Happy Solstice!

I'm so blessed to learn from my grown kids. Sometimes it makes me wish to do it over again with all this new knowledge and wisdom but...nah...I'm happy to watch my grandkids benefit from the fresh awesome.

In response to a question "Ali, what do you do with your littles for solstice?", my lovely daughter, mother of Kaia and Orion took the the time to write this out from her home in Big Sky, Montana.

Until she has her own blog, here's me sharing her words, complete with her fancy vocab and more importantly with her permission.

"We do a nature walk and gather pieces of nature to put on our altar. We do this every solstice and equinox, same walk, so we talk about impermanence and the way things change throughout the seasons, from the sky to the earth and between. For the winter solstice we light all the candles in the house and talk about the longest coldest night and how we want to spread cheerfulness and sharing with our loved ones and neighbors which keeps us cozy and stalwart through the cold so that we may bloom again in spring and flourish in summer, and harvest in fall, and share the bounty in the winter. We ask the sun to come back to us and bless us with light and warmth. Each year the kids get more and more aware of the world so we add on where there's room to add. The winter is mostly about being cozy and thinking about how to share coziness with each other and our friends.

Personally, I also like to do a yoga and personal fire ritual. It's usually just a candle but I burn away things that aren't serving to make room for new things that do. It's mostly internal stuff but I've had actual fires and burned actual stuff too.

I made a wreath from tree trimmings last year for symbolism of the seasons, of using all that we harvest, and of invitation to others who need some cheer/warming.

My traditions aren't very fully fleshed yet but like I said, as my kids grow we will add more and I hope they will have ideas for things they want to include too. Part of that is asking and making room for them to feel part of the conversation instead of just the recipients of my infinite wisdom.

Today I did a yoga practice with my friend and her teacher, and this teacher talked about how the winter solstice is the great mother who gives birth to the sun, and that the solstice is representative of those last moments before birth where all is quiet and still but with tremendous potential. I love that sentiment."

Thank you, Ali.

Peace, love and light to my readers. May you have a joy and wisdom filled season. And if it's from your kids? Lucky you!

Tori