Perihelion – n. the point at which the Earth comes closest to the Sun.
I have taken the name of this yearly astronomical event, and applied it directly to the solitary contemplative celebration that I hold in honor of my Lord. That this event occurs during the height of Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, I find to be very helpful in reaching that connected state of meditation.
It is Winter, and the cold creeps into our bones, unmercifully. The angle of the Earth’s axis has us facing away from the light, even as we draw closer to the celestial body, without whose warmth we would cease to be. Our attention finds focus on all of the harsh realities surrounding us during the Winter. The time is near, and few of us will have to imagine the buildup of tension as January approaches. We won’t have to imagine, because we will all be in the thick of it– right in the middle of the Winter shopping fiasco, because, even if we do not celebrate its consumerism, we will still be obliged to tolerate it.
In this season of stress, touching a little bit of Apollon’s warmth (or Helios’ perhaps), for just a single mindful day, certainly reconnects me to my Source, my Lord, Who is close by, even as our very Planet turns our faces away from Him. We have to make that conscious effort to connect, and to stay connected throughout the day, despite the many distractions, in order for the time to be most meaningful.
For myself, it is a simple and wordless celebration, through which I am able to strip away the many layers of separation. There are no words to cloud the air, no curtsies to convey knowledge of my place, and no grand offerings, for I myself am the offering. With the total capacity of my concentration, I find my way back to the light, all the way through the deep of the Earth if I must, for the Perihelion is a celebration of the Earth and Sun, close as lovers in the void.
During this time, when we are nearest, and yet divided by the truth of our separateness, I rededicate myself to the Lord Apollon. Then, He peels back that fragile truth, only to reveal the deeper truth of our Oneness– our Wholeness. We are together in the Winter, and the aching cold is driven back by His light.
Soon after the Perihelion, comes Solar Spring, in the early days of February, when the first of the new growth appears in my climate. This new growth is the signal for me to prepare for His Return to Delphi, and indeed, His return to this world. The upcoming months, and their subsequent celebrations, are very important to my Lord. They may not be in any way Traditional, but He has staked a claim to these events, and therefor I have shared a bit of His interest with you. May it be helpful, or otherwise inspiring.
Perihelion 2014 falls upon the date of January 4th.
— Columbine
Treasury of Apollon 