Winter Solstice and Fourth Sunday of Advent

Photo by Alan Gillespie

The winter solstice occurs this morning at 7:02 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. In the Northern Hemisphere, the December solstice happens during the coldest season of the year, when the sun is at its lowest angle and is seen for its shortest period. This is the turning point, the moment of new beginnings - the darkest time, with the brightest hope.

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). 

We need to believe in these little myths - that the sun is returning and hope is reborn - so that we can continue to believe in the Big Myths, like justice, mercy, democracy, freedom - "That sort of thing".

“Humans need fantasy to be human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape.” ~Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

 

Also, the fourth and final part of advent begins today, and I have already begun an intentional period of introspection: A Winter Retreat Brainstorm for the Next Year, and today I am looking at my Spiritual self. In one of my favorite books, "It's a Meaningful Life; It Just Takes Practice," by Bo Lozoff (2000), Bo describes why to create a personal spiritual practice - because "We must be willing to do the spiritual work that gradually brings us into communion with what is eternal and divine within us". 

Bo says that daily spiritual practice is how we clear the slate so that bad habits can't as easily flourish, and also to become more aware of the depths of our being. We practice so that our default mode becomes generally more spiritual than worldly, and we develop an equanimity that helps us breeze through life.

Agenda:

1. Read a novena

2

. Plan ways to give attention to God

3. 

Light a candle for integrity

4. Read "The Earth Keeper's Handbook"

5. Soyal retreat practices for spirit

6. Spiritual practices brainstorm

7. Make candles for solstice

8. Advent wreath ceremony

9. Solstice dinner

1. Read a novena:

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

Day 6: A Prayer for the Air

Creator God, we give thanks for the air. We thank you for our enjoyment of its caress. Thank You for the soft play of wind in the treetops and the warm touch of a breeze against our faces. Thank You for the air we breathe, for the breaths we draw every moment.

As we warm the air of Your Earth, help us understand its mighty power, its ability to not only caress but to destroy. As we pollute the air of Your Earth, help us understand how essential it is to breathe itself.

In this season of Advent, give us understanding, and give us the will to use our understanding well.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

2. Plan ways to give attention to God:

This week of advent my focus is the Guiding Light of God. This is a good day to take a deep breath and go back to the source, back to the Spirit that brings me to this place of light and grace; back to living in Spirit, being Spirit. I remember then that happiness comes in calm simplicity, and awareness in the moment. I experience Spirit through my breath, and with each sensation, sight, sound, smell, and taste. I only need to be fully awake to the ordinary miracle of Being, and keep my focus on the Spirit of Love that guides me.

My image of God is the Creator Spirit of earth and sky, and the Love and Light that lives in all people. I try to live always awake and listening for the message of Love, and always feel a connection to Creation, but I get distracted. I want to have a more effectual connection to God, and so this week I'll practice and improve my mindfulness habits.

Things to do this week to give attention to the Spirit of God:

• Each morning as I wake, pause to take a slow breath, and center on the Light within. Stay in this gentle meditation as I get dressed and move through my morning.
• Go on an Awareness Walk, and send prayers to my loved ones, all the people of the world, and to the earth.
• Start an Inner Guide trance practice, to access new insights.
• Light candles to remind me that the Spirit of God is our guiding Light.

Seneca said: “You are a fragment of God; ... Will you not bear in mind, whenever you eat, who you are that eat, and whom you are nourishing? ... Whenever you mix in society, whenever you take physical exercise, whenever you converse, do you not know that you are nourishing God, exercising God?”

3.

 Light a candle for integrity:

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 spiritual self, ethics, and integrity. 

Integrity: Be whole and undivided, and hold to my values and principles.

Today I light a purple candle for Spirit - my guiding Light, and ask the Spirits to bring the rain of loving care down upon the whole world. I ask:

What part of my spiritual life is in need of attention? What kinds of awareness practices have worked for me in the past? What new kinds of practices sound fun and fascinating? 

