand candles. In her dream, an old good witch from the castle told her that soon the light from her heart would travel to her eyes and she would be able to see. Lucia woke up and was at first startled by her dream but then she realized in was time to go home. It was the darkest night of the year and she could smell the sunset dampness coming from the green grass.
On her way to town she heard an old woman asking for help. Lucia immediately ran to her to see what she might need. The old woman asked for help walking home. Lucia immediately offered her arm and the two of them walked for a long time. They had been climbing up a hill when a young boy approached them and asked for food. Lucia was very hungry herself but she reached into her apron pocket and offered him her red apple. He thanked her and devoured it right away. Lucia was hungry herself but didn’t say anything..she was happy she could help. They had almost reached their destination when Lucia heard the voice of a man calling her. He was sitting by the side of the road and told her he had been robbed of all his clothes. Lucia took her shawl off her shoulders and gave it to him. It was her favorite shawl, the one that her grandma her patiently knitted for her by the fire, but she didn’t mind.
When she asked the old woman if they had arrived yet, the old woman said, “Yes, you have arrived”.
Lucia asked: “Where are we?”
The old woman replied: “Look up at the moon in the sky and you will know”.
Lucia raised her head and saw the full moon with her own eyes. She looked at the old woman and realized it was indeed the witch she had dreamed of.
The old witch said: “The golden light from your good heart grew so strong that it had to find a new home and that new home is your eyes. Go and use the light to be of service to others and light their way”. Lucia was overfilled with joy and ran all the way home to tell her mother and all her friends. And if things haven’t changed, they are still the same!”
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I know I put two very different aspects of her story together. I think there is an interesting space that three times the young girl gave of herself as she woke from a dreamscape and then the transformation occurs. This happens a great deal in myths that serve to nourish our psyche to continue on. In the world of modernity, these stories offer a space that is less answers and more questions, less direction and more of a softening to the what is coming forth to your vision, whether it feels like the first time or if you feel as if you were stumbling about blindly and then something glorious comes to focus and you wonder, if you could be seeing things? is this a figment of your imagination? or have you given so fully that a whole new light has emerged for you, a new way to nourish and to serve.
Live your life like it’s Golden, as Jill Scott sings.
Kate
P.S.
Virginia Rosenberg likens the current astrology right now of Venus conjunct Pluto as the Descent of Persephone (another light emerging from the dark) with this invitation:
“Going backwards.
Going down and in
as the only way to get through.
Venus joins Pluto today. In Capricorn. Leading up to a Venus Retrograde beginning December 19.
This is the moment of abduction.
Capture.
A magnetic pull into the caverns.
Be haunted.
Hypnotized to the intense beauty
of an inevitable death.
In the next several weeks, Venus will be crowned Queen of the Underworld.
This is the end of the line.
Irrevocable transformation of relationships & resources.
Necessary metamorphosis to settle unfinished business & realign priorities.
See ghosts & projections for what they are.
Revisit histories of old trauma as sources of inner power.
Dig deep into outworn patterns of lack affecting your ability to receive.
Trek through the mud, root out the poison, & siphon out the rot.”
Whatever metaphor works, it’s time to make space for more Light.