Winter Solstice

I love, love, love Winter Solstice... we've had a yule log and good company, as our tradition continues to grow and take shape; each year a celebration of it's own. One year we took part in a Palm Family tradition of the Advent Spiral. Hands down my favorite of all renewal ceremonies.

Melanie laid a spiral out on her basement floor with duct tape and garland. In the center stood "The Source," a lit candle to represent your personal source of "Light Renewal." The circle was opened with prayer. Each participant has their own unlit candle to meditate with as we stand in circle; each person walking the spiral, towards the Light, in silence. Once the Light has been Renewed from the Center, the group begins to share the ways the Light does Shine from this individual. Lit candles are left along the way, to illuminate the Way of others to come. When the ceremony is completed by everyone present, our Collective Light is a powerful reminder of Life Possible. I'm so excited to take part in the Spiral again this year and I'm excited to bring home the inspiration to an East River Solstice celebration, too.
It will be a dark sky, come Solstice... perfect night for a fire and some dancing and bell ringing and sharing of the gifts with the neighborhood critters.