Where do I need to align in better integrity? What virtuous habits and behaviors would I like to try to build, that will help me to act with greater love and responsibility, and will also renew my soul?

What practices would help me to get a better picture of my purpose in life, who I want to be, and what I want to contribute? 

What practices would help me to open to a Higher Power, or the possibility of a Higher Power?

4. Read "The Earth Keeper's Handbook":

I'm reading this book by Loren Swift (2019), subtitled "Assuming Leadership in a New World." The premise is that lack of care for each other (people) results in lack of care for the earth. "This book details the practical steps to shift the paradigm internally from conflict to cooperation and to make the same shift in relationships and in group endeavors." Well, that is the work I need to do this fall and winter.

The first section is The Way In, and Chapter 3 is The Science of Oneness, which moves slowly towards a practice she calls Embodying Universal Qualities of Life in the Spectrum of Love (really flows off the tongue). 

The first point is intentionality - When we have a clear understanding of personal values and the qualities of life that motivate us, then we can generate them intentionally.

The second point is universal qualities (Needs), which are the commonalities of shared humanity. "Any life-serving experience we desire can be named by a universal quality of life ... The way we accomplish it is a strategy for fulfilling that experience and expressing the quality of life we're after."  When I understand the Need under the desire I can get creative with the strategy. So when I brainstorm my goals I should also dig to find the universal Need it is serving.

5. Soyal retreat practices for spirit:

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 clear the kitchen table for a family gathering.
2. Walk around my entire yard and house, quietly and respectfully, saying a prayer of welcome to all who enter, and take some seasonal photos.
3. Grub just a bit to gently connect to Mother Nature; move some leaves to the west side to cover the path.

6. Spiritual practices brainstorm:

Today I will take a deep look at how I nurture the spiritual parts of myself - and make plans for the new year.

Spiritual nurturance has (at least) four parts: Awareness practices, such as meditation or journaling; soul searching, which is the ongoing quest to understand my purpose and intentions; virtue habits - the values and principles that guide my moral life; and opening to God or a higher power.

Journal: My focuses for spiritual practice in 2026 might be Perspective, Order, and Empathy. I want to develop new habits to help me become disciplined with equanimity, and have energy for order (mental and physical). Also, I want to be sure to get outside every day with a focused awareness practice.

Spiritual growth is the basis for a better and more harmonious life, a life of calmness, clarity, courage, and inner strength. Some ideas:

1. Continue to study Perspective and keep a "new narrative" journal, as a tool for creative shifts in awareness.
2. A personal Empathy Practice using Ongo and other reading to be more mindful of our shared humanity, and understand my own values and needs.
3. Daily outdoor walk to reconnect to Nature and my body.
4. Cultivate the spiritual quality of Order, practicing habits of self-control and creative energy, instead of acting on impulse.

7. Make candles:

Fire is central to the symbolism of this season. Our ancestors lit fires to remind the sun to return, and we light candles to recreate those ancient winter fire ceremonies. I find it satisfying to make a supply of my own candles each year, to use and to give as gifts, and Solstice is an ideal time to do that.

8. Advent wreath ceremony:

Tonight we will light four advent candles, and recite four prayers: 

"We light the first candle for the earth, which sustains us. May we cherish and care for it."

"We light the second candle for all the people of the world. May we find unity and peace."

"We light the third candle for our family and the joy and love we bring each other."

"We light the fourth candle for the Spirit of God in each of us, which is our guiding light."

9. Solstice dinner and pudding:

We will gather today at our house for a big ham and potatoes feast.

After our feast we will reheat the Christmas pudding I made a month ago, by steaming it again for about an hour, then slide it out of the pudding basin onto a plate.

Then we will put some brandy into a metal ladle (about 1/4-cup), heat it over a candle flame until it steams a bit, set it on fire with a match, and pour the flaming brandy over the warm pudding.

This is really worth the effort! We turn the lights out and the blue flame dances all over the pudding for a minute or more.