Towards Midwinter Solstice

Midwinter Solstice comes at the darkest time of the year and in ancient times people were uncertain that the light would return. Lighting candles and fires, gathering food and drink and gathering together to prepare for winter and for Yule was part of the yearly cycle of propitiating the gods to be kind and for them to allow the sun to return to the earth.
I celebrate Solstice as a time to collect my thoughts and to consider the year that is almost ending and the year to come. On 21st or 22nd of December I will light candles and do a silent meditation as I look back and consider how to use what I've learned this year and then ask for guidance, healing and energy to move forwards into the new year with optimism and an open heart.

Over the last few days I've also been thinking of things I'd like to do differently next year - my version of new years resolutions:

I'm bringing back the Carol who doesn't take herself too seriously; who dresses up for a laugh, does what she wants to do and when she wants to do it, who joins in with the karaoke, the silly games and the laughter, who has fun and giggles and flirts outrageously.
 I'm allowing back into my life the me who loves long walks in the country or on the beach (shorter now than I would like but better than none at all), the me who can sit in bed with a sandwich, a cup of tea and a pile of newspapers on a Sunday morning and not feel guilty that I'm 'wasting time'.
Welcome back Carol the Cat who walks by herself when she needs to but also shares with others the ups and downs of everyday life.
Welcome to Carol the Psychic and Medium, who's no longer afraid of her gifts,
to Carol the Comic, who makes people laugh at the absurdities she sees in life and in the world.
There are many more aspects of myself that I am welcoming back at the end of  a difficult 2015. I've learned a lot, and surprised myself and others a couple of times this year, by accepting that I don't always know the answers and can't always help. I'm learning to accept that I'm human and I have physical  limitations because I have a physical body that I have to take care of.

 That said, my inner spirit burns bright and my connection with my spirit guides grows stonger as I am shown every day that miracles are happening.
My belief that we are all part of the same cosmic family, connected by our energy and our love, allows me to hope that one day there will be no more war, that nations and individuals will be able to listen to each other and that we can work together for a world that is caring, loving and kind.