The Thundering Years by Julie Tallard Johnson

Author:Julie Tallard Johnson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Teens/Self-Help
ISBN: 9781594776076
Publisher: Inner Traditions / Bear & Company
Published: 2011-12-19T16:00:00+00:00

What you will need for this ritual:

candles, menorah, and other sources of light

mistletoe, holly, and other herbs of the season

large ceramic or metal bowl

small thin strips of paper

objects that represent light and the new year approaching

ritual fire (outdoors in fire pit or indoors in fireplace)

Solstice tree

Altar

You may want to include mistletoe, holly, or other herbs and objects that represent the new year (light) approaching, as well as your hopes for this coming year. Instead of an altar, you may decorate and light a Solstice tree. Make sure in your planning that everyone brings a candle and a candleholder if you are going to light candles.

Heart of the Ritual

The ritual can include letting go of the darkness that is passing. What would you like to let go of that has caused you pain, sadness, or hopelessness? Sit quietly together in a circle during the darkest moment of the solstice ( your local newspaper will tell you when this is). Think about what you want to let go of as the darkest moment passes. Then, when the time has passed (about three to five minutes) have someone light a candle in the center of the circle. Have a large ceramic or metal bowl next to the candle. Write down those things you want to release on a small, thin piece of paper. Then either tear up or burn the small strips of thin paper, and release what’s left of them into the bowl. You can announce to the group what you are letting go of, or you can release it in silence. If the ritual is done outside, you can release the paper or other symbolic objects into a fire. The fire should be lit after the period of darkness and meditation is over.

When everyone is done releasing the old, it is time to bring more light into the ritual and into your lives.

This part of the ritual will be a way of celebrating the light. You can turn on the lights of your Solstice tree, light candles in the room, or carefully light candles on a traditional Solstice tree. As you light a candle announce out loud a prayer or hope you have for yourself and for others. There’s great strength felt in sharing a prayer with people who care for you and want your prayer to come true. You then have several others carrying this hope for you in their hearts and minds.

Spring Equinox Ritual (March 20–23)

Spring Equinox is a time when the day and night are equal in length, when plants begin to burst forth from the earth, when leaves appear on the trees, when the earth around us begins to warm up. Spring is a time to celebrate renewal and joy! Most people feel surges of creative energy during this time of year. It’s the season many people claim to fall in love. You can tap in to this energy through this ritual. Look at all the plant life that is coming alive; notice how the sun is warmer and the days are longer.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.