Picture courtesy of 2016 participant Kris
We’re a Circle
Inside a Circle
With no starting
And by no means ending…
by Deborah and Rick Hamouris
As chances are you’ll know from my e-newsletter and varied social media posts, it’s time as soon as once more to hitch collectively beginning tonight, after which each Sunday night by way of Xmas (and/or Christmas) for our annual Solstice Solar Wheel Prayer Circle.
If in case you have been an everyday reader of mine, you understand that starting in late November, I invite everybody, no matter your non secular path, to hitch collectively in a digital Introduction prayer circle (or spell weaving, should you’d want to consider it like that).
That is our NINETEENTH anniversary! The numbers becoming a member of us have doubled a number of occasions, making it now an enormous, really world occasion.
So please be a part of us every week, and please inform your folks and family members. The underlying power of this follow is, by its very nature, inclusive and welcoming to all beliefs, traditions, and philosophies.
You may’t do it flawed and you can begin ANY time. So if you need to miss it this week, you’ll be able to nonetheless begin with us subsequent week, or any time till it’s over.
The Primary Thought
The unique supply for this explicit adaptation was the late Helen Farias, founding father of The Beltane Papers journal, after which it was continued by the late Waverly FitzGerald in her Faculty for the Seasons.
For nineteen years now, I’ve been carrying the custom ahead, including just a few of my very own gildings.
This ceremony is solely an adaptation of the extra acquainted Christian follow of lighting candles on an Introduction wreath, which in all probability was the descendant of much more historical, pre-Christian traditions, main as much as the nonetheless second of Solstice.
All you want is a wreath, 5 candles, and a peaceable time-out every Sunday night from now till Winter Solstice, and/or Christmas, relying in your most well-liked climax of the celebration.
Every Sunday, you’ll gentle a candle that’s symbolic of some attribute, ingredient, or imaginative and prescient, as we go into the deepest darkness of the yr, and put together for the start of the Youngster of Promise, the standing nonetheless second of Solstice, the reawakening of the Gentle.
The primary week (as we speak, if you’re counting all the way down to Solstice, or beginning subsequent Sunday, Dec. 3, if you’re counting to Christmas solely), we are going to gentle one candle solely.
The subsequent week you’ll gentle first the candle from Week 1, then the second candle. And so forth, till Solstice evening, or Christmas Eve, if you gentle the fifth, closing candle, relying in your choice.
The Additional Lighting
This yr’s countdown is difficult by the truth that there may be an additional Sunday between Solstice and Christmas. So for individuals who are counting all the way down to Winter Solstice, tonight (Nov. 26) is the primary candle lighting. Our fifth, closing candle can be lit Thursday, Dec. 21 (Solstice Evening).
For Christians who’re counting all the way down to Christmas ONLY, your first candle can be lit subsequent Sunday, Dec. 3, and your fifth, closing candle is lit on Christmas.
For households that want to rejoice each, my suggestion is to begin tonight. Then, subsequent week’s 2nd candle can characterize the second lighting for the non-Christmas countdown, and the first lighting for these counting all the way down to Christmas.
Every participant in your loved ones or group can ship out their prayers and envision the candle’s symbolism in any method they’re moved to.
At Solstice, you’ll gentle the fifth candle, after which at Christmas, merely re-ignite it.
Within the lighting ceremony, the candle can characterize no matter high quality you want, so the tandem lighting actually shouldn’t be an issue.
Why Are We Doing This?
That is the season of Introduction, which isn’t a strictly Christian time period, though it is the identify given to this essential season of the church.
Introduction merely means “to come back,” so it could possibly apply to the approaching of the Christ youngster, or the approaching of the yr’s longest evening and the assured revitalizing of the Gentle. Or no matter else you wish to set your intention in direction of.
We additionally honor the fertile, vital endarkenment, whereas making ready for renewal and enlightenment.
For many people, our religion — in life, or the Divine, or one another — is being examined like by no means earlier than.
As we make our option to the tip of the calendar yr, the deepest darkish of the yr right here within the Northern Hemisphere, we’re additionally making ready for that second of stillness, when the Solar halts its descent, the Wheel of Time turns, and rebirth comes.
But even within the coronary heart of the darkness, the sunshine is rarely extinguished. The Youngster of Promise, the Present of Love, the blessed renewal of life and hope returns.
There’s great energy and solace in carving out a time of peace and sacred spaciousness on this usually loopy, overwhelming vacation time.
