Winter Solstice/Yule

[Windsmith]

(Not to be confused with airmist's Winter Solstice Suggestions (http://mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=175002) thread.)

So, what are people scheming for the Winter Solstice (or, as I like to say when I'm feeling particularly pretentious, the Hibernal Solstice)? Ritual plans? Family gatherings? Special holiday magic of that special Pantheist sort?

Share it here!

[Windsmith]

I'll start, shall I? ;)

I am sooooo stoked. My wife not only agreed to my slumber party ritual, she's excited about it!

One thing that bothers me about Winter Solstice rituals that I've been to before is that they never give the dark its due. The ritual focuses on "the light is coming back" and "the light is triumphing over the dark" and doesn't acknowledge that, for today and tonight, the dark is still kicking the light's butt. Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year, not just "the night before the amount of daylight starts getting longer."

I wanted a ritual that would honor and celebrate the darkness, as well as welcome back the light. I got the idea for a slumber party ritual. We will be awake from sunset until sunrise. There will be traditional slumber party activities, like popcorn and movies and gossip, and there will be traditional ritual activities, like divination and spellwork, honoring and working with the power of darkness. At sunrise we'll go out into the yard (or to one of the places where local Pagans gather every year for such things) and sing up the sun. Then we'll collapse in our beds and sleep for the rest of the weekend.

I may need to buy special pajamas for this.

[RavenStars]

I'm not sure I belong here but by an emotional definition I am inclined, so here's what I'm thinking. I'd like to greet the sun but need to decide whether I'll stay up all night or not. I like the idea of acknowledging the darkness, the longest night of the year and all. It's just what I do that I'm really not sure about. Maybe I can structure some art work or art exercises. Maybe some black and white work :D Windsmith you mention spell work, is this usual working or will you have work specific to the darkness? And if you don't mind me asking, what work might this be? I guess I could do some surfing and find darkness associations and correspondences, and see what gets triggered there. I don't know. I don't expect a book or anything, but I'd love to hear some ideas for ritual of some sort.

[Windsmith]

I'm not sure I belong here but by an emotional definition I am inclinedHey, good enough for me - if you feel you belong here, then chances are good that you do!

I'd like to greet the sun but need to decide whether I'll stay up all night or not.Staying up all night is by no means a requirement. Here in my area there's a group that's been singing up the sun every year for over a decade. They gather on one of the bridges over the Mississippi just before sunrise and sing their hearts out. It's a beautiful, effective, and magical beginning to the day. And every last one of them gets their normal amount of sleep the night before.

Maybe some black and white work :DYou might be interested in a recipe that cheddarsox posted in our Autumnal Equinox thread for Black and White cookies (http://mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=3271994&postcount=23). I don't know if you're into kitchen witchery at all, but that right there is some fun - and tasty - black and white work.

Windsmith you mention spell work, is this usual working or will you have work specific to the darkness? And if you don't mind me asking, what work might this be?Wow. I'm flattered that you think enough of me to think I have it that well planned out! :lol: What we do will depend on a lot of factors: what's come up in our lives recently that needs dealing with; our general mood; our specific intent for the ritual. My wife and I are usually improvisational magicians; other than a general idea like "make a talisman" or "write something down and then burn it," we don't plan spell work in advance. I do anticipate working the darkness into the spell in some way, if only in terms of carrying the lessons of the dark time of the year forward with us as the sun returns. Exactly how we'll do that is entirely up in the air - especially in a ritual that's going to last all night.

I don't expect a book or anything, but I'd love to hear some ideas for ritual of some sort.That's a big part of what these threads are about: gathering these ideas together so we have a free-form "book" of sorts to draw from in the future.

[cheddarsox]

winter Solstice is one of my most favorite Holy Days...but the job I am working is totally wreaking chaos on my plans...10 hour days, 6 or 7 days a week till Christmas...sigh

So whether or not I'll be able to do much...I don't know. But here's what I've done in other years

Solstice walk

I created a number of "stations" around the property lit by candles, each featured a different type of greenery, and some characteristics of them. It was a meditative walk...to carry a candle, go from station to station, read the characteristics and think about how we are like that greenery.

