I first shared this photo, and a little about this ritual, in this post: https://wordsthatserve.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/week-31-of-good-deeds/
Welcome to day nineteen, for which I’ve used the word Ritual (I’m still playing catch up…) which I’ve chosen because I began today with a dance as the opening of our annual community solstice ritual, where we walk into a spiral reflecting on the year that has been and light a candle in the center to bring light with us as we transition into the New Year and open to what will be. It’s a very beautiful ritual which I look forward to each year, as I’m sure you all have your own individually, as a family or as a community, which you return to year in year out and give this time meaning. May they bring you comfort and joy. Enjoy:-)
And…why not have a go at a Christmas acrostic yourself in the comments! I’d love to read yours. I also love to receive suggestions of Christmas words to use as the basis for the next acrostics I write, so please share your favourite festive words in the comments too, and then come back to read the poem you’ve inspired!
R eturning again to the warmth and comforting core
I n those repeated practices
T hat, by their very constancy
U nveil with quiet strength the changes in ourselves
A nd give us reason and space to reflect on
L ife, both where we are and where we are heading
wordsthatserve 
Beautiful words, Harula – I love the sound of your spiral solstice ritual. I too find the end of the year is a good time to reflect on things achieved and future plans. love, Peggy š
Thank you dear Peggy. It certainly is, somehow it seems to be wired into me at an almost primal level that I need to look back at this time of year and try to harvest the insights and lessons…and gratitude:-) Much love, Harula xxx
I feel that ‘primal level’ for reviewing the year too – I think it is in-built somewhere along the line š love, Peggy š
To a teen, ‘ritual’ is a boring word. But as adults, we appreciate what ritual can give to us. You articulate the gifts of ritual beautifully here.
Thanks Pam:-) Actually I’m not sure that’s always the case re teens, I think it depends on what it is and how its presented. I remember the teenagers I met in South Africa being super excited about their coming of age ritual, and there are two young women I know (late teens) who travel from other parts of the UK especially to come to the solstice spiral here where they have been responsible for preparing the ‘nature table’ for the last three years, and it’s become a really key part of their year, not least to meet up with each other…but anyway, a huge topic which I’m quite passionate about as you can see! Thanks for the thoughtful and appreciative comment as always š Love and hugs, Harula xxx
š š š
Aww, sweet – thanks! And š š š right back at you…H xxx
Hey Harula š
Your Acrostics are so interesting. For personal reasons I’ve been quite away from being online but I’ve read only a few here and there. “Ritual” is a very good word to mark the Winter solstice. I’m looking forward for longer days, definitely. I hope they’ll bring better times for all of us.
A suggestion for an Acrostic: ANGEL.
I don’t know if you’ve already worked with this word, if not… maybe give it a try.
I hope you are well and I wish you a peaceful and beautiful Christmas.
Hugs and smiles from
Natalia š
Hi Natalia
Thanks – I’m glad you like them š I hope all is well with you, and yes, it’s nice to know tht longer days are now on their way back! May the year ahead be filled with light, grace and joy for you. Yes, I have written one on Angels, day 17…here it is:
A being of light, pure and
N ot yet visible to my logical eye
G ently dances on the strings of my heart
E ncouraging me to follow the music
L ove sings from the depths of each soul
S o we may celebrate our shared sacredness
Blessings of a magical, joyful, peaceful Christmas and New Year to you too!
Love and hugs,
Harula xxx
Hey Harula, thank you very much for your kind words. This has been a year as surreal as it could be. I’m getting used to surrealism. I’m glad I always have my Angels with me.
I loved your “Angels” acrostic… in particular the last sentence for “S” – S o we may celebrate our sacredness.
Wishing you a blessed end of the year and a super 2015 filled with all that you dream of becoming a reality.
Natalia xxx
I never heard of this solstice ritual. It sounds lovely. Is it common over there?
I think there are quite a few folk over here who acknowledge the solstice in some way, but I don’t know of anywhere else where they mark it with a ritual like this, although ‘walking the labyrinth’ in general is a very old tradition, and is done at many different times and for different reasons. H xxx
Well, it’s neat!