Today is the winter solstice. It is the shortest day of the year. It is also the first days of Hanukah.

At this time of the year there is a sense of rebirth (birth for Christians). Beginning today there is a turning in the annual cycle so that there is an increase in light on the earth.

I found it appropriate that this morning I found a video of the Great Invocation

This is a long version of the invocation based on notes by Alice Bailey. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Bailey). I have found her ideas inspiring but often through the writing of others. At any rate, I learned the invocation several years ago. There is a somewhat shorter version that I learned. (http://www.lucistrust.org/en/service_activities/the_great_invocation__1)

At the time of this winter solstice, the time when the sun begins to shed more light, a time symbolizing the birth of the new, it is appropriate that we create intentions for the coming months. What will I create using this light and love that I feel flowing to me?

Friday night, 12/19

The following was written several days ago. I began to write this on Monday night. My mother is much improved tonight.

Monday 12/15 , in an email to my sister Sarah I wrote:

Hi, I just wanted to share this. I learned this prayer many years ago. It is part of a sufi (Islam) dance that we did at Unity villiage the first time I went there in 1986. Since then it has been used in several special retreats that i have participated in. Sometimes I just like to sing this to myself for someone, tonight for Mamma.

The words are:

May the blessings of God rest upon you

May God’s peace abide with you

May God’s presence illuminate your heart

Now and forevermore.

Here is a youtube video of some people singing it:

love ya,

Tuesday, December 16,

Twenty-four hours ago my sisters and I felt that our mother may be dying. In fact, we learned today that she was having congestive heart failure. This was happening in the hospital and she is undergoing treatment and seems to be doing better today. Twenty-four hours ago we were preparing ourselves for the possibility that this may be the end for our mother.

In our own way each of us is as prepared for this as we could be in this situation. We agree that we do not want to see her suffer. Thankfully, today she was sitting up in a chair and seemed more responsive.

After the telephone calls I tried to calm myself. I began to think of the sufi song from above. “May the blessings of God rest upon you.”

When someone near to me is in trouble I like to think of affirmations for them. When my father was dying from cancer in 1995 I learned the benediction:

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

“The lord bless you and keep you,the lord make his face to shine upon you, the lord give you peace.” This was my short version.

A few weeks before my father died I remembered this passage from my childhood. I asked a friend where this was from and she told me the reference in Old Testament Book of Numbers. From that time until after his death this was my prayer for my father.

When we are in deep need I think it is natural to want to reach out from the heart. When I looked online for the above video I was searching for something to help me focus on what was mine to do during this time. Just as I wanted to experience the energy of someone singing this song last night, I wanted to send that energy on to my mother.

Friday, 12/19 (again)

I will write more about my mother in the coming days. At the moment she seems to be doing very well considering that she has recently experienced some very serious medical conditions. I wanted to share with you what I have experienced in the past few days. I love to sing the “May the Blessings of God Rest Upon You” song, sometimes under my breath as I walk to work. This has been my prayer this week.