WINTER SOLSTICE

CANDLELIT YOGA EVENING

Saturday 21st December, 2019

4.00-7.00pm

Walton Village Hall

This beautiful, atmospheric, seasonal workshop is always the most popular on the calendar. We start at dusk, and watch the light slowly disappear until we are illuminated only by the glow of the candles. The evening will begin with some sumptuously slow yoga, deeply connecting to our breath and body, interwoven with some meditative Yin Yoga.

Our Solstice Ceremony will follow, where we honour the passing year, and welcome in the coming year. Our focus for 2020 will be new beginnings, a rebirth, and a shedding of all that has passed. Quiet reflection and meditation comes next, with some optional soft chanting. And finally, we end the evening with a deep relaxation backed by a live performance of soft, nurturing mantras. Lie back and enjoy!

This year we we are returning to Walton Village Hall to enjoy the timber frames and the dancing shadows of this traditional tudor building.

Winter Solstice: A time of new beginnings, rebirth, starting afresh.

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Winter Solstice 2019

2019 has been a difficult year for many. A lot of changes have had to be assimilated. Far more political unrest than most of us have ever experienced. Feelings of incomprehension of how the world is evolving. Our theme for the Solstice Ceremony this year is one of bringing new beginnings, a fresh new energy into our lives and into the wider world. Moving out of the physical darkness of winter, and the psychological darkness of the current state of affairs, and bursting forth with renewed vigour, with light in our hearts and love in our souls.

Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere takes place on Sunday 22nd December at 04.19am. This is the point when the sun is at its most southerly position. On this day, the sun rises later and sets earlier than any other day of the year. It hangs low and weak in the sky during the brief daylight hours, barely rising above the treeline. Daytime shadows are at their longest.

This is the time of the shortest day, and the longest night of the year. A time for resting. For renewing. For retreating. A time for celebration also, welcoming the return of the light as the sun makes it’s way back northwards and we start the journey back towards summer.

Solstice Ceremony 2019

Bringing Light

We will each light our own space with fairy lights, battery candles and well-contained, flame and spill proof tea lights. Jam jars create a wonderful holder for tea lights! Due to the highly inflammable nature of this old, wooden-framed building, we cannot have any candles and only tea lights if they are in a very tall container.

Bringing Hope

For the ceremony, you might like to bring along something that represents a symbol of hope.

Bringing Friends

For the relaxation part of the evening, this year I have invited my lovely friend, talented musician and Joyful Heart Kirtan parter Alison Foster to provide some live music while you ease into the stillness. We will play quietly and softly in the background, chanting some nurturing mantras while you soften and relax body, mind and soul.

Sharing Love

This year there will be time before we close to come together and share some food and a warm drink, to talk and connect. These will be provided but you are welcome to bring and share also.