Our lives and hearts are so full right now, for so many reasons, personal, global and seasonal.
I prepare for holiday celebrations, but my heart has few words. It craves solitude, silence and stillness. Between errands and phone calls I stare at the Christmas tree.
As we approach the longest night of the year, I offer these words by Clarissa Pinkola Estes:
Prayer for Remembering Where to Stand in the Winds
Creator, please let me not
be a weather vane
turning and jerking
this way and that
whenever the wind blows,
allowing me no rest
for long, in any direction.
Creator, let me be blessed
instead, to be
the old lighthouse keep
who stays and stays
under the wide sky
and with the long view,…
Please help me be the old one
who cleans the glass daily,
stokes the fire beacon nightly,
and no matter how winds blow,
the Light I’ve tended,
will steadily flow
over the tempest waters,
and no matter how winds blow,
the Light I’ve tended,
will steadily flow
over the calms.
May your holidays be joyous and nourishing.
May you tend your light with gentle care. (I’d love to hear how you are doing this, if you are willing to share.)
If you want to see a short video showing the rising sun on the winter solstice entering Newgrange, the 5000 year old passage tomb in Ireland, click here.
I have found laughter helps keep my inner light shining. For a chuckle, here are some amusing winners in the “Comedy Wildlife Photography” Awards.
Anne, what great imagery and metaphors! BUt the nature photos just made me laugh outloud!
Hooray for laughing out loud!
What a lovely, lovely poem for right now, Anne. I am so grateful for you in my life circle!!!
Thank you Margaret! The feeling is mutual….