Labyrinth with similar stations for indoor and smaller properties. A very nice labyrinth can be made on a floor or carpet with masking tape.

A gathering to make gingerbread Solstice lanterns. Like gingerbread houses, but no roof, and with cut outs in the walls. Yes, a candle can be burned in them and they are totally beautiful surrounded by holiday greenery.

A gathering to make greenery candle holders. Begin with a trip to the thrift shop...buy some glass bowls, or whatever...go to the craft or floral store and buy "Oasis" water holding foam. Gather greens. Let everyone create their own arrangement in their bowl, mug, whatever...and give everyone a tall candle for their arrangement.

ritual which included sitting on the ground in the dark and cold with just a candle, thinking about the aspects of life on this planet. Think about the importance of the sun. ( I do a reading about it)Then, blowing out the candle and sitting in the dark for 12 minutes (the amount of time it takes for the sunlight to travel from sun to earth) Then lighting a candle, and passing a bowl of warm wassail ( I make some kick ass wassail) around the circle for everyone to drink from if they are willing to commit to another trip around the sun.

Another ritual is to get a bunch of canning jars (thrift shop again) and some metallic wrapping paper and cut out shapes and make solstice lanterns. Put a candle stuck in clay or firmly in aluminum foil in each lantern. Have a procession to the fire pit (or fireplace, or grill, or what have you) and when you get there, do a reading or story about the solstice...and what community means in this cold, dark time of year, how we huddle together and depend on one another. A story I like for this is "The Mitten", about a bunch of animals that crawl inside a mitten for warmth.

We also sing Solstice Carols...like "This little light of mine" Solstice version

this little light of mine...I'm gonna let it shine (etc)

when the world is dark and cold...I'm gonna let it shine (etc)

if your candle flame goes out, I'm gonna lend you mine (etc)

Also...I always do a Solstice Altar, with lots of gold suns and lights, and crystals for reflecting the lights, etc. It is very pretty.

And we have a soup and bread supper.

[Windsmith]

Cheddar, this is amazing. I'm going to steal, like, a million percent of these ideas.

( I make some kick ass wassail)Hah! This made my afternoon. But now I want some of your kick-ass wassail. So now I'm sad. ;)

A story I like for this is "The Mitten", about a bunch of animals that crawl inside a mitten for warmth.Seconded. This is one of the best winter-time stories.

[airmist]

winter Solstice is one of my most favorite Holy Days... here's what I've done in other years

Solstice walk

These rituals are really wonderful.

[Lunacie]

I really like the idea of sitting in the dark (how long it takes the sunlight to reach the earth) and we're planning a version of that ourselves, but I have a question.

How do you know when 12 minutes is up when you're sitting in the dark?

[cheddarsox]

I really like the idea of sitting in the dark (how long it takes the sunlight to reach the earth) and we're planning a version of that ourselves, but I have a question.

How do you know when 12 minutes is up when you're sitting in the dark?

I brought a timer! not very "romantic"...but it works

[Lunacie]

I brought a timer! not very "romantic"...but it works

One of the wind up ones that "ticks" (rather distracting to me) or one of the ones with a tiny battery that buzzes very loudly when the time is up? I think I might use the alarm on my cell phone and have it play a little tune after 12 minutes.

The gal who is leading our Yule Ritual this year wants us to file into the sacred space (the living room) in the dark (the altar will be set up and the space will be swept ahead of time). Then we will sit there in the dark while she reads a guided meditation about the goddess being all alone since her partner sacrificed himself in the harvest, but then she goes into labor and gives birth to a whole new offspring/partner. But I don't know how she's planning on reading it in the dark? :hahugh:

[lonewhitewolf]

On the 21st I will be taking off from work. I plan to light candles, burn incense and maybe do a small ritual. Usually my friend has a ritual at her house. She hasn't let me know if she's doing that this year.

[RavenStars]

I've been considering a personification of the dark and light. But I'm not sure how to write an invocation of something that's already there! But I the point is to increase awareness and invocations are what I'm used to. I have had good experiences taking on a role in a myth I just haven't found one that I like yet. They are all written around snow, frost, cold... I live in California and today, at least, it's raining. Just some ideas wandering around my head. It's funny that you write about the darkness meditation, cheddarsox! I found a version by Nancy Brady that also includes saying aloud the things lost during the year and extinguishing a candle after each person is done. I'm not sure I like this but I though I'd share it. Anyway, it's very nice to hear what people have to say! I'll continue my research....

