Happy Groundhog Day! February 2nd is the day when the groundhog emerges from his den and if it’s a sunny day and he sees his shadow, he retreats back to his den and we get another six weeks of winter. But why does he retreat when he sees his shadow? This is a question we could each ask ourselves. We all have shadows, and we’ve all experienced those times when the light shines on us and we see our shadows clearly. It can be startling, embarrassing, uncomfortable. It can make us want to retreat to our dens like the groundhog. What casts the shadows are the protective barriers that guard the most vulnerable parts of our inner selves. In today’s Prayer & Healing Circle, we invite the light into those inner parts, what lies within the protective boundaries and yearns to be seen and understood. We offer permission for all the parts of the self to come together and receive love.