However you’ll uncover that the true enormity of this ritual lies within the visceral sense you’ll have, of all the numerous lots of of others, up and down the face of the Earth because the shadow of evening falls, who’re becoming a member of in with you.
From each stroll of life, all totally different ages, beliefs, languages and lands, you’ll be able to really feel the worldwide wave of prayer and devotion you might be becoming a member of and part of. You’ll sense how, as your candle is extinguished, individuals to your west are simply starting to assemble and light-weight theirs, making a wave of sparks and light-weight that strikes throughout the face of our Mom Earth.
Our Intention for 2023
You and your family members might provide you with your individual phrases and intention. Right here is one suggestion:
From inside the sacred darkish, we will come up with the returning Gentle.
By this candlelight, we stand for the Gentle that can’t die. With our prayers, we embrace probably the most historical Divine One(s) whose identify is Love. With our arms and hearts joined, now at this threshold of change, we invoke the irrepressible dawning of therapeutic, grace, and rebirth.
With unfailing devotion, with all our braveness, from inside and with out, for the Earth, Her assets, and all Her beings, so mote it’s.
For Our Pals within the Southern Hemisphere
I invite you, additionally, to gentle your Solstice candles (maybe on a Summer time wreath of herbs and flowers), and shine your dazzling hearts upon this work with us. For you, too, are the light-keepers and an integral a part of this weaving.
You are the stewards of the Gentle’s climax now, because it shines and warms, and you can be guiding it again to these of us in colder climes quickly.
Tonight’s First Lighting (Nov. 26)
Collect together with your family members, or alone, tonight round sundown. Floor and middle your self, or create sacred area in no matter method is true in your follow.
The primary candle might characterize the Factor of Air: data, data, understanding, communication. The go well with of the Tarot it represents is (normally) the go well with of Swords: phrases, notion, perspective, thought.
It is very important acknowledge the dissonance and fear at the moment affecting this ingredient.
From air pollution within the air we breathe, to the spying and manipulation of world communications, to the doubts and disputes being raised about whether or not there may even be any such factor as “details,” and “fact,” take into consideration how concern distorts what we see, what we consider, how we make decisions.
We go judgments, we’re instructed and typically share hurtful tales about each other.
We’re being lied to and our data entry is being manipulated by dangerous actors on a colossal scale not seen because the darkish days of the Second World Conflict.
In case you are with your folks, household, or group, you may discuss some time about these issues, and the chilling winds of subterfuge and ignorance now threatening free expression and the core values of our democracies.
Then, permit some silence. Together with your breath, inhaling and exhaling, start to see, know, and forgive the methods these kinds of concern exist.
With readability and compassion, think about how your individual prejudices might have wounded you, like, maybe, any methods that you’ve spoken untruths or unkindness. After which, nonetheless utilizing your breath as a magical software, let these fears and hurts be dispelled as you gentle your candle.
When it’s lit, breathe right into a profound consciousness and gratitude for breath itself — this primary, final, and most significant reward of life. Really feel your inhale and exhale, your life-long companion, because it helps you chill out, develop into alert, and conscious. Let your breath sigh, or snort, or sing, or pray. In case you are with family members, you may inform tales, converse of what you give thanks for, give honor to those that are expensive to you, and why.
Gaze some time upon the dancing flame and name upon the powers of the week’s Factor or Present of Spirit, to heal and bless.
When you’re at peace, and the time feels proper, gently extinguish your candle.
All Hearts Are Welcome
This ceremony is presumably probably the most acquainted to Christians, since many denominations follow Introduction ceremonies for Christmas, each within the residence, and at church.
Nevertheless it works superbly for Pagans, too, counting all the way down to Solstice by calling within the 4 Parts, or Instructions. It could work, too, for Buddhists, who may want to gentle a candle every week to honor the The 5 Skandhas, or maybe the 4 Noble Truths, plus the ultimate candle representing liberation. Hindus may want to select sacred parts of the Vedanta for every candle.
Jews can imbue every candle to characterize the 5 books of the Torah — Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Muslims might want to have the candles signify the 5 Pillars of Islam.
Non-religious attributions can middle on what chances are you’ll really feel are the 5 most necessary qualities for a worthwhile life, or your favourite philosophical values. The chances are limitless, and will be tailored to any non secular or mental path.
Please, please — share this far and huge! The extra, the mightier AND the merrier!
Blessed be!
