Going into the future is like going into the dark.

That was the theme of our family's solstice ritual this year, as the nine of us (grandparents, parents, four kids and one cool step-uncle) settled down into a circle in the darkness of the living room. It was several hours after sunset on the longest night of the year, and the kids were antsy with excitement over unopened presents. I struck a single match, and began to weave our sacred space.

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Aine, I'm so glad you enjoyed the piece – and of course you may share a link to it on your own blog!

2012 Is going to be a bit scary for me, too. My husband and I have a cross-country move coming up in less than two weeks, which will take us away from his kids for long periods of time (though, if all goes well, it will also mean getting to see them more during the times we do have with them). It also means me moving away from Pennsylvania, where I've always lived and where almost all of my family and relatives live, for the very first time. That's one of the reasons we decided to center our solstice ritual on the uncertainty of the future and learning how to find hope and guidance in the dark. Both my family and my husband's children participated, and there are going to be big, somewhat scary changes coming for all of us over the next year. But we all share the memory of our solstice ritual (and the candles that we blessed together, so that whenever we need guidance or hope, we can light our candle and remember and reconnect). :)