We stagger toward the longest night, some of us shivering, the blare of false cheer in our ears and debt lining our pockets. These are, indeed, another round of “the worst of times.” And yet… In the midst of gloom shine pinpricks of colored light. And even hidden behind clouds, the sun still eclipses the earth by day, offering the promise that –rejoice!– something new is on its way. Everything cycles: The earth rotates on its axis. The tide shushes in and out again. The moon

The nights grow long but the the Winter sun – sharp angles – is still bright upon our faces. Do not forget this. We all walk into the labyrinth of darkness. We all return, born anew, in light. This happens moment to moment. Sometimes year by year. The Divine Twins stalk us, live within our skin, caress our minds, open our hearts. We are the dance of night and day, of frost and sunlight. We are the priestess, mediating every cusp and each turn. Do not forget this. The nights g

Let us shine light upon injustice.Let us shine light upon grief.Let us shine light upon suffering.Let us shine light upon hatred.Let us shine light upon oppression.Let us shine light upon fear. Let us awaken! Let us rise! Let us quicken into power! Let us become brilliant to each other! Let us love. This longest day may we know our beauty. May we honor one another. May we bless this earth. May we shine! All things on earth require the light of the sun. Even those things that

. “I want freedom, the right to self-expression, everybody’s right to beautiful, radiant things.” – Emma Goldman Yesterday morning I dreamt of a coming battle between the rich and poor, and the duplicitous that walk among us. I passed limousines filled with the white and spangled, and one cunning man among their ranks, whose face appeared two times, in different places. Once at the battle ground, we were readied for combat with practice sticks and gloves, and strange masks. Y

Sun. Something in you shines. Never forget this. Some bright thing is given birth. It is in your hands. It burns in your heart. It dawns across the land. Rise, anointed one, become the breaking of this day. Liminal. Gorgeous. New. Now rise up, rise up Ever victorious Lo, the time, lo, the light Comes the sun again Now rise up, rise up Ever victorious Know the time, know the light Comes the sun again – Thea Gilmore, from the song “Sol Invictus” #Gaudete #Solstice #Sun #

Yesterday was blazing hot in San Francisco. By this I mean, close to 90 degrees farenheit, a temperature many of you would scoff at, but in our little water bounded hamlet that rarely gets below 40 or above 80, we notice when we sweat. I was at the soup kitchen, scrubbing the twelve burner stove, which was hot work because of the pilot lights and hot water. Some serving dishes had piled up in the industrial sink near me, so I took a break to attend to those. People were comme

This Solstice, may your life be blessed. May your heart lift like the sun, and may you shine. May your work, and play, and joy, and love, your practice and your rest, be illuminated by the radiance that blesses us from sky. May sun be balanced – like so many things – by wind, and rain, and sweet, dark earth. May your life open, like the petals of a rose. Drink light. Coalesce. Thrive. “We are one with the infinite sun, forever and ever…” #Solstice

picture by T. S. Rogers My compatriot Jason Pitzl-Waters has written an excellent essay on the Winter Holidays, Paganism, and Christmas over at the Washington Post. On one hand, I agree with him: during the dark part of the year, it is natural to wish to bring a little light in, to gather in warmth with friends and family, to celebrate what we have, together. On the other hand… I really wish that Christians would take back Christmas. Christmas, at least how it is celebrated i

“Everything has luminosity,” he said, From the furthest reach of space, to ocean’s bed. Simple heartbreak, war ravaged land, or poisoned sky, Can never long erase light’s outward spread. Will yoked with love can lead us from night’s spire. Generosity will seed the cold with fire. And sing a joyous song to those despairing As stones and shadows form in ancient choir. “Lux gaudete! Nox rota!” Planets fly. The wheel of night gives birth to wish and why. Within each cell