Hope is power. Even a single light can hold back the dark.

Today is Valentine’s Day. It’s the day we focus on love. And yet different people feel very differently about it. It can be especially difficult for people who feel lonely or unloved, or people for whom the day has been marked by pain or travail. So today, instead of focusing on romantic love, we’re going to focus inward and feel love for ourselves.

There are sacred spaces everywhere — churches and temples, stone circles, forests, oceans, even kitchens and one’s own heart. Let’s explore them together.

The moon in winter seems both closer and colder. This is the weekend of the full “Snow” Moon, so today we contemplate the winter moon.

Something magical happens in the early morning hours, even in the dead of winter, when the sun breaks over the horizon, and the world seems to leap with joy at the return of the light. Today we face the sun in the morning and greet the light with exultation.

With the turn of the year comes new visions for the future. We place our hopes in the changing calendar, giving energy to turning year so that it might be better than the previous year. In the past few years, this has taken on special significance for many of us. So today is about hope and newness. What do you want for the new year?

Winter Solstice was last weekend in the northern hemisphere. The nights are long, the days are short and often dark. In the ʞu¡0ɹʞS household, we often light many candles. Not only do they offer hope for the days to come, they offer gentle light and comfort for the moment. So pour a cup of something warm, light a candle or 17, and have an hour of meditation with us.

Mornings this time of year are sometimes crisp and bright, reminding us that the sun will return, bringing new life.

In the dark months, when the leaves have fallen and the world has faded to browns and greys, that’s when the quiet work happens. The trees and plants are resting above ground… but roots deep underground are doing the work of growing, reaching toward new soil and gathering strength for the spring. So, too, should we.

The autumn and winter months are the time to slow down, rest, and recharge before spring. Growth begins underground. Take the time to breathe slowly and move slowly during the cooler months.