[cheddarsox]

One of the wind up ones that "ticks" (rather distracting to me) or one of the ones with a tiny battery that buzzes very loudly when the time is up? I think I might use the alarm on my cell phone and have it play a little tune after 12 minutes.


I have an electronic timer that is silent except for a beep beep beep when time is up. Cell phone sounds like a nice idea too. The timer cost 3.95.

someone mentioned taking the day off work. I'd love to! I do that for the Days of the Dead, but the business I'm in...Christmas Rush and all, it is just not possible. This is the first year in a very long time that I don't have a let up of work at the holiday...and I am a little sad that it will get lost in the rush.

My daughter, seeing how stressed and absent I've been lately, has been worried too. "We're going to do something for Solstice aren't we?" she asked the other day.

Something...I said...something.

What I have learned...is that when I am not able to create something...the universe has always stepped in and provided...something. So...I will not stress too much, but will keep my eyes and hands open. The day will not go unobserved, and we will not go unchanged.

cheddar

[Saggitario]

I live in California and today, at least, it's raining. I'm in Northern CA too. At first I was a little miffed at the rain, but it was nice to be able to fall asleep to last night.


As for Solstice/Yule; I'm planning a family connection ritual. Well, two, actually; one by myself in private, and the other (more secular) one for my family. Our family is spread out across the country, so I want to do something to remind everyone that we're still connected, even when we're physically apart.

I'm not really sure what all is going to be involved at this point, but the universe is sending me inspiration. The private ritual will have a knot magic component, where I'll tie 5 lengths of rope together (for the 5 people in my immediate family) in a circle. I'll also be charging 5 identical necklaces with the intent of deepening connectivity and opening communication.

After that, I'll present the necklaces to my family on Christmas, telling each person the qualities that I admire about them, and how much I love them.

At least, that's my plan. Life has a funny way of changing plans, though.

[RavenStars]

What a wonderful idea for ritual! I've been doing a bit of jewelry making. I just might swipe your idea... thanks!

[Windsmith]

But I'm not sure how to write an invocation of something that's already there!Heh. Isn't every invocation an invocation of something that's already there? One thing that helped me immensely was to stop thinking of them as "invocations" and to think of them instead as "acknowledgments." Dark and light are always with you, but in this ritual you want to honor them, so you want them to really "stand forward," as it were, and be fully present with you and in you during this time. That is, you want to be fully aware of and present in them. If you think of it more like an introductory speech for the guest of honor at a party than a welcome to someone/something not currently present, that might work better.

[Lunacie]

Heh. Isn't every invocation an invocation of something that's already there? One thing that helped me immensely was to stop thinking of them as "invocations" and to think of them instead as "acknowledgments." Dark and light are always with you, but in this ritual you want to honor them, so you want them to really "stand forward," as it were, and be fully present with you and in you during this time. That is, you want to be fully aware of and present in them. If you think of it more like an introductory speech for the guest of honor at a party than a welcome to someone/something not currently present, that might work better.

Guests of honor, that's how I think of invoking the elements or the gods. Just had an "aha" moment last month in planning our Snow Moon Esbat. I'm used to seeing the chalice passed around the circle and leaving a little bit in the bottom, also to passing around the plate leaving a cake or two. But no, I realized, when you have company don't you serve them first? You don't save the leftovers for them. So I took along a small ceramic chalice and a small plate and put the offerings of wine and cakes on those before passing the large chalice and plate around for everyone else. Then after the final blessing we took them to a far corner of the garden and poured them/scattered them there.

[cheddarsox]

Solstice falls on Dec 22 this year, No?

[Lunacie]

Yes, it does. It's generally on the 21st, so its really neat that it's on Saturday the 22nd since our group has several folks who work and we must get together on the Saturday evening nearest the Sabbat. WOOT!

