At 12:47pm, Monday, December 21, 2009, we will once again reach the winter solstice.  This is a very special winter solstice for us in Maryland this year.  Yesterday over 20 inches of snow fell in what will now be known as the ‘Blizzard of 2009.’  This is the biggest snowfall the state of Maryland has ever had in December and certainly the biggest snow we have ever had for our annual winter solstice celebration.

While most people have holiday parties, I have a winter solstice celebration.  My friend Karen and I have held a small ceremonial gathering on this day for the past 6 years.  We celebrate in many ways, one of my favorite being with a gifting blanket, which I shared with you in last year’s blog and was recently re-published in a holiday publication called, Cheer! 

This year will be even more special, and cold, because we will circle our fire pit standing in almost two feet of snow.  We will walk to the pit in the ceremonial garden in silence with only the light of the moon and our candles to guide us.  While this is longest night of darkness, from every night forward, more light will come as we move steadily towards the spring equinox.      

Each person has a sprig of evergreen rope.  As they make the ceremonial walk to the fire we ask them to think about something in their life that they would like to bring more light to.  Maybe they have been hiding from their true nature and want to bring their spirit more fully into the light.  Maybe this past year held a great deal of challenge and pain and they are ready to release it and start living life in a new light.   Whatever it is they wish to surrender, they imbue into that evergreen rope. 

As we reach the raging fire and stand to circle its flames, Karen and I begin the ceremony with a smudging and blessing.  Each person may share their thoughts or bask in the stillness of the night.  Then we begin the release and the celebration of the light.  We collectively take our rope to the fire and toss it onto the open flames.  As it burns, the scent of pine and wood fill the cold air.

I am always amazed as I stare at my burning sprig of evergreen.  As I contemplate the light overtaking the burden that I have imbued within it, the embers, as if with wings, carry it to the heavens.  They seem alive, as if they are dancing -thrilled to have been set free into the light.  I watch in awe and with a great sense of peace as I realize that all of us are together sharing in this same desire to move out of darkness.

And while we desire to move into the light, we also honor the darkness for its own unique purose. The solstice is also the time for the planting of your next seed.  It is a time to think about what it is that you would like to plant in the dark of the ground for safe keeping until the arrival of the spring equinox.  What would you like to birth into your life in the coming year?

We make a small pouch out of cheesecloth and herbs.  We have bowls filled with sage, lavender and tobacco.  You create your own unique blend of herbs and tie them together.  It is as if you are making your own unique seed to plant for the coming year. You imbue your ’seed’ with that which you want to keep in the ground, safe and protected until it is ready to be birthed  at the light of spring.  Each person keeps their “cheesecloth seed” and takes it with them as a reminder of that with which they have spiritually and intentionally planted.  Truth be told, Karen and I had actually even planned on having everyone place actual seeds in the ground this year.  But due to a lack of seed paper at the craft store and 20 inches of snow, we have decided that the old way works best.

Now with less than 24 hours to go, I feel the movement happening.  I sense the darkness overtaking the light and I am reminded that everything has its season.  I encourage you to use the powerful energy of this solstice to bring light into your own life.  This is a time for reflection and celebration. Contemplate the things that you are ready to release to the light and the things that you would like to plant for the this coming year.  Think of it as a way to prepare your New Year’s resolutions just a little ahead of schedule! 

I celebrate the light within each of you.  Happy Holidays and many blessings for a happy and healthy New Year!

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