Advent of the Sun

Many years ago, my friend Helen Farias (founder of the original Beltane Papers in the early 80's) started a tradition she called "Advent of the Sun." Borrowing from the church tradition (who have borrowed so many pagan traditions over the years), she gathered friends together on each of the four Sun-Days before Solstice.  We lit candles on the Advent wreath, told stories of the sun's return, ate Christmas cookies and imbibed in exotic drinks like peppermint schnapps and hot toddies.  She wrote a few original Solstice stories and gathered up some recipes, then sold packets called The Advent Sunwheel.  You can still buy her packet from our friend Waverly Fitzgerald's School of the Seasons website.  Helen's story "The Ice Ship" is one of my all-time favorite Yuletide stories, and never fails to make me cry.

Waverly writes about the way she celebrates Advent here, and we can all join with Beth Owl'sDaughter as she turns the Solstice Sun Wheel into a global prayer-spell.   Beth writes about the intention for this ceremony:

"Let our intention be that we will shine with the Light of understanding and truth. Let our Light awaken what is best in our human family and help us to restore wisdom, honor, balance, beauty, and good will among all beings. Let the Light guide our hearts and hands to act for the healing of our Mother Earth."

I've hosted a few of these Sun-Day gatherings over the years and my friend DragonSong is hosting them this year. I'm participating in Beth's SunWheel too.  It gives us a space to meditate on the great themes of the season:  as the natural world goes into a fallow time, so do we withdraw into silence and contemplation. At the same time, we long to gather with friends and family to reaffirm our bonds and create our own kind of warmth.  And the grand theme, lux in tenebris: Light is born at the darkest point of the year.  These are universal themes, no matter what your religion or spiritual path is, or even if you're a dedicated non-theist. Mama Gaia's lessons are there for all.

This year I decided to do my own little online Advent Calendar. You know those glittery calendars you can buy that have doors you open for each day from December 1 through Christmas Day?  Well I thought I'd count down the days to Solstice here on my blog.  Each day I'll offer a song, a video, a poem, a piece of artwork, a recipe — something!  to remind us that Yes!  soon the Sun will Return!  the days will grow longer once again!  and this great darkness that we find ourselves living in can, and will, once more turn to Light and Hope and Joy.  Blessed be.

Comments

[Diane]

Joanna,

I so look forward to what you'll have in store for us every day as the countdown to Yule begins! Great idea.

[Mama Kelly]

Oh what a lovely idea. I can't wait to read your daily post!!!!

[Feithline]

This is such a wonderful idea! I'll be reading avidly!

[Derique.]

I just wanted you to know that this is a stroke of genius. Just thought you'd like to know...

peace, light & love.

derique.