[peggyelizabeth]

in the US central time zone I believe the very moment (scientifically speaking) is just after midnight on the 22nd.

[Windsmith]

in the US central time zone I believe the very moment (scientifically speaking) is just after midnight on the 22nd.No, wait, I'm still confused (my wife and I have been going back and forth on this all month). Is it midnight on the 22nd (when it's just started being the 22nd) or midnight just after the 22nd (when it's just started being the 23rd)?

[cheddarsox]

in the early wee hours of the 22nd, about 1 AM eastern standard time.

the drought hasn't broken, so I doubt we will manage a bonfire.

[peggyelizabeth]

yeah, what cheddar said.
12:something am on the 22nd

[RavenStars]

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0933521.html

Winter Solstice
Dec. 22, 1:08 A.M. EST (06:08 UT*)

[RavenStars]

Thank you for your comments on invocations. That really helped. Sort of an acknowledgment of what already is, not a request/plea to bring something to me. I was reading elsewhere about the physicality of ritual, and am looking forward to the darkness/light candle working. If I wasn't solitary, I think it would be fun to do a trust walk or some other blind fold game.

Anyway, as for offerings, I was taught to set aside the potions first, but have never been happy with sending them on their way in the toilet (no there isn't any place to bury or scatter)... but it just occured to me to make my offering in bird seed. I'll have to do some research and find something special for the wild finches that come to my feeders.

[cheddarsox]

Thank you for your comments on invocations. That really helped. Sort of an acknowledgment of what already is, not a request/plea to bring something to me. I was reading elsewhere about the physicality of ritual, and am looking forward to the darkness/light candle working. If I wasn't solitary, I think it would be fun to do a trust walk or some other blind fold game.

Anyway, as for offerings, I was taught to set aside the potions first, but have never been happy with sending them on their way in the toilet (no there isn't any place to bury or scatter)... but it just occured to me to make my offering in bird seed. I'll have to do some research and find something special for the wild finches that come to my feeders.

Well, here are a couple of thoughts for those that don't have a handy place to leave offerings or ablutions...first, the toilet drains into somewhere, where something will use what you offer. I understand though, that the symbolism is less than poetic..so here are some other options...

Sponsor a child through a foundation who's work you find worthy of support, adopt a critter at a zoo, or an exhibit at a museum...that would be a regular monthly offering...or sponsor PBS...or somthing else that a regular donation to would show your connectedness, etc.

Take time to water a plant in a forgotten corner of an office, or to smile and make eye contact with at least one person a day that looks like they could use it...put two quarters in the vending machine after you receive your goodies as a nice surprise for the next person.

I'm just offering some ideas to get us thinking outside the box...something will come to you on your own, you'll see a genuine place in your life, where you input will make a difference, and it will become your offering altar.

Just keep your eyes open...or you may find out you are already "giving" and just hadn't identified it yet.

Last week, I was feeling really down and isolated. I've recently been switched to a new dept at work, and have been having all my breaks alone. But the other day someone invited me to sit with them. It made a huge difference in my week. I don't know if they realized it, or even thought about it, but it mattered a whole lot to me.

[Lunacie]

If you leave an offering on an altar, by the next day the gods (or other spirits) will have taken the Spirit of the offering and left the physical shell. You can tell the difference with a little taste. Then what you're flushing is just the leftovers, eh.

But I like the idea of the offering being birdseed. That's what we're doing for our Yule Ritual this weekend. The Priest/God avatar will hold a basket and we will all give him "birthday gifts" of corn or seeds and stuff like that, which will set on the altar overnight and be taken out into the Grove in the morning and scattered for all the God's little critters to enjoy.

[peggyelizabeth]

last night I had an idea for a really cool group solstice ritual. someday I'd like to have a yard big enough to build a labyrinth, but for now this is just an idea that I can share.

each person starts to walk the labyrinth with a lighted candle, when she reaches the center she extinguishes the candle and then walks out with the darkened one and takes a place around the lab. to create a circle of darkness where once there was light.

[RavenStars]

What great ideas for offerings! Thank you. I've got some thinking to do on this one. I really only can donate to one charity and I've chosen the county library, but I never thought of doing a monthly offering that way.

