We had a pre-holiday gathering in the lodge tonight. Members of this skoolie family brought their own food and shared the evening meal. We've been doing this about once a week. Less involved than a potluck dinner, and just as much laugher, sharing, and caring. The rule is to leave our shoes outside the door; it's reminiscent of removing my shoes before entering sacred spaces be they have altars or trees.

Tomorrow is Yule. Tonight, in preparation, I will write wishes on thirteen pieces of paper. Each will get folded and placed in a jar for celebrating the 12 Magical Nights of Yule. Beginning December 21, I will pluck a wish from the jar each night. Without reading it, I will say, "This or something better," and burn the paper, trusting the universe will make it happen. On the 12th night (January 2) I will read the last wish out loud and place it on my altar. This is the wish that is mine to make happen.

Tomorrow I will finish my altar and begin a long night at sundown. I'll light candles and incense, meditate for peace, and read my favorite winter poem from "Seasons of the Witch" by Patricia Monaghan.

(Here is a passage: “When winter comes to a woman’s soul, she withdraws into her inner self, her deepest spaces. She refuses all connection, refutes all arguments that she should engage in the world. She may say she is resting, but she is more than resting: She is creating a new universe within herself, examining and breaking old patterns, destroying what should not be revived, feeding in secret what needs to thrive…")

I will sit in sacred space, journaling, reading, maybe singing a pagan carol or two, waiting for the sun's return. No longer will I stay up for the longest night to greet the sunrise. Rather, I will go online to watch it rise at Stonehenge. Coverage beings at 2am EST. Sunrise will be at 3:09am. You can watch it here: https://www.facebook.com/events/293392890356347.

If all goes well, I will sleep for a bit, rise in time to see the sunrise here at 7:23am, then go back to sleep for a long, long time.