Surviving the Workday

I’m celebrating Winter Solstice this year (tomorrow, December 21), more out of a theological alignment than a religious conversion. The UU church I grew up in always celebrated St. Lucy (Santa Lucia) on Christmas in a melding of the two traditions.

Here’s one ritual suggested in from Celebrating the Light

Seeds of Light
1. Place a large candle unlit in the center of the table or floor.
2. Sit in front of it, or if doing this in a group, have everyone sit in a circle around it. Everyone present should have their own small candle.
3. Turn all lights out. Experience the feeling of sitting in utter darkness–the silence, the stillness, the inwardness. If children are present, have them say out loud what it feels like (soft, scary, cold). Ask them to imagine what life would be like without the sun, and share their answers aloud.
4. Now consider all the gifts the sun brings us. Again, if children are present, have them call out what comes to mind.
5. Contemplate how the seed of light is even now being born within the womb of darkness. (An adult can explain to children how the wheel of the year is now turning towards the light.) Light the central candle with a taper.
6. Now each person in turn lights their taper from the Sun candle and wishes out loud for three things they would like to have happen in the coming year: make a wish for yourself, a wish for someone you know, and a wish for the planet.
7. Now the room is filled with light and warmth. Finish the celebration with seasonal song, circle dance, or food.
8. At the end of the gathering, individual candles can be snuffed out with the reminder that the flame continues to burn brightly within our hearts. If possible, let the central candle stay alight throughout the night (with obvious safety precautions!) to welcome back the Sun.

May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch on your door and happiness be guided to your home by the candle of Christmas.

– Irish Blessing

Celebrating Solstice
Light Born out of Dark

This entry was posted by Ms. Theologian on Tuesday, December 20th, 2005 at 9:30 am and is filed under religion You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.