Southern Hemisphere 22nd June 2019
(Northern Hemisphere 21 Dec 2019)
BLESSING FOR THE LONGEST NIGHT
All throughout these months,
as the shadows
have lengthened,
this blessing has been
gathering itself,
making ready,
preparing for
this night.
It has practiced
walking in the dark,
traveling with
its eyes closed,
feeling its way
by memory,
by touch,
by the pull of the moon
even as it wanes.
So believe me
when I tell you
this blessing will
reach you,
even if you
have not light enough
to read it;
it will find you,
even though you cannot
see it coming.
You will know
the moment of its
arriving
by your release
of the breath
you have held
so long;
a loosening
of the clenching
in your hands,
of the clutch
around your heart;
a thinning
of the darkness
that had drawn itself
around you.
This blessing
does not mean
to take the night away,
but it knows
its hidden roads,
knows the resting spots
along the path,
knows what it means
to travel
in the company
of a friend.
So when
this blessing comes,
take its hand.
Get up.
Set out on the road
you cannot see.
This is the night
when you can trust
that any direction
you go,
you will be walking
toward the dawn.
(Source: Jan Richardson, The Cure for Sorrow)
A blessing
A blessing of the dark sky be yours,
of the white moon
and the faraway stars.
A blessing of the cold earth be yours.
A blessing of a warm hearth be yours,
of a lighted fire and a loving home.
A blessing of the Trinity be yours:
Maker,
Storyteller,
Holy Spirit,
this long night
and for evermore.
(Source: ‘This long night’ by Ruth Burgess)
