Winter Solstice Readings
Reading for Lighting the Solstice Candle
Once again, the Winter Solstice is upon us. This is the time of year when we learn from the Earth how to face the darkness without losing hope, how to honor the fading light, and how to nurture the seeds of rebirth. We pause and reflect on the year now passed, with gratitude for all that has come into our lives. We think of those we have lost with love and respect.
We will face the longest night with the faith that, even in the darkest hour, there is a strength within us that we can draw upon until the light returns to us again.
Reading Before the Winter Solstice Fire
The season’s decorations have each their place
Soothing sounds on the radio our sorrows erase
Ornaments on our shelves and on evergreen bows
Have wakened sweet reveries, happy memories aroused.
Remembrances, swift as boys on toboggans
With gloves on their hands, stocking hats on their noggins,
Fly through our minds as the hours unfold
And we sail through plans made with our young and our old
Our friends and our family, our orbits of caring,
Our loves who bring laughter and memories sharing;
The time we have longed for will come and will pass,
Enrichment will linger as long as we last
But the bobbles we made
As each year duly fades,
The letters we sent
With good wishes we lent,
The joy that we felt
As each moment was dealt,
To ages hereafter, we here now bequeath
Our hopes and good wishes bound up in our wreath.
JTD