The Winter Solstice

The year 1987; I remember it so vividly. As a 15 year old girl growing up in the dusty roads of Alexandra township, I had never heard the sound of a gun being fired until one particular day. It was a warm winter morning; the air reeked of umzabalazo with "We miss you Manelow" penetrating the soundwaves...

The monumental march in 1976 catapulted the release of Nelson Mandela and every winter after that, young voices took to the streets to fight for the cause. My mother had left for work leaving me and my three younger siblings in the house. At around 10:15 a.m. a commanding knock was heard at the door. As I was about to enquire, a young man thrusted the door wide open without warning barking orders. He looked straight at me, chin elevated towards freedom, eyes full of hope. "Asambe!" he spat. I involuntarily was pushed out of the house and was led to a swarm of young boys and girls. Amongst us were the return of the exiles Umkhonto Wesizwe. We were soldiers going to war; war for the release of Mandela. I had always heard this name being mumbled under the breath of our elders but whenever I would ask my mother who Mandela was, her response was always a hiding. I wasn't privy to Mandela but I was definitely aware of the movement. I gathered bits of information from the distinct chatter happening around me; we were marching to SAPS to hand over a memorandum for the release of our leader Mandela. As we stomped our feet chanting "ay tha!...tha! tha!" making our way from 18th avenue, we were intercepted by the police 12 streets into the march on 6th avenue. This was the defining moment...fight or flight.

Within a blink of an eye chaos ensued with the crowd fleeing in all directions. The horizon engulfed with dirty orange flames, the sound of bullets penetrating flesh, smoke inhalation, the passionate screams. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me and heard "Yay wena!" upon reaching the corner of a random house. I immediately felt an aggressive tug as this older boy pulled me by the right corner of my shirt into the adjacent wall making me stumble. Simultaneously I heard the sound of live ammunition colliding with corrugated iron behind me "gwaaaa !". Urine trickled down my pants when I saw the bullet casing that could've ushered me into my death. A second later I heard "lala ngendwendwe!". The older boy, myself and 7 others jolted into a window that led to some kind of a bunker dug in the ground. "Julle moerskont!" the white baas shouted stomping his boots, infuriated that he lost sight of us. We laid in that hole for two hours straight, quiet as mice until we heard whistling that the coast was clear. We climbed out of the hole and started making our way home, jumping fences from one yard to another. The sky was painted orange as the sun began to set and from a distance I could hear my mother's voice calling my name in desperation. I felt a heavy load on my chest and the only way I could release it was through tears... I made it home.

Throughout the South African landscape there has been the occurrence of monumental events that have shaped not only our history but our identity too. The liberation of South Africa happened through song. Our marches were expressed through dance toi toi, evoking a powerful energy that raised our vibrations in preparation for battle. Ingoma created a gateway for us to transcend the conscious mind to subconscious spirit.

From the deafening wails of the youth on June 16 1976, to the sporadic acts of political violence between the ANC and IFP on August 15 1990 and not forgetting the socio-economic scrimmage construed as the social unrest in July 2021. In all of these events, it is evident that the common theme is anger that shows up as tears, bloodshed and pain. This anger or 'passion' for the sake of being politically correct, stems from an awareness, a deity, an energy that spreads throughout the land in Winter. In the southern hemisphere winter takes place during the months of June, July and August. It is a melancholic season; a season of inertia, retreat and hibernation. Coldness and darkness boldly wrap themselves around the face of death. The winter solstice occurs on the 21st of June between 00:00 and 03:00. This is is the shortest day and longest night of the year as well as the darkest hour. Scientifically, it is when "the sun is at its northern most point in the southern hemisphere appearing at noon at its lowest altitude above the horizon". In layman terms, it is when the sun is at its farthest point from the southern hemisphere. Spiritually, it is described as the "great stillness" and the "rebirth of the sun" where our ancestors celebrated life and death in the same breath.

In ancient times our ancestors understood the value of integrating science and spirituality in creating a knowledge system. Science functioned with spirit and spirituality functioned with the mind. Science is a systematic study of structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world, therefore science is derived from nature. That's why the Queen of Sheba upon meeting with King Solomon spoke of how the people of her land sang to the sun and prayed to the moon. In Kemet, the deity that governed winter is known as Set. Set is described as the "red-eyed one" with red desher representing the essence of life (blood and the vital organs) [The Sacred Magic of Ancient Egypt]. He is lord of Earthly forces "embodied in the metals of iron and lead" hence the tools used in 1976, 1990 etc. were guns and knives. Set is acknowledged as the deity that oversees the realm of corruption and decay, a vital component in the cosmic scheme. The principal of Set is rooted in fixation, an "energy dynamic that imposes physical restraints that may inhibit free movement and thought" whereas his function is corruption. "Set brings adversaries to one's attention without compromise and he assists in facing irresolvable situations that may appear formidable and overpowering. He provides mental endurance and physical stamina, allowing the weak to come back with renewed vigor" [The Sacred Magic of Ancient Egypt].

The thought of death and darkness is daunting to say the least, but this season must be valued. We must align ourselves with the burning grass and screeching wails in an effort to restore balance in the cosmogenesis. In order for jacaranda trees to bloom in spring, the sea of purple petals must wither in winter. In the beginning, the sun was drawn out of the dark waters that's why in the book of Isaiah God says, "I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things," Isaiah 45:7. The winter solstice is the moment of great stillness. Silence the noise, for outer silence gives rise to inner stillness. In stillness you release; in stillness God speaks. Let go of what was, surrender to what is and allow the universe to renew you. For God said "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it?" Isaiah 43:18-19. Purge and let go of what doesn't serve you, from the small things to the significant ones. Set your intentions, reevaluate your goals and prepare yourself for the creativity that is yet to come. Allow God to do the work in you so that you may bloom in spring.