In Brighton, England on the Winter Solstice (December 21st) a parade is held.  Participants, carrying white paper lanterns adorned with images of clocks, sweep through the town to a huge bonfire.  There the lanterns are pitched into the flames symbolizing a release of the old to make room for the new.  Although the Brighton festival began in the 1990s, its lineage is rooted in much older traditions.  Fire has been a part of solstice and new year celebrations for centuries.  We, too, can use this Element to let go of that which no longer serves us.

To begin, reflect on what you want to release.  Then create a statement or image for each item.  When you are ready, safely burn what you’ve written or drawn and release the cold ashes to Grandmother Earth.  Rest in gratitude and relief once you’ve done this.  Now, welcome into the space you have created your hopes, dreams and visions for the year to come.

May all your intentions be gracefully fulfilled. 


Gratitude to bjournal.co SAME SKY  for the image.

n the Northern Hemisphere, the June Solstice marks the astronomical start of Summer.  For those in the Southern Hemisphere, Winter begins.  But no matter where you are on the planet, the Solstice occurs at exactly the same time for all of us.  This year,  it is on Saturday, June 20, 2020, at 21:44 UTC or 5:44P EDT. (Click here to convert to your time zone:  https://www.worldtimeserver.com/convert_time_in_UTC.aspx)

I invite you join me and others in 60 seconds of intention at the moment of the Solstice. 

You might choose to:
- Step outside and give thanks.
- Breathe deeply and send Love to others.
- Pray for peace or healing or compassion. 
- Dance, sing or rest in silence. 
Whatever you choose, know your offering adds to the many. 

Thank you. 



Gratitude to Peter Lutz for the image from Pixabay

In some of the tales about King Arthur, the hero--and in older source materials, a heroine—encounters a forbidding chapel on their quest.  The chapel contains trials of body, mind and spirit and initiates who pass the tests emerge changed and in possession of new tools and new understandings.    

Unlike a Dark Night of the Soul, which is precipitated by internal shifts, we may encounter a Chapel Perilous when external imbalances can no longer be ignored: a pandemic, social unrest, environmental disasters.  If you find yourself in a Chapel Perilous, remember first that you are not alone.  Others have been there before you; reach out for their help and inspiration.  Then, take stock of your gifts.  Discern how to best utilize them during this challenge.  Allocate resources wisely.  And, finally, stay present.  It may be tempting to expend energy on superficial distractions, but keeping focused will serve you better.   
 
Initiatory experiences like a Chapel Perilous contain both opportunity and ordeal. When you emerge--and you will emerge—may you have made the most of the transformation.  I look forward to meeting you on the Spiral Path.


Gratitude to JAN W. for the image from Pixabay.

At each equinox, our planet strikes a balance between daylight and dark.  This astronomical dance between the Sun and the Earth’s orbit is a reminder of a larger pattern of energy which includes us all.  As our attention is necessarily drawn to the current crisis, it is important to remember that we are not separate from these greater cycles. 

Today--especially today--step outside and let the sun warm your face.  Feel with your heart the swing of seasons and cycles, moving within and without, and know you participate in all these arcs of energy.  I encourage you to connect with awareness and gratitude. 

"From this Life, Life to come."
            Prayer for the gathering of seeds.

The Full Moon in September, sometimes called the Harvest Moon, presages the arrival of fall and the Autumnal Equinox. It also marks the final gathering of many crops as well as seeds for next year's planting.

Seed diversity, vital to the survival of all life, is threatened by pollution, genetic manipulation and climate change. Organizations like Seed Savers Exchange (www.seedsavers.org) work to preserve heirloom varieties of plants and “bank” their seeds for future generations