Solstice means “sun stands still,” as at the darkest time of the year the pulse of life stops for a timeless moment, before the light can return and renew the energy of people and the Earth.

Traditional cultures around the world imagined that humans played a role in bringing the light back from the darkness. The human soul was once known as “the light found in the darkness.” The rebirth of the sun reflects a potential awakening of the heart and soul of each person. When the light of the soul grows within us, it also contributes light to the world.

In the midst of the anxieties, conflicts and tragedies affecting the world, it is the sense of timelessness and sacredness that we most need. In facing the darkness together we can find and touch the divine spark of life as each soul connects through prayer and song to the living earth and the Soul of the World.