There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in. - Leonard Cohen

In the darkness, we find light.

Wintertime in the prairies is a long haul. The days are short, the nights are long and the temperature drops to a rather harsh degree. Despite the extremity of the season, there is a delicate kind of beauty to be found within the dark. Holding space for these delicate moments is a valuable way to alleviate the otherwise heavy blanket of winter:

Sunrises light up the white winter canvas with such flair that you’d be hardpressed to find a paint palette to do it justice. (Plus, at this time of year they happen at a time where most of us are up and able to bear witness to the sun’s daily greeting!)

Frost appears on our eyelashes, lining our eyes with a beautiful wintry lens; a mirror image of the branches on nearby trees.

The cold air is calm and quiet with a scent so fresh, the urge to breathe it all in feels irresistible.

A wintry kind of optimism descends upon the land, unique to this time of year; much of the wildlife slumbers while the remaining creatures move slowly through their days, conserving energy, making the most of every moment.

Within the darkness of the season, we really do turn toward the light.

The solstice itself represents a turning point; from this moment on, the days are getting longer day by day. Though today is quite literally the darkest day of the year, the following day will bring with it a bit more light. And so will the following day and the day after that, and so on.

The term solstice comes from the Latin word solstitium which, roughly translated, means “the sun stands still”. On this day, the sun reaches its southern-most position that can be seen from the earth. From our perspective, it appears to stand still at the Tropic of Capricorn only to then reverse its direction. We witness, quite literally, a turning point from where we’re sitting.

We encourage you, on this Winter Solstice, to take a moment for yourself. To find your own sense of balance between darkness and light. It is our hope that this sense of balance is able to ground you throughout the busyness of the season and moves with you into the new year that is just around the corner.

Happy Winter Solstice, everyone. From us, to you.