On this Solstice Night..

Yule is one of my favorite holy days of the year.

A day to give thanks to the Sun & slow down to appreciate the beauty of Winter.

It is so very important to me to pass down this feeling of reverence to the children.

I hear a lot of people grumbling about the cold, the snow, the hectic pace of the holidays & money.

Put your wallets away, pull away from the mall & step away from the gift wrap....

Slow down.

Breathe deep.

Enjoy the simplicity of Winter.

I hope for my children to grow up with a sense of how to really appreciate each phase in the yearly rhythm.

Slow down & take it all in...savor it...let it wrap it's arms around you

until you are giddy with joy & wonder.

Take a walk through the quiet Winter woods...

feel the tingly way your cheeks get & pink up after being in the cold...

enjoy the taste of snowflakes falling on your tongue...

fall on your back & make a snow fairy flapping your arms wildly through the cold wetness..

Appreciate the way the shorter days make us slow down & rest as a family...

Breathe deeply the aroma of fresh bread, sweet treats & soups pouring out of the kitchen...

Let us show gratitude for the light rather then cursing the dark, cold days.

It is tradition, that we take a lantern hike at dusk on the Solstice.

The lanterns are simple mason jars that the kids decoupaged tissue paper on.

When lit up with a votive candle, they glow like stained glass.

Christmas cookies & hot cocoa are brought along to snack on as we

give thanks for all the things the Sun does for us.

"If there was no Sun, we would have no food or light, Mama.", she said.

"If there was no Sun, we wouldn't have gravity & the planets would collide & explode!", he said.
We really pondered this for quite awhile & I have to say, it is quite a thought to dive into.

It was making my mind wild thinking about all the Sun does!

"All year long, the Sun had worked very hard, rising & setting day after day. All year long, the Sun had fed everybody on earth, shining & shining, giving energy to the trees, the flowers, the grasses so they could grow and feed the animals, birds, insects & people. All year long, the Sun's gravity held tight to the Earth and the Moon & all the other whirling planets as they traveled around, until the poor Sun was dizzy watching it all. Now the poor Sun was tired & could barely get up in the morning & after a short time needed to sleep again. So the days grew shorter & the nights grew longer."
~ from The Rebirth of the Sun by Starhawk


"So the children lit their candles & put them in a very safe place, each flame was a little spark of the Suns fire. And the Sun peeped out from between the arms of night, and saw all the little fires, and began to feel warmer & brighter & younger still."

After about an hour, we arrived back home to warm soup & fresh bread ready for feasting.

It was time to circle round the tree & play cards after

Mama gave the littles a special, magical Solstice gift.

May you never lose that sense of wonder that fills your soul at this time of year

& may your days be forever merry & bright!

With much Love & Gratitude,

Sara