Solstice Blessing

There is a pause now
this quiet Solstice time
before light slowly lengthens.

The temptation, to count the days.
To hold our breath
until daylight stretches into evening
early morning forcing back the darkness.

What a relief it will be
these light-starved bodies
to see again
no longer fumbling in darkness.

Still,
somewhere deep inside
past resistance and reason
you know this darkness, too, is your home.

A place you were taught to hurry through
lest you be swallowed by the whale of darkness
never to be seen again.

Your soul knows better.

Your soul knows night is the place of dreams.
Far beyond what seeing eyes call horizon
night eyes know no such boundary.

So on these long nights of winter solstice
may you find your wildest dreams
walking companionably alongside you.
Having waited for you all this time
to turn toward darkness
and find not fear, but peace and courage
and wild abandon toward a life
ready to be lived.