A Virtual Winter Solstice Ritual Celebration
Ritual is an essential part of life. It grounds and connects
us to the ongoing cycles and seasons of our lives,
and to community. For some, the rituals they were raised with
feel meaningful and supportive. However, for many,
the rituals they were raised with no longer speak to them
and can feel stale or obligatory.
Every year I light Hanukkah candles in my tree of life menorah to honor my physical ancestors and give thanks for blessings. To do this in an authentic way for myself I’ve crafted my own prayers, and I change them every year. Sometimes repetition invokes power and sometimes presence does, so I combine them. I always light the first candle in gratitude for the blessing of being able to give thanks…and each candle lit is accompanied by my saying aloud, "I light this candle in gratitude for the blessing of _____" and I wait until something comes to me, then I light the candle. Each night the power and potency rises as I repeat each spontaneous expression of gratitude from the night(s) before.
Over the years I’ve lit the candles in gratitude for the blessings of family, friends, health, creativity, and so forth. On the first three nights this year I spontaneously chose words that began with the letter “I”, and then just had to keep going with it, for the fun of the challenge! So this year I lit my candles in gratitude for the blessings of Intuition, Imagination, Integrity, Intelligence, and several more “I” words, concluding with giving thanks for the blessing of the: Irresistible power of love!
Begin this holiday season with a meaningful and joyful community celebration! Please join in as we evoke our earth connection, personal transformations, and social justice in a ritual with song, movement, poetry, meditation and more! Your children are welcome, too!
(The NY Open Center is providing a recording of the event, available to stream for 90 days afterwards.)
Connect with your inner light
during this unprecedented
time of Radical Transformation...
The Sacred Circle is held with the help of Kate Belew, Molly Suggs, and Paul Petrosky.
Kate Belew is a Brooklyn-based Writer, Poet, Storyteller, and Witch from the Midwest. Her work spans genres and spaces including poetry, nonprofits, immersive theatre, health & wellness, herbalism, witchcraft, and the psychedelic. Learn more about Kate's work at katebelew.com or @k8belew on IG
Paul Petrosky is an embodiment guide and dance catalyst based in Austin, TX. He is devoted to helping people reconnect to their sense of joy and play through the healing power of movement, dance and nature. Find out more about Paul's work on IG @bodysoulelectric or FB @petropolis
Molly Suggs is a celebrated consciousness and wellness practitioner and educator. She has dedicated her life to the process of ritual, healing, personal discovery and conscious activism. With over 12 years of experience as a coach and guide, she has worked with individuals, families, and organizations longing for a deeper connection with themselves, each other and the world around. Learn more about Molly's work at mollysuggs.com or @mollysuggs on IG
Green Blessings and love,
Robin Rose
~*~