Martinmas & The Lantern Walk

After daylight savings time, when the light of the Sun seems dimmed and far away, we celebrate the festival of Martinmas. We receive the spiritual warmth and light of the Sun within our own inner lantern, and we make our way through the seasonal darkness following this inner light. We share our warmth through care and kindness toward others in the manner in which St. Martin tore his cloak in half and shared it with a beggar.

Both St. Martin and the beggar were thoroughly warmed and fulfilled by a half-visible (material) and a half-invisible (soul/spiritual) cloak. During the night, St. Martin had a dream, which made him realize that the beggar was his spiritual guardian, acknowledging his generosity and compassionate deeds, and conferring blessings on his future. This story depicts the spiritual nature of sharing. 

Through this festival we become awakened to the human light and warmth leading us through the cold, dark winter.  On Martinmas day, (November 11), the students carry a lighted lantern, sing songs, and walk in procession through the dark woods. 

This journey is symbolic of our life journey at the age of twenty- one. The warmth and love we have received from the people around us, as well as from the natural surroundings when we were children (outer sun), are dimming down. We feel alone and helpless on this journey during our teenage years.

Yet, around twenty-one, we begin awakening to our inner light of truth and conscience, our inner sun, as the quiet light of our lantern is kindled. We begin to become capable not only of navigating ourselves through the dark, cold, and uncertain time of youth, but also of sharing our light with others for the sake of ultimate good. We thereby invite the spiritual world to support us. This inner sun will eventually grow and burn with the power to transform doubt, fear, and hatred into courage, compassion, and love, through which peace and unity will become possible. 

Happy Martinmas!

Written by Chiaki Uchiyama, School Director