About this time last year, a friend told me over coffee that he was "mulling some things over." 

Perhaps it was the brisk winter air, the steam rising from our mugs, or the  intangible presence of "holiday spirit" around us, but my mind turned to a second use of the word "mull"--that of "mulled cider." I got to wondering if there might be any connection between the two meanings of "mull"...

"To meditate, ponder, or think"--that's what my friend was doing when he was "mulling some things over." And why not: whether you celebrate Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, or some other high holy day, this time of year beckons us to step back, reflect, and reconnect with whatever it is that gives our life meaning.

"To heat, sweeten, and flavor, as with spices"--that's the other definition of "mull," the etymological recipe for mulled cider.

From a linguistic point of view, it turns out that the two definitions are unrelated--the first comes from an old Middle English word, while the entry in my dictionary for the second says simply "origin unknown," as if mulled cider derives from a secret family recipe whispered from generation to generation but never written down.

But what if there is a connection? What if the process of  meditating, pondering, thinking things over...involves more than just quiet consideration? What if "mulling things over" calls us to take the people, events, and circumstances of our life...and then "turn the heat up," sweetening here, spicing there?... 

Perhaps combining these two meanings of "mull" hints at how we  sustain ourselves, how we make sense of our lives, and how we move forward. Perhaps it is during these dark but busy days of winter, when heat and a quiet moment alone seem hardest to come by, that we most naturally look for light, for insight, for deeper purpose.

Of course for many people, the weeks that stretch from Thanksgiving to New Year's feel lacking in such graces. Cultural  pressures to be happy, to be with loved ones, and to be part of the frenzy of commercialism...fall heavily on those who are feeling depressed, alone, or financially strapped. Many of my therapy clients have spent their recent sessions talking about how difficult "the holidays" are for them...and then looking for symbols and celebrations that can cast light into the darkness: candles, music, a favorite film, a walk by the lake or a hike up into the mountains, shared rituals and familiar foods, cards sent out to far-away friends and family...As Shelby Flint writes in her song "Greetings of the Season":

"When the world astounds us,
and we question what is true,
may the message of this Season still be there
to lift us up and see us through..."

Wherever you are in your journey this holiday season, may you find a measure of comfort and joy by filling a mug with something hot and spiced, and taking a few precious moments...to "mull things over."

                              Blessings,
                                        
                                            ~Dan

Dan Keusal, M.S., LMFT
Counselor, Astrologer