If you find yourself alone — and lonely — at Christmas, the inimitable Joni Mitchell, now 78,  put up a wonderfully animated version of her 50-year-old song River on her website yesterday.

And for those who realize that all of life on this planet, and elsewhere, no matter what the appearances, and no matter how complex, differentiated, and polarized, actually functions cooperatively, in concert, with everyone conducting their own orchestra, composed of all the voices on the inside that get projected outside and then, via our interactions with others, we recognize, honor, and integrate these voices, this seeming cacophony, back into the self.  Hopefully, by end of this lifetime, we can look back at the amazing, staggeringly beautiful symphony we managed to compose and, with full hearted gratitude, thank all our friends and enemies, especially our enemies, our “honorable opponents,” for their shock value, forcing the recognition of mirroring that otherwise, we might have just let slip by.

Bach’s Christmas Oratorio was first performed in Leipzig 1734, where Bach was musical director, Thomaskirche. This 2009 performance was sung by the Thomaner Choir, and accompanied by members of the Gewandhaaus Orchestra. This conductor is obviously enjoying himself hugely. Are you?

On this dark Christmas morning, remember, re-member, let us put ourselves back together again as, from December 21 on, the light increases daily.