It is Winter Solstice Eve 2012.  Depending on who you pal around with, the world ends tomorrow via the Mayan calendar, or it’s five days until Christmas, or tomorrow is the shortest day of the year.  For me, this night, the Eve of Winter Solstice is a magical night.

The tradition began about 2003 or so, at a party of eclectic friends who all believed in God or a Supreme Being, but not “organized religion.”  We had gathered to eat, drink and be merry and exchange gifts.  One of the guys managed to gather us all together in one spot and, as I recall, we linked hands and visualized what we wanted for the coming year.  I’m sure Peace on Earth was a part of it, but this particular ceremony was in its own way a rebirth of ourselves into the coming year.  It was a stunningly successful year for me.  In truth, I don’t recall what I asked for, but throughout that year, I watched it unfold and never forgot.  Each year, I reserve this evening on my calendar and spend it visualizing, gathering energies together and say a prayer for the coming year.  That is what I will be doing tonight.  On my own, with Claire & Dyssa, the lights warm and golden, candles lit and bringing into focus what I would like to accomplish this coming year.  Obviously, I’m not following the Mayan calendar….

I know I have loved this past week, launching this blog.  This will be the fifth entry, but give me time, I’ll fill her up.  I haven’t felt this sense of centered joy in…maybe…ever.  Will it be a success?  Who cares?  It is for me.  I expect to offend everybody at some point within this blog.  And maybe it will reach someone who needed words said just the way I said it on just that day they read it.  Maybe.  This venture of mine, sticking my head up, thinking it is bound to get blown off at some point is to try to keep my word to God that I would leave his world a better place than I found it.