Religion is the hen that feels the sunshine and sings when the daybreak remains to be darkish.
Rabindranath Tagore
Tonight, Dec. 10, is the third evening of our international Solstice Solar-Wheel Prayer Circle, if you’re counting right down to Winter Solstice. In any other case, if you’re counting right down to Christmas solely, that is Week 2.
As I’ve defined in previous weeks, that is just because this 12 months, there may be an additional Sunday between Solstice and Christmas.
For folk who’re honoring each holidays, you’ll simply gentle your final candle once more for Christmas.
The Fundamentals
When you’re simply becoming a member of us, welcome! You aren’t too late!
This ceremony makes use of a wreath and 5 candles, and is meant for all religious paths. The Christian church calls it the Introduction wreath, which was merely handed down from a lot older Pagan celebrations, marking the times previous Winter Solstice.
(As most Christian students know, the start of Christ was in all probability within the Springtime, however the custom of holding the feast day across the Winter Solstice grew to become a technique to improve its reputation).
Whether or not you’re Pagan or Christian, or one thing else (you don’t even should be non secular!), please take part with us anyway. Merely assign every candle a which means that’s vital to your religion or world view.
And please bear in mind – you may’t do that flawed and you may be part of us any time.
So even you probably have missed the primary lightings, no downside! Search for the hyperlinks to the primary two weeks additional down this put up.
This additionally means you may nonetheless invite your folks and family members to hitch us! Please do! The extra the merrier, and by my depend, now we have individuals in practically each time zone and on each continent by Antarctica.
You may go here to learn all of the extra normal particulars, together with our intention for this 12 months.
That is the prelude to a second that has been celebrated since prehistoric occasions, by individuals of each tradition. The dawning of the Winter Solstice and the re-birth of the Mild is coming to all beings throughout the Northern Hemisphere, it doesn’t matter what they consider about it!
What If I Reside within the Southern Hemisphere?
I consider you’re a vitally vital a part of this work, since you are getting ready to have a good time your Summer season Solstice. 
We want your sunny blessings and warmest presents to help our renewal.
Maybe you want to use a wreath of flowers and fruit, as a substitute of evergreens.
However in any case, please be part of us at sundown, wherever you are, too!
Tonight’s ceremony
Collect along with your family members, or alone, ideally round sundown. Floor and middle your self, or create sacred house in no matter approach is correct on your apply. End up the lights the place you’re, and have your wreath, candles and lighter prepared.
Bear in mind that you’re joined on this sacred circle by males, ladies, and kids of many paths, from many lands — so many who, after counting to a number of thousand, I’ve misplaced the flexibility to precisely observe our numbers.
Through the years, individuals have informed me that this consciousness of each other is among the strongest elements of our apply.
So you could want to take a second to tune your consideration to the various souls who’re collaborating with you.
We could also be celebrating on the actual second as you, or forward of, or behind you, in actual time. However we’re all within the Circle, in our personal liminal second, as night sweeps throughout the Earth.
Take a number of moments to soak up the deep quiet of the darkish. Give thanks for its time of gestation, the candy blackness that holds and feeds our roots, the thriller that nurtures, the sleep that stills our weariness and offers house for our desires.
Then, because the nightfall deepens, with our intention in thoughts, gentle your first candle (both from Nov. 26 or last week, relying in your alternative of countdowns).
Deal with all that it means to you, maybe reviewing this aloud along with your family members. Has its significance modified or grown stronger for you, since that first lighting?
Counting Right down to Christmas ONLY: The Second Candle
For individuals solely counting right down to Christmas, tonight is your 2nd candle. In lots of denominations, it could characterize Love.
Some church buildings name it the Bethlehem candle, referring to the presents of hospitality and the preparations of physique and spirit, for receiving the Divine One. Different traditions take into account it to be in reverence for the present of the sacred scriptures and the Phrase.
For These Counting Right down to Solstice
This will probably be your third candle lighting. In case you are utilizing the Parts as your information, this candle is for the Aspect of Water.
Many Pagan traditions take into account that Water is the Guardian related to the path of West. It empowers our feelings, desires, instinct, empathy, and compassion. West is sacred to Autumn and the setting Solar.
Allow us to give thanks for all of the ups and downs of our feelings. They are often tumultuous at occasions and surprisingly prescient. They open our hearts and typically break them, bringing cleaning tears and joyful laughter. What a sacred present it’s to really feel our emotions, even when it hurts!
As you gaze upon this wondrous addition of sunshine to the wreath earlier than you, take into account additionally the life-giving blessings of Water. See in your thoughts’s eye the attractive rains once they come gently, in balanced abundance.
Maybe provide a prayer for good, light, plentiful rains to extinguish the horrific wildfires which might be decimating southern California, and to soak the Earth elsewhere which might be in danger, affected by drought and shortage.
Give thanks for the unimaginable present of turning on a faucet at your house, and having clear, pure, cold and hot water pour forth. Such luxurious was past the creativeness of gilded pharaohs and emperors of previous!
Bear in mind Mama Ocean in your thanksgiving – the Mom of us all, the ever-restless, altering, flowing supply of all life on our blue planet.
Know that the river of blood, tears, and pleasure is a deep, historical one which defines our humanity. It offers us the motivation and chance of the true, deep, lasting transformation we so desperately want. Might its gentle heal the concern, the damage, and all of our troubled waters.
For All:
Gaze now on the dancing flames of your candles. Isn’t it astonishing how a lot gentle they create?
Tonight, it turns into really clear that a fantastic birthing is on the way in which! The daybreak of the Mild is getting brighter and we may be assured it’s now inevitable. Allow us to anticipate its strategy with pleasure, ardour, and knowledge.
In alignment with our intention, you could want to make a promise or vow relating to how you’ll serve the presents of tonight’s candle. Might the powers of those Parts, or Presents of Spirit, weave collectively, as we ourselves are becoming a member of collectively, to light up and bless our world.
When you’re at peace, and the time feels proper, going backwards from Water, to Hearth, to Air, (or from Love to Hope), gently extinguish your candles.
Might our prayers be fulfilled for the great of all.
Blessed be!
