On a quiet and peaceful eve, I sat down by the fire, in a corner of the lounge at my home on the mountains. I was enjoying the deep silence surrounding me, which was broken from time to time by the crackling of the fire.

As I took my eyes off the fire to look around in the dark space where I was sitting, I saw the big Christmas tree standing in the other corner end. It was green in colour like the fertile green fields of a tea plantation. But what draw my attention most, was the contrasting bright light of its decoration lights. I was like hypnotised by these lights that I couldn’t stop looking at. A set of these lights was flickering in a frenetic way, another part was getting dimmed then reignited at a very slow and regular pace, and others as well could hardly be seen as they were hiding behind the tree branches and the decorative coloured balls and shiny ornaments. Away from this tumultuous feast, a set of other lights stood out very clearly. They shone with steadiness and same intensity. I paused at this last sight and had a realisation!

The tree is our world with all its variety, attractive and less attractive aspects but also its enchanting busyness. The flickering lights are those souls who are spreading their unhandled high energy all around them. The second set of lights are the souls whose light ignition depends on life’s circumstances; If things go “wrong” with them, they feel disheartened and depressed and when they go “right”, they feel happy and revived. The third category of lights, are those who had totally forgotten that they were capable of shining and started following shadows outside themselves to give them some sort of satisfaction and power… The last category of lights, are the souls who recognise their own nature and express it in a very clear and unshakeable way. They are not disturbed or influenced by the world as we know it but act as a lighthouse at all times.

As I felt again the warmth of the fireplace as well as the one inside my heart, I sent to the world a wishful thought; this planet is a beautiful jewel that needs to be preserved. Raising our awareness and acting as responsible human beings and ignited souls is our duty. May we all express our true inner nature and always keep the light shining…!

 – By Ralouka Montesi