Solstice

Today is the Solstice

The Longest Night

The Shortest Day

A moment to sit in our own pain

And the pain of those around us

This is not easy or fun

But important work

Important work

At some moment in time

We all feel pain

We all face sorrow

We all have our hearts broken

This may be the season for you

This may not be the season for you

But either way

You are Loved and You Belong

Some mark this time with candles

For others silence and reflection

Some don't mark this day at all

But no matter what

Be gentle this day

Gentle with others

Gentle with yourself

I hope you all are having a good Solstice and a good official start to winter. If this is a time of celebration celebrate if this is a time of another emotion know you are not alone. 

As I was reminded at a Longest Night service earlier this week where the individual readers we struggling to light the candles and each became a group project, sometimes you are not light your own candles, sometimes you need others to help you. Know that needing help is a sign of strength. 

No matter how today find you know you are strong and wonderful and loved and belong

Holiday Pause

Breath in ... 1, 2, 3, 4

Breath out ... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Repeat

Repeat

Repeat

December is already halfway through, and I will bet you have a lot of things on your to-do list right now. Maybe your list is filled with Holiday activities or maybe family and friends, or maybe self-reflection and planning for a new year. But no matter what is on your list I am guessing you are either running around right now or experiencing FOMO (Fear of missing out), either struggling to fit everything in or struggling to fit anything in.

So I suggest you Pause, right here in the middle, right now, just Pause. 

Go for a walk

Have a cup of tea

Take a nice shower/bath

Use nice lotion

Stretch

Do some yoga

Have a glass of water

Or if those seem like ideas that take too much energy, simply breath in and out slowly. Yes, it is December, but you must take time to Pause, to simply breath.

Breath in ... 1, 2, 3, 4

Breath out ... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Repeat

Repeat

Repeat