In the treetops, the last remnants of autumn cling stubbornly against the snow-laced breeze. The world settles into the quiet lull of fleeting sunlight, a deep breath before the long, darkening cold settles in. The growing chill is a welcome respite after the brutal heat of the summer. As the Winter Solstice approaches, thoughts of death and rebirth accompany the turning of the Wheel of the Year.  It is an ideal time to reflect, to identify aspects of the self that need attention, and to set intentions for the returning of the light.

When I think of the long nights of winter, my mind often turns to the powerful figure of Lilith, the infamous she-demon stalking the ancient darkness for a man to seduce or a child to steal away. Throughout her long history, Lilith is often thrown into the barren wilderness of the desert where unclean and evil creatures are thought to reside. I like to imagine that after millennia of parching heat and dust, Lilith finds solace in the snow-covered countryside as she wanders along the incredible path that’s led her from demoness to symbol of empowerment and equality. Hers is a story like no other, and the darkness of the winter months is the perfect time to reflect on what Lilith can teach us today.

You probably already know a bit about Lilith — how she was born in the depths of Mesopotamia as a nameless spirit of the wind before transforming into a deadly succubus haunting the Fertile Crescent, how Jewish folklore declared her the failed first wife of Adam who rebelled against husband and God alike, and how she viciously strangled newborn babes without remorse. All of those aspects of Lilith are important to her story. They shape the shadow she has cast for more than four millennia. To reject those darker pieces of Lilith is to never see the true complexity of the puzzle she remains.

It’s not easy to reconcile the evil Lilith has been accused of, whether you believe her to be a flesh and blood entity or just a figment of the collective imagination. But, what Lilith does is serve as a reminder to each of us that the darker, deepest parts of who we are cannot be hidden forever. One way or another, we must all face those things that we’d rather pretend don’t exist. Lilith is always unapologetically Lilith. She doesn’t seek approval or validation from man or God. She stands in the truth of who and what she is, effortlessly evolving again and again. She reminds us that to be whole, to heal, to step into our own truth and evolution requires acceptance of our true selves. And acceptance takes work.

Within each of us is something that we do not like. Something we wish to change. Something we wish to bury so that no one can ever discover this tiny piece of who we are. But instead of shutting it away, pretending it doesn’t exist, we must meet it head on, accept that it is a part of us, and do the work necessary to change and heal in a healthy way. Whether you seek out a therapist or embark on your own shadow work, Lilith reminds us that the work must be done. We are all creatures of light and dark. Good and bad. Both whole and broken. As the dark nights of winter begin to retreat, and the light returns in its fiery glory, take the time to identify what you need to improve or change or release in order to heal and move forward in the sunlight of the coming Spring.

Perhaps for some, it is odd to think of Lilith in this way. To see her as something positive, as a motivating factor despite her dark history, can be difficult. But Lilith shows us that no matter how bad our past may seem, it does not have to define our future. Lilith has carved her own path, emerging from her demonic origins to reign as a beacon of light to all those fighting for the right to redefine themselves, for those struggling to embrace their authentic and complete selves, and for those seeking equality for themselves and others as well. Regardless of gender, Lilith’s story empowers us to move forward just as she has done, through scorn and ridicule and fear and the barren wastelands mankind fears to tread.

A mother, wife, writer, artisan, and reiki master from the southern United States, Laurie Martin-Gardner is a lifelong student of history and mythology with expertise in writing about gods, goddesses, and the archetypes found in religions and spiritual systems from around the world.

Writing has been Laurie’s passion since childhood, with her first piece being published when she was only eleven years old. Laurie has published two volumes of poetry and short stories, and she has contributed to several Moon Books Goddess anthologies. The Hidden Goddess is Laurie’s first standalone book from Moon Books.

For more information: www.lauriemartingardner.com