Today, I turn 38 years old. The Purple Vale is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. My birthday falls on the day after Winter Solstice, and it always finds me in a contemplative state of mind. I love this solstice. We have January and February ahead, so for many of us in the Northern Hemisphere it feels as though winter is just beginning. But in terms of light and dark, we have reached the turning point.