Alban Arthan

Alban Arthan is the Celtic and Druidic name for the Winter Solstice; it's Welsh for Light of Winter.

The Winter Solstice was never a one day festival - three days seems to be the minimum. The sun appears to stand still for three days, then days begin to noticeably increase in length (and we all sigh in relief). 

Alban Arthan is a celebration of the strengthening sun, and the central theme is renewal; we leave the past behind and greet the new. The world is undergoing constant change and we must change and adjust, too, in order to be able to survive.

From A Druid Way: "One link between the objective and the subjective is awen, inspiration, the flow of spirit, which lets us evoke in others an echo of our original experience. Let the echo be strong enough, let our understanding of this thing called being human, and our skill in working with it, run equal to the task, and music, image, voice, story, object of craft can all serve to unite us in the experience of mystery. An echo from outside awakens a resonance within us." 

Agenda today:

1. Read a novena

2. Druid peace prayer 

3. Light a candle for Order

4. Read "Spirit Walker"

5. Soyal retreat practices for order and self-care

6. Self-care practices brainstorm

7. Pre-school plans

8. Home order practices

1. Read a novena:

I've been reading this Creation Novena from the Indian Catholic Matters site:

Day 7: A Prayer for the Climate

Creator God, we give thanks for the climate. Thank You for the interplay of land, water, and heat that gives rise to the weather patterns. Thank You for the complexity and beauty of all Your systems on Earth.

Thank You for the exquisite balance that has cradled humanity. Thank You for the steady predictability of rain and heat that has for centuries allowed us to grow crops, husband livestock, and thrive.

As we wreak havoc on Your climate, especially through our insistent burning of fossil fuels, give us wisdom. Help us find our rightful place in the great fabric of Your creation.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

2. Druid peace prayer:

Deep within the still center of my being, may I find peace.

Quietly, within the silence of this grove, may I share peace.

Gently, within the greater circle of humankind, may I radiate peace.

—The Druid’s Prayer for Peace

3. Light a candle for Order:

At Soyal, I review the Divine Laws, as I see them, meditate and write about my priorities, and make plans for the coming year based on guidance from the Spirits. Today I am giving attention to my physical self-care and a new principle, the idea that I can grow to find peace and equanimity by learning to be in order with the universe.

Order: Cultivate the spiritual quality of Order, practicing habits of self-regulation and creative energy, instead of acting on impulse, or giving in to mental overwhelm.

Today I light a blue candle for Order, and ask the Spirits to bring the rain of loving care down upon the whole world. I ask:

What is my process for avoiding mental overwhelm? How do I practice the habits of intentionality, flexibility, and patience? How do I track and stay mindful to challenges and growth in self-regulation? 

 

What is my energy level? Am I getting enough sleep and exercise, and am I eating the right foods? Am I able to harness reserves of creative energy when I need them?

Am I showing care and kindness to my body with the little daily habits of respect, like brushing my hair and flossing?Do I need to schedule any health check-ups?

Am I getting enough time to relax and play, and how am I spending that time? Am I living within my budget?

What self-care habits do I most need to add now in my life, to give me greater energy and increase my health and well-being? What is holding me back from practicing these?

4. Read "Spirit Walker":

I'm reading this little book by Carolyn Scott Kotge (1998), with the subtitle, Fitness walking for clarity, balance, and spiritual connection. She equates walking to a regular meditation or mindfulness practice (which means I could obtain two things at once.)

Chapter 1 is In Step: Fitness for body, mind, and spirit. She begins by discussing the mental obstacles to just going for a daily walk, and being present and not "in your head". She says it is focus that connects body and mind in a walk: "Focus restores perspective. It transforms fitness 

walks into retreat of renewal and realignment."

"Simply following an exercise program, no matter what it is, can improve how you feel about yourself. ... walking has many parallels to life. Walkers move forward, take steps, go toward something. ...the action changes your perspective. It offers a fresh point of view."

Each chapter has an exercise suggestion that introduces a physical and mental skill. The first she calls Waltzing: 

1. Begin with 5 minutes of easy walking to get the kinks out.
2. Then bring attention to a comfortable gait, rhythmic arm swings, and a 3 syllable mantra - one syllable for each step. 3 syllables makes it a waltz rhythm. (She suggests I-Am-Here. I will try Guid-ing-Light.) The mantra helps to block out interfering thoughts, and the 3-beat walk requires a little more attention to maintain. Keep this up for 15 minutes.
3. End with a slower cool down walk, saying thank you for things that support and enrich my life.

5. Soyal retreat practices for order and self-care:

This Christmas I am using the Soyal Way of Being as a guide for my days; that is, I'm keeping Mother Earth in my thoughts as I move quietly and respectfully about my days, in order to establish the right mood for the coming year, and reach a unity of everything in the universe. Each day I will fit in some reading and writing, some focused walking, and some order-creation. At the end of the day I will brainstorm some goals and resolutions for 2026, based on guidance from God.

My practices today are:

1. Reorder and re-dedicate gift wrapping shelf, clearing away everything that distracts from its purpose; wrap some gifts. 
2. Waltz Walk to the locksmith (using the mantra Guide-ing-Light), and use movement and mindfulness to connect to creative energy and my guiding light.
3. Grub just a bit to gently connect to Mother Nature; move leaves to the west side path.

6. Self-care practices brainstorm:

Today I am brainstorming some goals and resolutions for my self-renewal practices - how I nurture the physical, mental, and spiritual parts of myself. I'm ready to upgrade my health habits, strengthen my body, improve my diet, and reduce my stress and overwhelm. I know I'd better start with small steps that I can easily maintain. My ideas so far for self-care renewal in 2026 are:

• Continue the habit of morning chair yoga stretches.
• Take a brisk walk - rain or shine - to get in touch with my climate and to move my muscles. Try the Spirited Walker exercises for mindfulness.
• Continue to try out new veggie recipes, and cook healthier meals. Plan my breakfasts and lunches better.
• Make myself a mental checklist for self-regulation that includes food, water, breathing, time alone, and other factors that account for mental overwhelm. Consider how do I practice the habits of intentionality, flexibility, and patience? 

7. Pre-K plans:

Our schedule includes a two-day pre-school, followed by a two-day Kindergarten program. I choose a different theme each week or so, with coloring pages, related outdoor projects, field trips, process art and basic art skills (drawing, painting, cutting, glueing, etc.).

This week the theme is God and our guiding light:

1. Put together the new easel and marble run.
2. Make candles and talk about winter darkness.
3. Talk about Inner voices (God) when we light the candles
4. Celebrate with a piñata party.
5. Read new Bluey book about family.
6. Pack and deliver cookies.
7. Put the baby in the creche and talk about Jesus.
8. Make a winter Nature tray collection.

8. Order and Home projects:

This month I set an intention to create order and simplicity in my sanctuary, so that everything I keep has a place, all things are honored, and I know what is in each space: Try a daily morning-10-things / aternoon-5-things ritual to help me break a habit of slothfulness (which is really mental overload), because outer order supports inner calm and resilience, and opens the time I need for being Godly. 

My goals this week:

1. Completely clear the kitchen table.
2. Clear the gift-wrapping shelf and throw out stuff I'll never use.
3. Sort through and clean out the food storage shelves.