by Deborah Globus
There’s just 6 days to go until to the shortest day of the year. That makes the night of Tuesday, December 22nd the longest night of the year. That’s a lot of dark.
The idea behind this ritual is to experience that dark within the safety and security of your home. In today’s culture of cheap and easy electricity, and technology we don’t get to experience a whole lot of darkness.
Seriously – even if I could turn off all the computers, cable boxes, UPSs, and clocks, I’d still have a streetlamp glaring in my living room window. Real darkness is our homes can be hard to come by.
But let’s try!
The idea behind this ritual is to experience that dark within the safety and security of your home. In today’s culture of cheap and easy electricity, and technology we don’t get to experience a whole lot of darkness.
Seriously – even if I could turn off all the computers, cable boxes, UPSs, and clocks, I’d still have a streetlamp glaring in my living room window. Real darkness is our homes can be hard to come by.
But let’s try!
What You’ll Need
- One tea light for each room of the house (place in a safe place, possibly in the middle of the room)
- One taper
- Matches or a lighter
Create Your Sacred Space
Here’s a lovely winter-themed calling of the quarters (the four directions) from Midnight Moonchild:
Facing North say:
"Earth beneath a blanket white
mountain peaks in frozen night
Bring Stability be now with me
all through this night renew the light
Spirit of the Earth, Welcome."
Facing East say:
"Winter gales of blizzard chill
silent, frozen, dark, and still
Bring Clarity be now with me
all through this night renew the light
Spirit of the Air, Welcome."
Facing South say:
"Flame and heat defy the cold
hearthfire burning warm and bold
Bring Purity be now with me
all through this night renew the light
Spirit of the Fire, Welcome."
Facing West say:
"Frost and ice and fallen snow
crystal waters frozen flow
Bring Empathy be now with me
all through this night renew the light
Spirit of the Water, Welcome."
Declare your intention by saying:
On this Solstice night we celebrate the return of the light and bless our home with it!
"Earth beneath a blanket white
mountain peaks in frozen night
Bring Stability be now with me
all through this night renew the light
Spirit of the Earth, Welcome."
Facing East say:
"Winter gales of blizzard chill
silent, frozen, dark, and still
Bring Clarity be now with me
all through this night renew the light
Spirit of the Air, Welcome."
Facing South say:
"Flame and heat defy the cold
hearthfire burning warm and bold
Bring Purity be now with me
all through this night renew the light
Spirit of the Fire, Welcome."
Facing West say:
"Frost and ice and fallen snow
crystal waters frozen flow
Bring Empathy be now with me
all through this night renew the light
Spirit of the Water, Welcome."
Declare your intention by saying:
On this Solstice night we celebrate the return of the light and bless our home with it!
Allow the Dark
Now’s the time to see just how reliant on electricity we are!
For this ritual, you’ll want to get as close to full darkness as you can. Close the curtains turn off the computers and tablets…even your phone. Power off that cable box.
Note: don’t make yourself crazy. This is as much about recognizing the light in our homes as it is about experiencing the dark. Awareness is its own reward (and eye-opener!)
If you have children – send them on a mission to find all the places in your home that emit light. Microwave clocks are a HUGE source of light. My coffeemaker emits a lovely light that paints my kitchen in shades of blue.
If you don’t have children, go on the mission yourself. Search out the light and banish it. See what it’s like to feel the closeness and the stillness of the dark. Let your home emulate the natural world.
And feel the dis-ease that comes with it. It’s unnerving to be in the dark. It’s uncomfortable to not have our bright shiny distractions to take us away from this fear of all things “not light.”
This is Nature. This is ebb and flow. This is dark...and light.
But the Solstice is the turning point. The longest night…that then gives way to the return of the sun, and longer days from here on out.
We are not meant to dwell forever in darkness.
For this ritual, you’ll want to get as close to full darkness as you can. Close the curtains turn off the computers and tablets…even your phone. Power off that cable box.
Note: don’t make yourself crazy. This is as much about recognizing the light in our homes as it is about experiencing the dark. Awareness is its own reward (and eye-opener!)
If you have children – send them on a mission to find all the places in your home that emit light. Microwave clocks are a HUGE source of light. My coffeemaker emits a lovely light that paints my kitchen in shades of blue.
If you don’t have children, go on the mission yourself. Search out the light and banish it. See what it’s like to feel the closeness and the stillness of the dark. Let your home emulate the natural world.
And feel the dis-ease that comes with it. It’s unnerving to be in the dark. It’s uncomfortable to not have our bright shiny distractions to take us away from this fear of all things “not light.”
This is Nature. This is ebb and flow. This is dark...and light.
But the Solstice is the turning point. The longest night…that then gives way to the return of the sun, and longer days from here on out.
We are not meant to dwell forever in darkness.
Invite In the Light
In the heart of your home (the kitchen, the living room, the bedroom – what feels most right to you?) light the first tea light - the symbol of your modern-day “hearth.”
From this hearth fire, light the taper. Carry this fire from room to room, lighting the tea light in each room. As you enter each room, send silent blessings to it. Think about all you use it for, the ways it supports you, and happy memories from the past year.
If you’re doing this as a family, you can share these memories out loud.
Add any wishes and/or intentions for the room for the upcoming year. (Here’s an idea for your bedroom and another for a child’s room.)
Move from room to room until there is a light lit in each one.
From this hearth fire, light the taper. Carry this fire from room to room, lighting the tea light in each room. As you enter each room, send silent blessings to it. Think about all you use it for, the ways it supports you, and happy memories from the past year.
If you’re doing this as a family, you can share these memories out loud.
Add any wishes and/or intentions for the room for the upcoming year. (Here’s an idea for your bedroom and another for a child’s room.)
Move from room to room until there is a light lit in each one.
Finishing Up
Close your ritual with this:
"Crystal waters frozen flow
Hearthfire burning warm and bright
Winter gale of blizzards blow
Earth of frozen mountain might
My thanks for guidance granted me
stay or go as you shall please
hail and farewell, and blessed be."
Gather up all your room candles and put them in one place (for safety.) Decide if you want to spend the evening in candlelight or begin turning back on the electronics, staying mindful of their influence.
Perhaps you’ll want to light a Yule fire, adding wishes for the future and your family to the wishes and intentions you’ve set for your home.
"Crystal waters frozen flow
Hearthfire burning warm and bright
Winter gale of blizzards blow
Earth of frozen mountain might
My thanks for guidance granted me
stay or go as you shall please
hail and farewell, and blessed be."
Gather up all your room candles and put them in one place (for safety.) Decide if you want to spend the evening in candlelight or begin turning back on the electronics, staying mindful of their influence.
Perhaps you’ll want to light a Yule fire, adding wishes for the future and your family to the wishes and intentions you’ve set for your home.
Wishing you and yours a blessed Solstice and much love and light in the coming year. Merry meet, merry part, ‘til merry meet again.
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