Winter Solstice. Today marks the darkest day of the year – the shortest amount of daylight and the longest night. In most of western culture Winter Solstice is barely noticed in the flurry of preparations for other holidays. Many of our traditions around these other holidays (Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year’s) display the fingerprint of ancient Winter Solstice celebrations from around the Northern Hemisphere. Celebrating the end of the harvest season, decorating with evergreens, gift-giving, gathering and feasting, honoring rest and quiet, and above all lights – candle light and firelight – are all elements of our modern popular holidays, as well as ancient Winter Solstice traditions. Is it not interesting that in the Northern Hemisphere where winter typically means less light and less green, that it has always been celebrated with lights and greenery? Our hearts need the balance – the reminder that it will not always be as it is now. Some years we delight in the darkness – enjoying the quiet and restfulness that it brings. Other years our hearts cling to the lights shining in the darkness and the evergreens decorating our homes as the hope we desperately need that darkness is not the only story. Wherever you find yourself on this Winter Solstice of 2022 we wish you peace and rest in the darkness and joy and hope in the lights and beauty of the season.