Day Six

Where all the splendors are in the light
And all the darknessess in the dark
brilliant light and gloomy darkness!
I praise that transcendent light.
~ The Short Gloss on the Supreme Queen of the Three, Paratrisikalaghuvrttik


Ahhhhh. Got some time to myself at home so I could chant with impunity. Then sat. First time it felt that good. Seems like the swaying, moving thing is energy moving - hopefully knots being untied. I'd like to think. Geez, I even came home to do this instead of having beer with a friend. NOT a renunciation thing - just practical.

Have been considering more about the Yule Goat (Julbock). The way I understand it is, in long ago times, in far northern places, those long dark winters were hard. You had to make it on what you had in store, and you had to consider what food there was for livestock. So at some point, it makes more sense to let go of the livestock so there's enough food for you. The sacrificial goats no longer need to be fed, and indeed become food themselves.

What this means to me is this: Everything that takes a form can transform ("change" form). The Yule Goat is in a form that takes more energy to maintain than is sustainable at that time. So it dies and is ingested - its energy made available to sustain Life. You let it go in service of Life. Ironic, no? I think that's why the mirthful tradition of burning the Yule Goat decoration lives on. (Check out the Gävle goat - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gävle_goat) I think most people know it has to burn - yet they feign disappointment. But in the old stories, the Yule Goat always comes back to life - all is not lost! Imagine a world where nothing is ever transformed like this - no death. It would be insupportable! We all know that the Wheel turns.... Indeed, "Yule" or "Jul" means wheel.

So, what needs to go? Not because it's undeserving, but simply because there's a time for everything. And trying to feed something that is out of synch is unsustainable.

What are the Yule Goats of Now?