Yule Hearth

I had big plans for this Solstice. The house is done (mostly), the second job is finished (mostly), and life has settled down to a dull roar (sort of). I dreamed of getting back to the wonderful solstice parties we used to have, where friends gathered together to light candles and say blessings and to tumble our intentions out into the dark in hopes that we could follow them through the winter and arrive somewhere sunny and bright with dreams flung wide.

My house is almost too perfect for entertaining now (who is this grownup family that lives here?), but tonight it’s just me and Rhys and a blanket and our own little Yule log. In the crush of birthdays and Christmas trees and end-of-semester madness and holiday knitting, this dark night is going to be a quiet and relatively uncomplicated one.

I love the gathering and the bringing together of light and of dreams, but right now, a quiet evening warming our home is the very light I think I need. I’m realizing that the creeping night of winter has had its own intention in my life, reminding me to invest my heart in my home and family, to feed the fires. This growing night’s cold and darkness has kept me tending the fire, keeping a warm glow around our very center, and before looking toward the earth’s coming light, I’m going to coax bright flames from this little hearth and warm my hands and feet before it, and forget the chill outside.

Whatever hearth warms your life this solstice eve, may its flame burn brightly and may it keep you through the long dark night.

Blessed be!

Comments

[M-H]

Or the short darkish night in my case! :) Thanks Cate.

[The Feminist Mafia]

Welcome Yule!
And thanks for your always perfect holiday sentiments.

[Jody]

Blessed Be, Cate. Enjoy the home fires.

[Carole]

I've been thinking about you all day because I know how much you treasure the return of the light.

[Lucia]

Right back atcha, Cate! A joyous and peaceful Yule to you, and may the return of the light bring a little more peace to us all.

[Kathy]

A lovely post, Cate. Blessings to you.

[Laurie]

Beautifully phrased, and written. My solstice was an early bedtime after an exhausting day, no lunch, and no sense of what the day really was. Well, not entirely. When the holiday chocolate box showed up at the desk, despite my best intentions, I COULD NOT stop myself from sampling. I beat myself up all day for the lack of self control, until I realized what day it was. How could I even hope to fight the milennia of human genetics that screamed at me to BULK UP FOR WINTER or DIE. Perhaps today I will be more mindful of why, and be able to not.

[colleen]

Happy Solstice to you and the gang, too!

[Rachel H]

Blessings to you and yours.

[Kat with a K]

Thanks for the lovely post, as always. Hope you had a wonderful evening.

[amysue]

So beautiful and what a lovely way to journey from the dark to the light. I've been basking in the glow of my children's faces and the (6) menorahs (all on the runner on our kitchen table). Sometimes family is just what we need.

[Deborah C.]

Blessed be and Happy Solstice! What a beautiful way to celebrate. Joy and peace for you and yours in the coming year.

[Linda]

May you and your family have a wonderful holiday. What could be better than being in front of a warm fire in your new living room with your loved ones. That is bliss.

[margene]

Sounds like you had a lovely Solstice day. May you enjoy the return of the light and the holiday spirit through the new year. Happiness to you and yours.

[Kathode Ray Tube]

Happy Solstice to you and yours. Thanks for a lovely post and inspiring words.

[Norma]

Warmth and light to you and yours, Dear Cate.

I am still searching for the light at the end of the tunnel. It will be here soon. No worries.

Hugs.

[Marcy]

After all the stuff you two have been through recently, an evening spent cuddling under a blanket in front of a Yule log sounds just about perfect. A merry Yule to you all.

[Manise]

Happy Solstice Cate! Glad you had a quiet and relaxing evening in front of the fire.

[claudia]

Damn. I totally missed it. Ah well, Happy belated Solstice!

[lanea]

We had a Solstice of forced quiet this year, and it was pretty nice. Enjoy the lengthening days.

[Justine]

I had the blessings, a moment of peace even when the night ends - Dar Williams

to longer days and a little more light, blessings to all of you - and a little calm energy now that the hustle and bustle has died down.

[lisa]

I found you by chance...looking at a list of new england blogs (Brandspankinnew computer and my favorites haven't been transferred), and your blog description made me LOL...and snicker...and just overall be generally amused. I'll add you in (the first!). I am SO glad for the longer days...even though it's been cloudy and they days still seem very dark, I know the days truly are longer. I, too, have focused a bit more on home and hearth these last couple months. It's a good thing.