Maybe I am in the minority, but what I love most about this season is the impending darkness.

The Winter Solstice, also called Jule (pronounced “yool”), occurring this year on Sunday, December 21, is the shortest day and longest night of the year. There’s something sweet and precious about the night. It is in the darkness of our lives where we are often forced to discover our inner light, our God light.

Most scientists agree that around 99.9% of the cosmos is composed of dark energy and dark matter that is imperceptible both to the human eye and the telescope. Even in between the electrons, protons, and neutrons composing the molecules inside our bodies, there is space that is as vast as outer space.

I believe this darkness, this mystery substance, is actually the Perpetual Light of God that can only be perceived with our heart and soul. It is from this “void”, the Womb, our Great Primordial Mother, that all light and love is birthed. Christ was born from a womb and rose from a tomb, and so can we.

Cherish the darkness. Give birth to the light. May your holy day season be merry and bright!