detail from painting, acrylic on canvas, Cat Charissage, 2013

Dear Friends,

After writing or imaging yesterday about what or who shows up when we show our soul’s light, today we can ponder the little lights of our candles and the memories illumined by their light.

After reading this poem by Sharon Richards, I’d like you to sit with your journal and image or write about the objects within your home that help you to remember good times from your ancestors as well as ones that help you to remember that we live in solidarity with those who have suffered, or are suffering now.  Always, always, even in the darkest night, we can bring some light.

Remember that old proverb, “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”

 

Grant Us Light  by Sharon Richards

On this growing colder wintry day

as the light lessens

and darkness knocks at my door

I hear my candles whisper their request,

‘Will you grant us light?’

 

Such a simple thing,

the striking of the match against the box,

the flame as it leaps from the tip of the wood,

the smell of fire,

and poof, like magic

they are alight.

 

Lighting my candles I remember:

 

The silver candelabra that belonged to my grandmother,

my ancestors,

though passed from this place

are not so far away,

they watch through the veil

residing in my dreams and memories.

 

The dark green glass my husband gifted me from India,

not all dwell in comfort.

I ask the Divine to bring hope and freedom

to those living in poverty

and oppressed by the caste system.

 

May there be light.

May there be hope.

May there be peace.

 

The three in red on my windowsill,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Gifting your light into the night

you are within and without,

ever present in loving kindness

and in all whom I meet.

 

The Native American blue glass eagle holder,

a gift from my parents,

unaware of my love for this totem,

the presence and blessing of

vision, hope and power.

 

The glass candleholder from Krakow Poland,

for those who suffered

I remember,

and for those who suffer now.

 

May there be light.

May there be hope.

May there be peace.

 

Such a simple thing,

the striking of the match against the box

the flame as it leaps from the tip of the wood

the smell of fire,

and poof, like magic

they are alight.

 

With love,

Cat

Day 49 of a series of daily prompts for written, visual, or art journalling, or just for pondering.  For more background information, see the Intro pagehttps://catcharissage.com/2014/10/29/announcing-sixty-days-of-visual-journalling-prompts/, or this post on visual journalling: https://catcharissage.com/2014/07/12/talking-about-journals/.