I like the idea of your circle of darkness. I decided to start with a single candle, go to darkness by blowing it out, blindfolding myself since my ritual space isn't very dark, then doing some sensory exercises with touch and taste, then lighting all the candles I own! So I'm going from darkness to light. Then I'm going to do some black and white collage work before I feast. Oh, I'm getting a black and white flower arrangement! Cool, huh?

This is going to be a great holiday!

[cheddarsox]

Here is a pic of our Solstice altar.




http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a122/RavensxCry/100_1770.jpg

[Brigid Rowan]

Ooooooooooohhh, gorgeous, Cheddarsox!

[peggyelizabeth]

cheddar, that's so pretty!

[1111]

WOW!

:boing:

[cheddarsox]

Thanks guys...Winter Solstice is one of my favorite Holy Days. It comes when I most need it, and I do so very dearly love the sun.

cheddar

[Lunacie]

Here is a pic of our Solstice altar.




http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a122/RavensxCry/100_1770.jpg

Oooh! The Return of the Light!

Our Winter Solstice celebration was postponed because of a blizzard. Wah.

[lonewhitewolf]

Cheddarsox, your altar is beautiful. :)

[RavenStars]

I just can't resist. I love building altars! I didn't take any night pictures for some reason... brain fart, I guess. I had plenty of candles but the flower arrangement was so huge that it eclipsed having too many. The silver plate in the background represents the sun and the leaves are it's rays. The black netting with the sparklies is deep space filled with stars. I just love it!

[cheddarsox]

Lovely! Thanks for sharing.

So often people think all pantheists are "cold" and just sit around talking logic and science...so it is neat to see the passion and beauty that we are inspired by and to.

[Lunacie]

I love the idea of using the sparkly netting and the symbology of the plate. I may adapt those ideas to my own altar. Lovely.

[Windsmith]

Cheddar and RavenStars, thank you for sharing those pictures with us. Those are truly beautiful and inspiring altars.

My wife and I did manage to stay up all night, but we're not going to do it again in future years. It didn't go so well for us. We're intelligent women; surely we can come up with a way to honor the longest night without being awake for all of it.

We did manage to make it into the local newspaper. That was a strange and unexpected twist to the evening for us, but they were doing a photo essay on Winter Solstice celebrations, and through a series of events so convoluted only a journalist would ever think of them, the photographer found us and asked if he could take some pictures of our ritual. Explaining that we were just going to be sitting around in our pjs didn't dissuade him at all, so in the end we invited him to come get some pictures of us walking the snow labyrinth we built in our backyard. One of the pictures was on the front page of the Metro section. And there's a slideshow on their website of all the rituals and celebrations he went to (http://www.startribune.com/slideshows/12774467.html)(we haven't looked at it yet, but other people who have tell us it's cool).

So a strange night all around. Very...enlightening for us. But we'll definitely come up with something different for next year.

[Lunacie]

The slideshow was very cool.

*le sigh* Our Yule ritual was postponed because of a blizzard. http://www.mysticwicks.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

[cheddarsox]

that slideshow is really neat. I feel fuller inside, knowing that all over, people were observing the day/night...in whatever style moved them. That we are together in that, and that I am part of that primal unity.

Snow labyrinth! How amazing! and beautiful.

I live in warmer climes these past few decades and snow is a novelty that happens every year or two...I have to paint my labyrinths onto the lawn.

I am no longer of an age where pulling an all nighter...even for a good intention, is feasible. As much as I adore the sun...I would be in no shape to greet it after a night like that, but we learn so much from the experiences of ritual...so much about ourselves and our relationship with the universe.

Solstice day here, was overcast, but a very comfortable temperature. After our evening meal of soup and bread, I did the "Solstice Walk"...which takes me on a path around our vast and bushy yard, stopping at various points to contemplate the characteristics of various plant life which grows around the yard.

In years when I have a big group ritual, I often set up plant stations, with some characteristics "spelled out" to get people started, but this year, I just sort of "went with it".

And it was, as holy day observances so often are, full of suprises. I was drawn to stop at plants I had overlooked before, and to have fresh insights and lessons taught me by some that I thought I knew. I really got some needed insights into life, myself and relationship.

