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The Winter Solstice (December 21st) is a time of acknowledging and celebrating the Darkness of Mystery and the reemergence of the Light. This is a fallow time, a time for looking inward to the dark places, the places none of us want to acknowledge. It is a time for planting the seeds of what we wish to be. For some of us, this is the time of the Northern Quadrant of the Medicine Wheel - a time for recognizing the seeds of new direction in our lives and for nurturing them. This is a time for honoring the wisdom of the ancients that lives within us. We need to take a look at what we are trying to manifest within our lives, and where our lines of support are for nurturing these goals. What wisdom is coming through to us at this time? What is dreamtime bringing us? Where are our waking studies taking us? This is a time of honoring the help that we have received from the four directions of the Medicine Wheel, and that of the four elements (fire, water, air, and earth). We celebrate the Winter Solstice and the time of Yule through honoring the harvest through feasting, through bringing into our homes those of All Of Our Relations that represent the full cycles of the earth, and through honoring the people in our lives - through celebrations with coworkers, family and friends. Use gift giving with the intent of sharing joy and love with all. Sacred colors for this time of year are red, green and white. Representing All Of Our Relations are holly, ivy, pine cones (as ornaments and scented pine cones burned in fireplaces), and evergreen boughs (as well as trees). Mistletoe is often placed over major thresholds as good luck for the New Year. Use the gifts of light and sound in your celebrations. Play music that celebrates the season, and make full use of fires, fireplaces and candles in your rituals and celebrations. (Hint: seasonal scented candles are wonderful mood enhancers.) Donate your time this holiday season. Donate food, cloths, finances ... whatever allows you to plant seeds of manifestation in your community. This is a season of faith and hope - faith that the light will reemerge after the darkness, and hope that we recognize that seeds of change are ever present - that what *us* does not have to always *be*. In our celebrations we need to honor the wisdom of our ancestors, honor the dark places within ourselves, and plant the seeds for future growth. We need to honor the Sacred Space around us - including our literal environment. Our celebration begins with clearing our physical area - through the use of sound (the ringing of bells or tuning forks), or the use of scent - smudging with sage or sweetgrass, or using the scents of pine, lavender, frankincense, myrrh or rosemary. (note: If you are gathering herbs or leaves in person, ask the plant/tree before taking what you need, and give thanks for the wisdom the plant brings to you.) Include in your ritual/celebration light (through fire or candles), scent (through candles or aerosols), color (through the placement of flowers or plants, or pretty cloths/scarves) and sound (bells or light background music). The intent should be one of honoring the wisdom of the ancients and honoring the cycle of life come full circle. In your feast, however small or large, include the foods of the earth - foods that are representative of the season. Gifts given should be from the heart, gifts honoring what the other person has been in our lives. I send you all my best wishes for Peace and Joy during this holiday season.
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