Your Winter Solstice Reading with Rumi
Honouring the Persian tradition of consulting the oracle
Yalda night honours the long-standing Persian tradition of consulting the oracle through mystical poetry. This festival is a type of sacred party including sharing of food, telling jokes and of course, an oracle reading. Sounds like my kind of party! We can be inspired by the meaning and practices of Yalda in our own spiritual practice.
Yalda is the Syriac word meaning ‘birth’. It is also the name of the Persian festival honouring the Winter Solstice, and celebrated by millions of people around the world, including those heralding from Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikstan and Uzbekistan and beyond.
Yalda is also a meaningful symbol for the dark nights that we encounter emotionally or psychologically, even spiritually, where we may be labouring through ongoing difficulty and wondering if release and relief will ever manifest. Yalda is joyful, but it is grounded in the recognition of the challenges that we encounter in our lives too.
Winter solstice – the seasonal underpinning of Yalda – occurs on longest night of the year, which is also the shortest day. So at a symbolic level, the tension between light and dark is at a peak, and in this moment, the darkness has risen to its pinnacle. Which from a Yalda viewpoint, means that darkness has run its course and will begin to give way to the return of increasing light.
Festivals in numerous cultures around the world celebrate the return of the light. Light can represent consciousness as well as the release from difficulty, an ability to overcome challenge and emerge triumphant. Such rituals are an affirmation of the universal human need for confidence, hope and vitality.
At times, Yalda rites have been forbidden by various authorities. Despite this, the ongoing honouring of the festival occurs and is an expression of cultural defiance, standing against oppression and claiming spiritual sovereignty.
“The nature of the festival itself – to witness darkness at its peak and affirm the inevitable return of the light – is an act of sacred rebellion which can inspire us to find our courage and confidence during the most difficult times remembering that this too shall pass.“
Foods sacred to this festival include pomegranates, which are native to Iran. With the vibrant colour that represents life, in Persian culture pomegranates are afforded great meaning and represent fertility and abundance. The pomegranate is a powerful symbol for birth and life in Persia. Yalda night is a time of courageous spirituality, affirming our human birthright of abundance and life.
Give Yourself a Rumi Reading
A beautiful Yalda tradition is to read Sufi poetry, and make a wish, before randomly opening at a poem and reading it for an answer. Why not make a wish and then read from our Rumi Oracle reader to find your response from the universal divine heart?
To give yourself a reading, connect to yourself by placing hand on heart. Ask “what do I most need to know right now?” Then play the video below and randomly click “pause” on the card reader video when you feel it. There is your card! You can read your personal message related to that card from the list below. Then you can listen to the music track on the RUMI NOWRUZ album to receive your healing spiritual medicine as music – to meditate, move, dance or simply bliss out in the energy to support your reading. May your guidance be blessed and aligned!
Find your message below
MESSAGES FROM BEYOND
Footprints lead to the shore of the sea!
Beyond that point, no trace remains.
You are urged beyond what has been. The time has come. Lay it to rest now. This ending comes as grace to free you from all you have known. What you have known is now too small for your soul.
Your song from RUMI NOWRUZ is Hosh Dar Dam (Awareness on the Breath).
PASSION FOR PURPOSE
Love, like life, flows through the heart.
Your heart is questing for deeper meaning. It desires certainty as to your sacred tasks for this lifetime. I call to you now, the you that is beyond your mind, the you that is your heart. To that you, I ask, “What stirs the passions of your nature?” Do that. Be that.
Your song from RUMI NOWRUZ is Kashf (Unveiling).
BLOOD ANGEL
In the midst of the darkness, a moon appeared with its brilliance.
In opening to receive, you must empty out what has been. It Grace is not about an exchange of equal measure—you will receive according to the great generosity of life itself. More shall be offered in compensation for what you are willing to release. Allow for a new influx of energy.
Your song from RUMI NOWRUZ is Sarv-e Abarkuh (Cypress Tree of Abarkuh)
THE IMPOSSIBLE MADE POSSIBLE
Love creates infinite openings in the dark sky and shudders the earth with its magnitude.
The human heart knows everything envisioned can manifest according to divine timing and grace. Yet the mind does quake with fear, and at times, will not listen to the heart. Is there any limit to the resources of the heavens? No! The Divine has unbound access to all that is and all that is yet to be. Trust the generous divine presence in your own heart.
Your song from RUMI NOWRUZ is Najat (Redemption).
THE HUMAN GIFT
Such attraction is offered by the beloved, with sweetness and generosity, yet such jealousy comes from you, with so much doubt and suspicion.
Do you berate yourself, blazing angel, because you have moments where you cannot trust in love more than you believe in your fear? Rise from your doubts and admonishments and let your human self be loved. Even with all the doubt, you are a cherished one of the Great Beloved and always shall be. Be kind to your heart.
Your song from RUMI NOWRUZ is Basira (Inner Vision).
AL-UZZA STAR OF VENUS
I am not a handful of worthless dust. I am not just an empty shell. I am a regal pearl formed in this world!
Even a small blessing of light is more powerful than the fears of multitudes. There is no need to fight fear with fear, hate with hate, or anger with anger. You do not have to convince anyone of anything. Connect with the love within your heart, rest there, and become wise.
Your song from RUMI NOWRUZ is Al-Uzza (Venus).
THE ANGEL RAZBAR
“Tell me the truth,” I asked love,
“What are you?”
“I am the everlasting life,” love said,
“I am the recurring joy of living.”
The Great Beloved sees what is in your heart, what it is you wish to offer and is saying, “Yes!” Will you choose to put aside your doubts and believe in yourself? Will you believe in the power of divine love that reaches out to the world through your willing soul? Ah, yes, I knew your tremendous heart wanted to serve more than it wanted to fear!
Your song from RUMI NOWRUZ is Al-Kimia (Alchemy).
WHIRLING GODDESS
Not a single thread that has a head can go through the eye of the needle.
There are certain thresholds that can only be crossed with the heart. You are being asked to trust, rather than understand, so that you may leave the past behind you and embrace the beauty of your life’s journey. You are ready.
Your song from RUMI NOWRUZ is Doret Begardem (I circle around you).
YOU, WHO SHOW THE WAY
The logical mind finds consolation in reaching a level of comfort in life. Lovers are focused beyond their own comfort.
Just as the sun breaks through darkness, bringing light to the world by simply being itself, so too does your inner sun, your soul. You are an inspiration to many and help many more than you realise. This is an acknowledgement of who and what you are, given freely because you are ready to receive it.
Your song from RUMI NOWRUZ is Elham (Inspiration).
THE LOVER AND THE BELOVED
When you move into the unknown, beyond everything, the beloved caresses you.
Oh, how you have been burned before. Abandoned, betrayed, so painfully disappointed, cast aside, suffering at the hands of an unworthy lover. Can the great divine love affair be tarred with the same brush? Will bitter expectations keep your heart locked away behind a mean-spirited gate? Something needs to change within you so that you can receive. It may simply be that you say, “Yes!”
Your song from RUMI NOWRUZ is Ashiq (Lover).
Gratitude for art by Rassouli from the Rumi Oracle.
Enjoyed this blog? You may enjoy our Rumi series.
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