The longest night

WINTER SOLSTICE
Perhaps
for a moment
the typewriters will stop clicking,
the wheels stop rolling
the computers desist from computing,
and a hush will fall over the city.
For an instant, in the stillness,
the chiming of the celestial spheres will be heard
as earth hangs poised
in the crystalline darkness, and then
gracefully
tilts.
Let there be a season
when holiness is heard, and
the splendor of living is revealed.
Stunned to stillness by beauty
we remember who we are and why we are here.
There are inexplicable mysteries.
We are not alone.
In the universe there moves a Wild One
whose gestures alter earth’s axis
toward love.
In the immense darkness
everything spins with joy.
The cosmos enfolds us.
We are caught in a web of stars,
cradled in a swaying embrace,
rocked by the holy night,
babes of the universe.
Let this be the time
we wake to life,
like spring wakes, in the moment
of winter solstice.

Rebecca Parker

Solstice sledding

We gathered with friends for a very fun afternoon of sledding. Now we are rolling candles and watching the snow fall and the darkness surround us. I just love this day.

Advent Spiral

It was a beautiful evening. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

Welcome the light

We rolled our candles, put them in our candle holders from last year, and waited for the night to arrive.

The package man brought us a bright red box from Finland. Finnish slippers to keep our toes cozy…

And Finnish chocolate and coffee to enjoy by the fire. Many thanks to the Turtiainen family for the wonderful gifts. Speaking of fire, Drew has begun tending our fires. Our little boy is really growing up into such a helpful young man.

And as dusk fell we enjoyed lighting all the candles in our home (no lights allowed for the darkest day) I do think the winter solstice is my new favorite holiday. There is such beauty and peace in candlelight

We took our candles outside for a walk in the snow. It was just magical

‘White, white the stillness of starlight on the snow.
Green, green the flowering life that waits again to grow
Red, red the tender heart that guides the way we go.
Under the starlight and over the snow’

(it was especially precious to hear Drew and Phoebe recite this poem as we all walked together)