I love Winter Solstice.

The shortest day and darkest night appeals to me on a visceral level. I have found myself in the darkness many times over the years, shuffling around & bumping into things, praying for light to return.

It was only later that I learned that darkness has its own lessons and blessings, like water bioluminescence – you can’t see it without darkness.

The darkness is part of the cycle of trauma and grief recovery. I remember wondering if I would drown in my own tears in the dark, and before I knew it, light had returned.

I love poetry the most when I am stumbling around in the darkness. The rhythm and meaning of the words are like tiny lights that remind me that I am not alone.

Here are two Winter Solstice poems to help guide our way until light fully returns – also, there’s more about the Winter Solstice here if you’re interested in celebrating in a meaningful way during this season.

The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper

So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us—Listen!!
All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!

And one of my all-time favorites – I made it into a graphic for download.

To Know the Dark by Wendell Berry

More About the Solstice and Hope and Grief

At times like these, it can feel radical to practice hope, and I wrote about that here – Practicing Radical Hope

Grief doesn’t take a holiday, and I wrote about that, too – For Those Grieving Over the Holidays

And last but not least, Release & Renew with a Solstice Ritual

The Light Will Return

Happy Yule!

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