The passing of a year seems more of a blur in retrospect that becomes more difficult to recall as I get on in years. We are nearing the end of another full year’s cycle, becoming our 42nd here at this farm between the Capay Hills and the Blue Ridge Mountains. As winter solstice now creeps towards us with delightfully long nights, our farm rhythm shifts. We start work later, finish earlier, sleep longer, sip more tea, and find time to enjoy the clear, starry skies.
In most Native American societies, months are marked by moons and the natural world’s turning during that month. December brings the “cold winter moon,” and this year, the Blue Moon of early December. As moon names vary among Native peoples, we might give our own names to December moons- like “migrating geese overhead” moon, or “wood fire” moon, or “time to read, sing, and rest a bit” moon, or even “banker’s hours” moon. This December moon is indeed our time to gather in the strength to do it all over again- the “mustering strength” moon.
Solstice comes with a bit of sadness though, knowing that with its turn, days begin again to lengthen, stirring renewed enthusiasm for planting, rousing the ideas sown in December’s long dark nights by making plans for action. It is as inescapable as the urges of bees to sunlight driving the quest for pollen and nectar – take flight, feed the brood, plant and harvest, a new tug on a farmer’s spirit is coming… Yet now, when it comes to pure time needed to regenerate ourselves, we are finding that we need a couple of Decembers.
During these dark long nights, we have, for years, celebrated solstice with a party. There is a potluck for the neighborhood, singing to fill souls with songs remembered and sung together. We dabble in the folk wisdom of Wassail as revelers, surrounding our fruit trees or vines in a cold dark night with noise making tools (pots and pans, horns or hoots) to remind our trees not to sleep too deeply and to awaken together in January to begin another fruitful year. (Or maybe it is just fun to raise cacophony for a moment on the longest night of the year.)
Looking back, 2025 may be one of the most benign and wonderful years of any in the past 42 here. The combination of gentle well-spaced rains, mild temperatures, fruitfulness, a good plan, and a dedicated crew helped to make one of our best years ever. Crops were generally beautiful- we were cared for once again by this generous land. The native people who lived here long before we arrived knew the good fortune of this place. Perhaps understanding clearly that this year’s fullness may be followed by challenges and scarcity. It is remarkable how few acorns the oaks held this year, perhaps portending a season of hunger for those who lived with the bounty or limitations of place. So for this year, it seems that our guardian angels smiled upon us and blessed us again with abundance.
There stands then a sharp contrast to the darkness that many feel, given the current political insanity – as immigrants, laborers, people of color, women, farmers, farmers market customers, believers in civil relationships. Fear is a tool of bullies and tyrants. The breakdown of civility starts with insults and selfishness. We are indeed entering a time where artificial regurgitation of information is just more- a push where consumption of information is one more form of consumption- bound in the end to muddle wisdom and belittle the slow pace of considered reason.
The scurry of investment in tools that reward the first to make machines more human and that make that absurdity normal becomes its own wave of lemmings to the sea. It is the same glimmer of false gods, money changers in the temple, or slick salesmen who cite the inevitability of “get one or be left behind” because everyone believes this is the future… Consuming information can be a power, but needs to be mediated by wisdom, loving, and heart.
Dru said this morning that the contradiction in living without strife, on a beautiful generous land is easy when not in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, or as a poor, brown-skinned person seeking a better life for one’s family. She asked, “Should we feel overwhelming feelings of guilt?” I think feeling or caring deeply is not a failing, it is a needed human character that should strengthen resolve.
Woah, this is “end of 2025” newsletter was to be about the positive power of creation, appreciation, love, and generosity.
Perhaps we are all approaching a figurative solstice- there will be the shifting of long darkness to light if one trusts. Building family and friends makes light. Eating good food and sharing its tang and sweetness delights, planting seeds, and tending, caring, mindfully watching with hope and reverence kindles amazement and thanks. Turning off the media for a time may allow us to walk with open senses to stillness, sweet aroma of pine or spruce, crashing of a relentless sea, following the trill to a sighting of the singer, drinking in the majesty of a flower’s seduction, or practicing care without fear of caring too much.
The solstice is coming and the wisdom learned is that darkness is needed to help with the realization of wise relationships, good work, right action and the importance of understanding the loving generosity of nature and the wonder of all that surrounds us.
“This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.”
– Dalai Lama
We have much to be thankful for in this year of such abundance. We have made many meals and have been blessed by our connection to so many wonderful people. May we move together in affection and kindness, and emerge with fresh energy in the lengthening days and coming light.
Blessings in this season and on your wintery meals. We will be taking our rest.
Paul Muller
