WHO AM I?
We’re within a day or two of the Autumnal Equinox (September 21)
which starts the “trough” as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) calls it. I
wondered what was going on. I’ve noted that several Facebook friends just
reported feeling a bit discouraged, “I’m a coupla ticks off” one said. Another
said he was going to take a “time out” from his regular intense schedule of Facebook
commentaries “I just need a break. I’m gonna read a book.” And, as if to raise
my consciousness even higher, I saw my first TV ad for “Puffs” facial tissue. That’s
always a sign that we are entering the “trough”. Then I looked at the calendar and there it was
– the “trough”.
Really, I didn’t need the ad, I
feel it too. I’m glum.
The “trough” is
between November and April. It is when the days grow shorter right up to the
Winter Solstice. Our bodies are synced with daylight, “entrained” as they say. According
to the CDC, research has shown that we are more likely to become ill in the “trough”.
It’s “a seasonal fluctuation” between health, disease prevalence, and the function
of the human biological systems, such as the endocrine system, which relates to
immunology.
Our entrainment to
daylight is called “photoperiodism”.
WHY AM I HERE?
Photoperiodism relates
to the length of day/night cycles. At the Autumnal Equinox, day and night are
equal length. But, every day after September 21, the daylight decreases until
the Winter Solstice.
The tilt of the Earth’s axis
combined with the rotation around the Sun results in more or less daylight
called “seasons”. Thus the year is divided roughly into two halves – one of
decreasing daylight in the Northern Hemisphere (increasing is Southern
Hemisphere), and then they switch about.
The old cultures call
path to the shortest day of the year, “the dying of the light.” The CDC calls
it “the cold and flu season”. The CDC notes a spike in pneumococcal diseases occurs
in U.S. adults between December 24 and January 7. Their study reports: “The reproducible
seasonal patterns in varied geographic locations are consistent with the
hypothesis that nationwide seasonal changes such as photoperiodism-dependent
variations in host susceptibility may underlie pneumococcal seasonality…”
WHAT DO I WANT?
This means that as our physical systems weaken, the viruses get
stronger. All of living organisms on Earth are “entrained” or synchronized with
seasonality. Our bodies respond to reduced levels of light by reducing our
immune systems’ performance.
We are no longer consciously
living in sync with the seasons of nature. But, because our bodies can’t help
but be in sync, they respond. We feel stressed, “a tick or two off” as my friend
said. We try to adjust ourselves and de-stress and perhaps get some rest, read
a book.
Maybe in the case of my Facebook
friends and I, we are entering the metaphorical trough of our lives, not just the
year. I really sense an autumnal feeling. These are people I met in the Spring
or Summer. But now... we are sliding into the trough.
Thankfully, the ancient cultures
responded to the “dying of the light” and created festivals which bring us
inner light of Joy! Inspiration. Reverence. Warmth of soul. From the Autumnal
Equinox to the Winter solstice we go through bright, inner times of meaning and
celebration: All Hallow Eve / All Souls day, then Thanksgiving, Hannukah, Eid
ul-Adha and then Christmas before turning back to the Light.
Welcome to the trough –
and our inner revels! Welcome Yule
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