The Winter Spiral: Offering an Inner Light as a Realization of Individuality

There is sad and disturbing news every day. People, animals, and the whole planet are suffering. Miscommunication, misunderstanding, and illness are everywhere in our human society. Authorities are not always dependable.

It can make us feel isolated

This current darkness of the world naturally calls forth our own anger, frustration, fear, anxiety, and hatred. Our children are surrounded by this. To realize this conundrum often makes us feel helpless.

How can we live healthily in this dark, cold, and isolated world? Where is the light?

Rather than panicking, trying to escape, or finding something to fight against, the Winter Spiral invites us to “listen” into the darkness, where we will find the quiet life of nature — stones, plants, and animals.

In the natural world, there are regulations, order, healthy and steady rhythms, as well as consequences, which constitute a harmony. Whales are swimming in the ocean, bears are catching salmon in the rivers, root systems flourish beneath our feet… this quiet life pulsates simultaneously with our busy and chaotic lives.

There are also many people who are quietly and consistently offering their kind, love-filled actions for the benefit of children, nature, and other people, even though their work often goes unnoticed. Although their actions may seem small, it is like the humble light of shining stars in the vast dark sky give us faith, hope, and courage.

The darker it is outside, the brighter the humble light will shine.

The darkness is actually an invitation for each individual to find and shine their personal light. One by one, as the small lights are offered from each person gathered as a community at the Winter Spiral, we create a starry heaven on earth.

Chiaki Uchiyama is Cedarwood’s Pedagogical Director, and teaches the Japanese language program to our middle school students. Born and raised in Yokohama, Japan, Uchiyama Sensei moved to the United States in 1997 and taught Japanese language at Cedarwood for 20 years before becoming the Pedagogical Director in 2018. Although she misses the fun of teaching Japanese language to the children, she finds infinite satisfaction and fulfillment in supporting our students, teachers, administration, parents, and the whole school community.