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On Winter Solstice (about 42 days ago) we started celebrating the return of the light. There was not a lot of real light to celebrate because the minutes of daylight change very slowly at first.
But now you can (quite literally) see the light. On December 22, sunrise (near where I live) was at 7:15am and sunset was 4:22pm.
Today, February 2nd, sunrise will be at 7:03am and sunset will be at 5:05pm: a gain of 12 minutes in the morning and 43 minutes at night ... a total of 55 minutes. Over the next two days, we pick up another 5 minutes making it a full hour of additional sunlight since Solstice on December 22nd.
So the good news is that we are now halfway to Spring Equinox. The bad news: we have to get through February and (cue drama sting) ...
From the Wikipedia
Cabin fever is an idiomatic term for a claustrophobic reaction that takes place when a person or group is isolated and/or shut in a small space, with nothing to do, for an extended period. [...] Symptoms include restlessness, irritability, paranoia, irrational frustration with everyday objects, forgetfulness, laughter, excessive sleeping, distrust of anyone they are with, and an urge to go outside even in the rain, snow, dark or hail.
1. Restlessness. Check.
2. Irritability. No way ... and get the heck off my (snow covered) lawn!
3. Paranoia. What makes you say that? Who have you been talking to?
4. Irrational frustration with everyday objects. Cehck (darned keyboard!!)
5. Forgetfulness. Check (I think)
6. Laughter. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Check.
7. Excessive sleeping. Zzzzzzzzzzz. check
8. Distrust of anyone they are with. What do you mean by that?
9. An urge to go outside even in the rain, snow, dark or hail. Are you kidding me?
What does the Wikipedia suggest we do about cabin fever?
One therapy for cabin fever may be as simple as getting out and interacting with nature.
There you go! Just get outside! Why does that remind me of this: "How you can be a millionaire and never pay taxes?"? Answer: "First.. get a million dollars ..."
Anyway, the sunlight is increasing ... two or three minutes a day. And in the meantime you can always Jibber Your Jabber as you wait for March and spring.
To my pagan friends, Bright(er) Blessings on Imbolc:
We can still feel the winter but our memories of the warmth of the sun are starting to come back. We dream and we hope and we make plans. [...]
Life will get busier and this may be one of our last chances to contemplate what we want for the new cycle. Goals for personal growth, new beginnings, dreams for the future and connections to each other.