Light the Darkness

[lmemsm]

For some light in the darkness this year...


If you get depressed when it starts getting darker out, such as during the winter months, you may want to investigate Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Full spectrum white lighting is one method of combating the effects. Light can have a great effect on mood. Too much blue light (from computer screens, phone and TVs before bed) can make it harder to fall asleep at night and produce melatonin naturally. There are programs and apps like Red Shift screen adjustments to help combat that ( https://lmemsm.dreamwidth.org/13704.html ). Better yet, don't use electronics before bed. Switch to lower level lighting tinted more toward the red spectrum at night. Keeping your home dark at night can improve melatonin production. You can find white light alarms to help you wake up in the morning and simulate a sunrise.
More information on circadian rhythms and the sleep cycle:
https://www.sleep.org/what-happens-during-sleep/


As mentioned in my Thanksgiving post, viewing or, better yet, getting exercise by walking in green environments can have a calming effect and help improve mood. Walking can help with neurogenesis too. Here are some more botanical garden and nature videos that I've found interesting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IofrAwQVZqM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7rkUBkhgdE


Playing games and exercising your brain can be a good holiday pastime. It can help create new neural pathways and build new brain cells (neurogenesis). Educational games and games you can play with pen and paper are listed in previous posts.
https://lmemsm.dreamwidth.org/15912.html
https://lmemsm.dreamwidth.org/14863.html
Playing with a dreidel is another common game this time of year:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreidel


The holidays don't seem like the holidays without a chance to do some singing. I'm particularly interested in public domain and Creative Commons songs. Looking for songs that light the darkness this year. I'm including some links to carols and songs that are commonly sung during this season. If you're lucky, you may find a virtual group online that you can sing some of them with.

Was impressed with some of the carols mentioned by the Stay At Home Choir in their Carols from Around the World program:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcgqxLjk1n4&list=PL8ZG8YS4Uucek0tsRBNNwFgYooiH-w4X_&index=13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9f6zxo6X0s&list=PL8ZG8YS4Uucek0tsRBNNwFgYooiH-w4X_&index=14
More info on the Santa Lucia carol:
https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/NonEnglish/santa_lucia.htm

Banu Hoshekh l’Garesh (We come to chase the dark away)
https://opensiddur.org/prayers/lunisolar/commemorative-days/hanukkah/banu-hoshekh-lgaresh-by-sara-levi-tanai/

Rock of Ages
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10384-ma-oz-zur

More public domain music sites:
https://ccel.org/
https://hymnary.org/
http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/


There are several holidays this time of year including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, Santa Lucia Day, Diwali, Bodhi Day, Solstice, HumanLight, Life Day and many others. Many of them include light in the festivities. There are lighted Christmas trees, yule logs (the type you burn in the fireplace, not the type you eat), menorahs, kinaras, diyas.

My favorite crepe recipe and some background on Yule:
http://web.archive.org/web/20060618143205/http://users.internorth.com/~wiccan/seasons/yule.htm

Here's a recipe for Lucia cats:
https://web.archive.org/web/20200928081044/https://www.kroger.com/r/saint-lucia-cats-recipe/184374


Exercise can also keep you warm during the colder months. Breathing exercises can also help with mood and can improve health. Breath is connected to life and spirit and often, the word for breath is synonymous for spirit in many languages. Chi from Tai Chi also refers to life energy. Here are some interesting exercise programs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkdRLJKajII
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEGlntjbyZI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdaCuigipoM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4VIw41R-PU

Check out some of the Pure Edge breathing meditations and the Mind Jar meditation in the Rest section:
https://pureedgeinc.org/curriculum/pure-brains-breaks/video-library/


Here are some astronomy events to light up your night this December:
https://www.space.com/great-conjunction-jupiter-saturn-christmas-star-2020-nasa-tips
Plus, you can check out more astronomy resources at:
https://www.openspaceproject.com/


I haven't even scratched the surface on resources. Will be searching for more links for the holidays and rituals that light the darkness. Will add what I find here.


Boker Ohr to everyone.