As winter solstice draws near, the in-breath is completed. The earth soul has drawn its forces down beneath the soil. The earth elementals (gnomes) have become intensely active underground, moving at will through the layers of rock and mineral.
In the winter night, the moon rises high in the sky, staying for about fifteen hours above the horizon, while the day time sun is gone after only nine or so hours. The moon, which regulates the ether body of the earth, now has a greater influence than the sun.
Our own consciousness is intensified in winter when our thinking life, which is connected to the gnomes, becomes active. It is especially in the activity of thinking that our ego manifests itself. It is in these times that we are being asked to stay conscious and free from despair and loss of hope—to remember the light in the darkness.
The source of energy we need is the “inner” light, the sunlight that was absorbed into the earth during the spring and summer and that is now, in winter, present beneath the ground and transformed into the spiritual light within.
We will gather together and walk the spiral one by one (parent and child) and light our lantern in the centre. We will be singing our songs the children have learned. The spiral-walk and lighting the candle represents our journey within and finding our inner light. Winter solstice has been regarded as especially sacred and a time to remember to bestow love and light on all living beings on the planet.
Warm wishes to all,
Carina Halliday
Playgroup