The Christmas Tree as Icon, Inviting Us to Contemplate the "One Holy Circle" of Both Dark and Light

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Be still and know
that day and night,
dark and light,
are one holy circle.

– Jokhim Meikle

At this time of year I can't think of a better image to serve as a reminder of Jokhim Meikle's wise observation than that of a Christmas tree, aglow in the beauty of the night.

My housemate Tim and I set up and decorated our tree last night.

As often as I can during Advent, I spend part of each evening simply sitting in the darkness and looking upon the softly-lighted Christmas tree. I might recite a prayer that's particularly meaningful to me, play some Sufi music, or just sit in silence. Focusing on the tree's depths of darkness and multi-colored lights can sometimes feel like gazing into another universe, another world. It's a time of quiet reflection and prayer, to be sure, with the tree serving as an icon, a window into the beautiful mystery of the "one holy circle" of both light and dark – the blessed paradox – that surrounds us . . . and calls us to transformation.

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:

• Advent: The Season of Blessed Paradox
• Advent: Renewing Our Connection to the Sacred
• Thoughts of Waiting . . . and a Resolution
• The Centered Life is an Advent Life
• Something to Cherish
• Advent 2011: Thoughts and Reflections (Part 1)
• Advent 2011: Thoughts and Reflections (Part 2)
• Advent 2011: Thoughts and Reflections (Part 3)
• Advent 2011: Thoughts and Reflections (Part 4)
• Mystics Full of God
• Christmas Baubles
• Christmastide Approaches

Related Off-site Links:
Why Does Advent Matter? – Susan Stabile (Creo en Dios!, December 5, 2014).
Without An Experience of Extravagant Love, We Have No Hope to Become Better: An Advent Reflection – Matthew Myers (Bondings 2.0, November 30, 2014).