“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”
― Edith Sitwell

Grab your cocoa, family, and get cozy.

Veteran Rites invites the community to step in to circle on Wednesday, December 22nd at 4:00 PST for a Winter Celebration Circle.

All are welcome to participate in this uplifting and inspiring Circle of Return where we share stories, songs, and spirit to keep us warm through darker days of winter. The whole community is invited to bring the talents and fire inside of them to share as your gift this holiday season.

All are welcomed here with Love and Honor

Please RSVP in advance and let us know what magic you are bringing to circle (1 to 3 minute offering).

Zoom Link https://bit.ly/3m4TeKp

For Courage by John O’ Donahue

When the light around lessens
And your thoughts darken until
Your body feels fear turn
Cold as a stone inside,

When you find yourself bereft
Of any belief in yourself
And all you unknowingly
Leaned on has fallen,

When one voice commands
Your whole heart,
And it is raven dark,

Steady yourself and see
That it is your own thinking
That darkens your world.

Search and you will find
A diamond-thought of light,

Know that you are not alone,
And that this darkness has purpose;
Gradually it will school your eyes,
To find the one gift your life requires
Hidden within this night-corner.

Invoke the learning
Of every suffering
You have suffered.

Close your eyes.
Gather all the kindling
About your heart
To create one spark
That is all you need
To nourish the flame
That will cleanse the dark
Of its weight of festered fear.

A new confidence will come alive
To urge you towards higher ground
Where your imagination
will learn to engage difficulty
As its most rewarding threshold!

Contact Ryan Mielcarek, Executive Director, at council@veteranrites.org, or Dan Medoff, Community Partnerships, at vetconnect@veteranrites with any questions or requests.