Chalice Well Wheel of the Year: Winter Solstice 2011

Winter Solstice 2011

22 December

Winter Solstice occurs when the axial tilt of the earth’s polar hemisphere is farthest away from the sun, meaning the sun is closer to the horizon than at any other time in the year.

This is often seen as a still point, a space between the ending and the beginning. A moment which contains not the absence of life but the presence of life. In the dreaming, life considers the regeneration and conception of itself. 

People began to gather on the lower lawns before the ceremony.

Sophie Knock, a Chalice Well Trustee, welcomed everyone to Chalice Well and opened the ceremony.

Merlin led the celebrants through a full 360 degree turn of the circle. Then Merlin asked those gathered to take a few minutes silence, an opportunity to consider that which we wish to let go of, mentally or emotionally, and choose to leave behind us.

Natasha Wardle called on the golden light within us all to begin the re-awakening, to restart the wheel and call back the light.

Sophie, Natasha, Lokabandhu and Merlin (out of shot left) lighting the solstice fire from north, south, east and west, representing the returning of the light.

Once lit Merlin asked those gathered to circle around the fire in the opposite direction. As the days begin to lengthen and a new year begins new opportunities and new ideas start to form and take shape. Out of the dreaming comes the being.

Lokabandhu asked that we all take into our hearts the light of the fire and, turning to face out from the circle, send the light and love around the world.

After the ceremony...

We were entertained by the fabulous harmonies of the Avalonian Free State Choir who were in fine voice as always.

And to close the festivities the wonderful Silver Twiglets, led by Tim Hall, sang some traditional winter folk songs.