I realized how, over the past few months, I've become alienated from myself, and the larger "world"...and I don't think it is coincidence that these things happen concurrently. When I lose touch with what is going on "out there"...I get all skewed about what is going on inside myself as well.

I recently added two pet tortoises to my family. And I think it is neat that they are fellow sun worshippers. One, an adult male...basically has been in hibernation since I brought him home. The other, only a few months old, has remained active.

I go out into the yard each day after work to pick weeds to feed my little tortoise, and that is so often the highlight of my day. Those few minutes in the sun, breathing the fresh air, stooping toward the earth, noticing how even in winter, the variety of plants changes weekly.

New things are popping up all over the place, for many, this is their season to grow, when the grass is dormant, when the sun is not brutal..this is when they spring up and even flower, in a small, ground hugging manner.
And it is exciting, and hopeful.

So my tortoises are good therapy for me...both in what they require of me, and in their different approaches to winter...digging in and sleeping, or staying active and foraging...and benefitting from the suprising gifts that even this season has to offer.

I put a little tortoise statue above the Solstice altar, along with chicken and rooster statues...for they are true greeters of the sun.

I always look forward to the Solstice, but this year I was fearful...because I have been very down, because we weren't having a group ritual, because I was afraid that if I didn't make the Solstice "happen"...it wouldn't be what I needed it to be. But, thankfully, that is not the case. An open heart is enough, and the universe takes care of the rest. I walked around the yard in the dark, and the plants provided the lessons, and the stone provided a place to rest, and the moon behind the veil of clouds provided light to find my way. And again, I was reminded, and comforted by the fact that I don't have to add anything, I just have to be open to What Is.

And I feel better than I have in months.

[equinox2]

Our Solstice last Saturday was great!

The night before we did our last candle in our darkening candles ceremony, and did a short ceremony in the stone circle, with a big (& shortlived - just lighter fluid) fire in the middle. We talked about the dark, and how this was the longest night. Then we had our Yule log (ice cream log from baskin robins with candles). The kids were pretty excited knowing it was the night before Solstice, but they did get to bed OK.

With the clouds we opted to go "see" the sunrise at a local hill instead of lake Huron, and 8 minutes before the sunrise we talked about a photon leaving the sun, then around 2 minutes later, about it passing the orbit of mercury, then at around 5 minutes, Venus, and we cheered when it hit the cloudtops at the sunrise time. It was cloudy and foggy, but we could see a deer in the valley below. Then we came back & did the stockings and presents (our middle kid got his first bike), and played with all that. My wife had set up a cool "figure out the mystery person" thing to get the stockings. The whole day was a blast. :abanana:


Enough for now. I've got work to get done today. Have a fun day-

Equinox

[cheddarsox]

Our Solstice last Saturday was great!

The night before we did our last candle in our darkening candles ceremony, and did a short ceremony in the stone circle, with a big (& shortlived - just lighter fluid) fire in the middle. We talked about the dark, and how this was the longest night. Then we had our Yule log (ice cream log from baskin robins with candles). The kids were pretty excited knowing it was the night before Solstice, but they did get to bed OK.

With the clouds we opted to go "see" the sunrise at a local hill instead of lake Huron, and 8 minutes before the sunrise we talked about a photon leaving the sun, then around 2 minutes later, about it passing the orbit of mercury, then at around 5 minutes, Venus, and we cheered when it hit the cloudtops at the sunrise time. It was cloudy and foggy, but we could see a deer in the valley below. Then we came back & did the stockings and presents (our middle kid got his first bike), and played with all that. My wife had set up a cool "figure out the mystery person" thing to get the stockings. The whole day was a blast. :abanana:


Enough for now. I've got work to get done today. Have a fun day-

Equinox

good to see you back round these parts! And I love the darkening candles thing, especially with kids...and the keeping track of the photons on their journey...wonderful!

I wish you'd of been MY dad! LOL.

[peggyelizabeth]

Hearing & seeing what everyone here did made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
I know I tell you all this about every 6-7 weeks, but you're all amazing and I feel blessed to have you.

