A Gift for the Longest Night

In which I offer some things I know about the Winter Solstice.

It’s already late, I know, and where I live it’s been dark for some time. I hope you can still use this guide to the Winter Solstice, which includes some things I’ve learned about this day and a Tarot spread you might like to use tonight.

I’d also like to offer this poem, which I love. It’s by Susan Cooper, and it’s called The Shortest Day.

So the shortest day came, and the year died,

And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world

Came people singing, dancing,

To drive the dark away.

They lighted candles in the winter trees;

They hung their homes with evergreen,

They burned beseeching fires all night long

To keep the year alive.

And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake

They shouted, revelling.

Through all the frosty ages you can hear them

Echoing, behind us — listen!

All the long echoes sing the same delight

This shortest day

As promise wakens in the sleeping land.

They carol, feast, give thanks,

And dearly love their friends, and hope for peace.

And so do we, here, now,

This year, and every year.

Welcome Yule!