Merry Yuletide!

Merry Yuletide to all!  Today is the darkest day of the year, but there is bright sunshine glinting off sparkling snow outside my window.  It is appropriately cold for this day when we are least warmed by the sun; the window thermometer said 8F this morning (that's -13C), and this was at almost 9 a.m.

Before kids, I used to have a party every Yule, where friends would gather for dinner and drink, and everyone would bring a candle.  We would cast a circle, then each person would state her intention to bring light back to one part of their lives, and would light her candle, each of us holding that intention with her.  People could explain their situation in as much or as little detail as they wanted.  We would invite people from different parts of our lives, and sometimes this would be the only time guests saw each other each year.  It was a precious ritual to me, and one that I miss.  With toddlers, it's hard to have a grownup party.  In a few years they can participate, and we can find a way to make it kid-friendly, but now it would just be chaotic, so it has slipped off our calendar.  It's also just hard when you have to work on the day of the holiday, with all the Christmas craziness going on all around.  This year we're doing even worse than last; I'm sick, Rhys is in New Jersey working, the house is a mess, and dinner will be leftovers.  But still I will light a solitary candle tonight and dream the dark lightened.

Since I don't have my warm, home candlelit circle, I'll cast my intention here.  Please use the comments to cast your own intention.

As the light returns, may it bring with it confidence and clarity for my work in the world, and may I find my worth in every moment of mothering, even the ones where I am not my hopeful vision of myself as a parent, where I fall down and make mistakes.  May the coming light remind me that I bring something of perfect worth and value to the world.  May I find a path that feeds my soul and my family, and may I come closer to the ever-elusive balanced life I seek.

By the will of all, and may it harm none, so mote it be.

What darkness will you ask the coming sun to light?

Photo courtesy of Feebleminds Free Animated Gifs

Blessed be...

Comments

[Gina]

I just sent you a message. Guess I should have read here first. Beautiful ceremony. Beautiful intention.

You know that I pray and this is my current request:
Please help me to make the right educational and medical choices for my son. Please give me patience with him and his sister. Please give me courage to speak up for my son because he cannot.
Thank you.

Hugs Cate and Merry Yuletide.
Gina

[Emma.]

I'll light a candle with the intention of taking better care of myself.

Feel better soon.

[Heidi]

Happy Happy Yule to you! I'm off to burn my Yule log now!

[Lili]

Beautiful entry. My "light" is shining on my anxiety, which has really been out of control lately...and also for my friend E, who is going through a bitter divorce and custody battle, which I fear is going to go the same way my custody battle went.

[Jo]

What wonderful thoughts. And I am tempted to steal your intention. I've just had a friend over and we've been talking about how to earn money doing what we like and being better at recognizing what we are good at. My parenting could use some light sometimes too, though I've got a super cool kid for which I am very grateful (except when that independence + smart = flaming argument with mummy).

Best of the season.

[Brit]

Cate, quite lovely and it just so happened that I am having one of the hardest days that I have had this year and feeling a bit teary eyed about everything. So I'll light a candle tonight and do this ritual myself. I'll also leave a bit of a prayer here

May I grow to understand and to truly internalize the notion that love and light surround us all whether or not we chose to acknowledge or accept it. May I understand that I can be a powerful source of that love and light (as can each of us). I pray that I learn to love myself just as much as I love others (who are sometimes not deserving). Bless.

Thanks Cate, I needed that. Resepect and blessings.

[wenders]

I came across your blog and quite enjoy it. Northampton is one of my favorite places. I look forward to hearing about your Master Class.

[Debra]

May the light bring me to better understanding of the huge and joyous craft of parenting. May it also spur me to new frenzied heights of physical fitness and good eating habits. May it bring us all peace and good will.

[Marla]

"may I find my worth in every moment of mothering, even the ones where I am not my hopeful vision of myself as a parent, where I fall down and make mistakes."

This is beautiful - I followed the link from Raising Weg, and I'm glad I did. I have to think about my intentions...thanks for the inspiration from a beautiful post.