HAPPY SOLSTICE EVERYONE!
Today is my primary spiritual holy day. Tonight our Solstice ritual will be as it has always been, wonderful, meditative, joyful, and introspective.
This afternoon there is walking the labyrinth, then a ritual meal for the solstice. Around 7, people begin to make their way to the sanctuary.
In the sanctuary we gather chanting. The circle is cast, calling the directions. To a slow drumbeat slowing the body and soul down from a busy day, the lights are lowered and a 15 minute period of meditation follows. The dancers come to the front, candles in hand slowly, gracefully, displaying the beauty of this time of year, forming circles of light. Then the storyteller tells the annual Solstice Story as it is played out in interpretive dance. Music from choir, harp, bagpipe is interspersed through the service.
The circle is released, and the dancers fan out with their candles, where the audience participants light their own candles. As the light increases, the music lightens as well, and Celtic music will ring and the people will sing with joy, then dance out of the sanctuary and downstairs to the social hall where the party continues.
This year our music is being performed by two celtic musicians, both original members of the Powdermilk Biscuit Band on Garrison Keillor's radio program Prarie Home Companion. There will be lots of gingerbread and teas and goodies of all sorts and we shall sing and dance and celebrate the coming of the light until the wee hours.
Merry Solstice everybody!
This afternoon there is walking the labyrinth, then a ritual meal for the solstice. Around 7, people begin to make their way to the sanctuary.
In the sanctuary we gather chanting. The circle is cast, calling the directions. To a slow drumbeat slowing the body and soul down from a busy day, the lights are lowered and a 15 minute period of meditation follows. The dancers come to the front, candles in hand slowly, gracefully, displaying the beauty of this time of year, forming circles of light. Then the storyteller tells the annual Solstice Story as it is played out in interpretive dance. Music from choir, harp, bagpipe is interspersed through the service.
The circle is released, and the dancers fan out with their candles, where the audience participants light their own candles. As the light increases, the music lightens as well, and Celtic music will ring and the people will sing with joy, then dance out of the sanctuary and downstairs to the social hall where the party continues.
This year our music is being performed by two celtic musicians, both original members of the Powdermilk Biscuit Band on Garrison Keillor's radio program Prarie Home Companion. There will be lots of gingerbread and teas and goodies of all sorts and we shall sing and dance and celebrate the coming of the light until the wee hours.
Merry Solstice everybody!
