A Simple Winter Solstice Ritual for Families
Though most of our modern holidays are have been assumed by Christianity and capitalism, many still have a breadcrumb trail back to the ancestral earth-based origins. Solstice is one of those days that cultures around the world recognized as significant: a moment to dwell in the beauty and paradox of light and darkness. For us in the northern hemisphere, winter solstice is a time to receive the gifts of deep darkness: rest, incubation of dreams, and the freedom of death/endings.
Solstice can be a particularly valuable time for amending the ‘light-bias’ and aversion of darkness and death present in most spiritual and religious language and practices. Similar to Samhain (October 31st), Solstice can be a time to support children in appreciating the beauty and balance offered by darkness and dark seasons. You can talk about how our brains, bodies, and the earth need rest; how seeds germinate in the darkness of the soil; how sometimes doing nothing is just the right thing do; and how death is a part of life.
The ritual below might be a nourishing structure for you, but feel free to adapt or pick and choose parts of it. Also, consider that observing this time ought not be just ‘one more thing’ to do at what modern culture has already made a hectic and over-stimulated time. What what would feel joyful and easy? Let your own family’s practice be contextual and suited just for you. You might, in the coming days, get quiet together and listen from your bellies and ask: what is this time wanting to offer to you?
A Family Winter Solstice Ritual: Honoring Darkness, Rebirth of the Light
You might find useful:
Dish/baggies of rose/flower petals
Dish/baggie of dried herbs, such as sage or thyme
Dish/baggie of seeds/popcorn
A bell or drum
Printed words of the songs/blessings below.
Optional alter space, which might include: alter cloth, candle, seasonal flowers or produce, any kind of greenery/pinecones that can be easily gathered; tokens of the year past; tokens of your dreams for the coming year
Tuning In —Ring bell or drum to invite everyone to settle. Take 3-5 big belly breaths. You can invite kiddos to imagine a balloon in their belly that they fill and empty.
Grounding—For older kids, you might have everyone close their eyes and imagine being a tree with roots dropping to the center of the earth. For younger kids, practice a simple grounding by identifying one thing they notice with each of the five senses.
Land Acknowledgment—say a few words of gratitude and recognition of the indigenous stewards of the land you are on. If you don’t know who that is, you can find out here. You might light a candle or burn or sprinkle some herbs as a way of acknowledging these ancestors.
Song—Consider singing “Entering the Void” (listen to the recording below) or any of your family’s favorite winter songs (“O Come O Come Emmanuel” is one of my (Kate’s) favorites!)
Ritual—If possible, go outside and gather around a tree, or if you have space, build a fire. If this is not possible, consider having a dish of earth and a candle on your alter to do the following ritual. If outside, you can stand or hold hands around the tree or fire. At the base of a tree or into the fire, each family member can:
—sprinkle rose petals while sharing gratitudes from the past year
—sprinkle sage or herbs while sharing sadnesses, griefs, losses, or disappointments
—sprinkle seeds while sharing your dreams for the coming year.
After each person shares, or after everyone has shared, say/sing together the following blessing:
Our thanks for days past
Our dreams birthed at night
We honor the darkness
We beckon the light
5. Closing—Conclude with the song once more and/or ringing the bell or drum once more and taking 5 more breaths together. Everyone can take turns saying thank you to various elements of the ritual: the tree, the dirt, each other, the indigenous stewards, the sky, the sun, the darkness. It’s nice to follow up with a tasty warm drink!
If you try this with your family, or have other practices or resources you use with your family, please let me know! I am working on developing more user-friendly material for families and I’d love to know what is useful for you!
Lyrics:
Entering the void
The womb of the Mother
Where many become One
Where all become free