Hours of the Tide: Carol of the North Wind
Hour: Day of the North Wind
An airy time. A frigid time. And here in Seattle, a dreary and rainy time. The day of the North Wind is meant to be done on the starry clear night of early December but we are knee-deep in a torrential downpour and daylight dies at 4:15pm. So... we adapt. As winter calls us to do. Biting wind. Stern wind. North wind. Ancestor wind. We honor you.
We caroled in the cold wind that rises North. When I think of winter and the North Wind, I think of specific notes, harmonies, tones of the season. The roar of the wind, the quiet notes of icicles falling, the thunderous cracks as ice melts and refreezes and the delicate patter of rain on what remains of the maple leaves... It's musical, far more than any other season in my opinion. The Caroling in of the North Wind is celebrated by opening the home, airing out the house (lüften that lair, baby) and letting the wind pass through with song. A blade, like the cutting and bitter wind is placed at the entry door, and the smoke of some evergreens to lead the way. Juniper, I choose you! And then, ringing the bells, or, of chimes, and calling on the cold to be kind.
You welcome it. You welcome the bitter knife-wind. He's inevitable; you may not defeat him you may only outlast him annually. And so, you welcome him and honor his power and ask of the cold wind-- Will you be kind? I welcome you through with song, and scent and serenade this day. Some spirits are like that. Even though they scare you or cause great calamity, sometimes it's best to welcome them as part of the balance of life, part of the magical cost, the human cost, the living cost, and say to this wind; I will not go gently, nor will you, so let us be ready for what comes. To be honest, I've never liked the ringing of the bells for this day; I prefer the blowing of bellowing wood flutes and ringing of forks or wind chimes. Something... windy. To the wind goes all the songs and warmed, saturated air. With the wind goes the prayers and thoughts. Out into the night.
I welcome the North Wind. I will not go gently, nor will you, so let us be ready for what comes.
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