A Zenecist Solstice 2025 | The Moment of Magic by Victoria Safford | Hosted by Tom Lanen

In this emotional quick recording, host Tom Lanen, accompanied by his friend Thich, shares a powerful message of gratitude and resilience. Reflecting on a past challenging holiday season, Tom recounts how a poem read by Reverend Jason at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Springfield, MA uplifted his spirits. He introduces 'The Moment of Magic' by Victoria Safford, a poem that speaks of finding light and magic in the darkest of times. Tom encourages listeners to share the poem and its uplifting message with others who may be going through their own dark times. He wishes everyone a joyful and love-filled holiday season. Happy Solstice! The Moment of Magic by Victoria Safford Now is the moment of magic, when the whole, round earth turns again toward the sun, and here’s a blessing: the days will be longer and brighter now,even before the winter settles in to chill us. Now is the moment of magic, when people beaten down and broken ,with nothing left but misery and candles and their own clear voices ,kindle tiny lights and whisper secret music, and here’s a blessing: the dark universe is suddenly illuminated by the lights of the menorah, suddenly ablaze with the lights of the kinara, and the whole world is glad and loud with winter singing. Now is the moment of magic, when an eastern star beckons the ignorant toward an unknown goal, and here’s a blessing: they find nothing in the end but an ordinary baby, born at midnight, born in poverty, and the baby’s cry, like bells ringing, makes people wonder as they wander through their lives, what human love might really look like, sound like, feel like. Now is the moment of magic, and here’s a blessing: we already possess all the gifts we need; we’ve already received our presents:ears to hear music, eyes to behold lights, hands to build true peace on earth and to hold each other tight in love.