Today is a day of rest and feasting.

Tomorrow is a day of fasting.

Nature photo of the day: sunlit moss on the afternoon of the winter solstice.

may you find strength
to wait
for the light beyond the dark

may you find joy
in the patience 
that it takes to wait
for the light beyond the dark

may you find satisfaction
in knowing 
that you waited with the utmost patience
for the light beyond the dark

may you find yourself
in a beautiful place
waiting with quiet patience 
and unbridled contentment
for the light beyond the dark

- Cheryl M.

Today is a day of rest - and feasting.

Sipping coffee, followed by napping. Nibbling on pastries baked last night, followed by hunting for the perfect spruce branches to deck the walls. Decorating followed by relaxing. Then the bread to be braided and the duck to be braised.

One moment following the other, in a chain of natural events that led to a pot of homemade eggnog for us to greedily imbibe, and with some spruce cookies to share.

Here’s our celebration of Yuletide in a few pictures, shared in hopes to inspire you to slow down just a little, if not today, then tomorrow, or next year.

Merry Yule to all, and to all a long night!

May you find the beautiful light beyond the dark when you wake up tomorrow morning. Sleep well, dear nature lovers.

The Earth is resting, and so shall you!

As for the journal prompt of the day:

For how many hours does the darkness last on your winter solstice? How does it make you feel, knowing that the sun is so far away?

I encourage you to light a candle as you write down and answer this journal prompt, for bringing fire into your home on this day is essential for lighting the way into a bright, new future.

After all, we are living in exciting times and the future is looking pretty shiny, isn’t it!?

Sleep well in the dark, and see you in the next sunlight,

Cheryl