[Morgaine_cla]

Greetings,

I've been thinking about the toilet as a place of offering and actually, many native and/or early spiritualities honoured two places within the dwelling as of the most importance: the hearth, and -- you guessed it, the toilet. The place of "removal of waste" was seen as a portal to the Underworld and thus sacred to those Gods. In many ancient cultures, the eldest woman in the family was responsible to maintain "ancestor" altars in each of these places, and to make full report on the doings of all family members. Offerings were made and blessings requested as part of common daily household spiritual practices which were known from Western Europe to Japan.

It is easy to forget that the ancients did not share the modern horror of mortality. They tacitly accepted many things that we today spend a lot of time and money trying to obscure. The needs of the body, the follies of youth and the indignities of old age... So actually, your suggestion would likely have been considered perfectly poetic to the ancients.

Thank you for sharing!

Blessings,
Morgaine

[Lunacie]

I really haven't studied about ancestor altars, and a quick google didn't give me any results like you've shared. Can you share more information (or links) on this idea of having an ancestor altar in the bathroom?

[Windsmith]

Cheddar and equinox, thank you so much for sharing your Solstice celebrations with us. They sound lovely. I was especially struck by this line from you, cheddar: An open heart is enough, and the universe takes care of the rest. That's going to be good wisdom for me to hold onto as what promises to be another hectic year swings into gear. Thank you.

Lunacie, what a bummer that your ritual was postponed! When will it take place, do you suppose, and will the ritual be altered at all to reflect that it's taking place after the Solstice?

Glad you enjoyed the slide show. Our yard is now buried under several new inches of snow, showing only the faint outline of a labyrinth. And that, too, is beautiful in its way.

[RavenStars]

I've been sitting here speechless.

First this slide show of all sorts of people finding their way in the darkness of the year. Then talk of heartfelt ritual by people I know from reading your posts. And I look back at my elaborate altar and little ritual and am suddenly happy.

Whoever says I need to hear a divine voice to be awake and alive has got it all wrong.

My sister doesn't really celebrate the holy days but she did want to light a candle at sunset to hold the darkness at bay. I enjoyed lighting our candles. I thought of how historically fire did hold back the darkness. When I turned off the lights and watched the dancing flame of my single candle I felt a connection, not just with the past, but also with all the others who greet the darkness with flame.

Bright blessing to all who read this.

[Eleisawolf]

Sorry I've been away so long, my friends. I hope it hasn't been too much without me, Windsmith. I'm hoping to be more and more present as the year goes on.

As Windsmith knows, but others of you don't, my Winter Solstice took a different turn this year. I would've been excited to find a new way to celebrate the transition from dark to light... but the universe found a different way to share the meaning of this part of the year with me.

Right before Hallow's Eve, our cat, Basha, was diagnosed with a severe illness, and I spent much time caring for her, which took my heart and mind away from many other things I do. It was an up and down ride that seemed sometimes to be buoyed by the miraculous, and sometimes to represent a drop into the crevasse of fear and grief.

Since then, I've been given many lessons about illness and death--seemingly appropriate for the part of the year that happens between the dark end of harvest time and the longest dark of the year. Elderly and very sick friends at our church died, one had a mild stroke... my mother began pondering her death, and her handling of her mother's death many years ago.

Then, at Solstice, we had to say goodbye to Basha, our kitty companion of over 11 and 1/2 years and our first animal companion after our marriage. On the darkest night of the year, that darkness came to us. Our little girl is buried in the back yard, and is now resting under a warm blanket of snow that has been building over most of the intervening week between her death and now.

It's been very hard, as deeply as I valued her and value all life, human or otherwise. But the process has indeed offered lessons and new perspectives on death and life and what we do and don't do for those we love. And it's all about love.

And as if to say, "Here's another angle..."--on that same night, a dear friend's son and his wife birthed their first child. Dark into light.

Cheddar's right--while ritual is comforting and I find it to be a beautiful expression of my beliefs, we don't really need to do anything. Sometimes just opening your heart to the universe allows the universe to open to you.

Peace, friends

[cheddarsox]

Elesiawolf,

I'm glad you checked in...been wondering about you. Life is just sooo BIG sometimes...

hugs

cheddar