Winter Solstice

A prayer of blessing for you on this Winter Solstice evening.

May the darkness be a friend
making room for your grief, your sorrow and your despair,
holding the places of your pain with tenderness and compassion.

May the darkness be somewhere to rest;
a place you can close your eyes, lay down your weary head,
and sink into deep, peaceful sleep.

May the darkness be a nourishing soil
where unseen strength gathers and grows,
like roots sinking deep into earthy goodness.

May the darkness be a womb
where something new is beginning;
nurtured and protected until it is ready to be born.

May the darkness be a glorious backdrop
accentuating each small light
that shows you the way home.