I have come to appreciate these 'cross-quarter-days' of the astronomical year (called 'days' - but actually a more generalized period of a few days): i.e. those periods about half-way between the 'quarter-day' equinoxes and the solstices. While they have little astronomical significance, they do divide up the 'lived' year - especially the seasons - much more coherently than the quarter-days.
Living at such a high latitude (55 degrees north) the light and dark portions of the years are sharply distinguished - and with All Saints Day (Celtic Samhain, supposedly) we are now entering a three month period of the greatest darkness - leading up to 'Candlemass' (or Imbolc).
This period of the year is, of course, winter; with all the characteristics of that season - including the tendency to Seasonal Affective Disorder! But spiritually (for me) it is a time of contemplation, of solid brooding - often of a greater clarity than at other times.
As always, at present, there is a sense of trepidation concerning what may come in the physical realm - because They are focused on the Northern hemisphere, and We are more physically vulnerable to what They plan for us during this season - and that will have been taken into account, I don't doubt.
But I am somewhat hopeful about the spiritual war - because I approach the time with a better understanding than last year; and such understanding itself seems to have a positive effect (or, perhaps, be a consequence of positive spiritual tends).
In particular, I think I better appreciate the relationship between the material and the spiritual realms - and this will be of value.
Or, perhaps 'trusting' is a better word for it than hopeful.
