Winter Solstice

Tomorrow evening here in the northern hemisphere is the Winter Solstice.  It is always my very most favorite organic/shamanic day of the year.  Unfortunately, because of my recent move to Utah, I will not be celebrating with a group of friends in my backyard.  This celebration, which I had been hosting for at least 14 years, always had involved a pot luck dinner, the creation of special sacred medicine bundles to set the intent for the New Year, and then a fire ceremony where those bundles were burned.  It is possible that I can gather a group here next year after I have met more spiritually minded people. 

So for now, I will do a bowl burning in my back yard, and I highly recommend that everyone reading this do some sort of ceremony.  For me, the Winter Solstice is the start of my New Year, thus the perfect time to let go of the past year’s trials and tribulations, and set a new template for the coming year.  Doing a bowl burning is a very simple yet effective process.  Supplies you will need are some sort of large bowl, preferably metal, Epsom salts, rubbing alcohol, a bamboo skewer, matches, and paper and pen. 

Sometime during the day, sit down and compose yourself.  On your paper, write down what you are releasing from the previous year.  You can write as much as you would like.  Then, write down your positive intent for the upcoming New Year.  This may be a shorter list, as this is not Santa’s Christmas wish list, but some simple statements of intent that will enhance your spiritual progress and process in the year to come.  This list is then attached to the bamboo skewer in any way that you would like. 

When the time comes to burn your list, always do it outside.  Pour some Epsom salts in the bowl, and add some alcohol.  Not too much, as that will drown out your lit match when you throw it into the bowl.   

Then, open a bubble of sacred space around you, light your fire, and energize your intent as stated on your paper.  Finally, toss your paper and skewer into the fire.  The purpose of the skewer is to keep your paper above the flames, as if you just throw the paper in, it will get soaked with the alcohol and may not burn completely.  Your skewer should burn completely, too.  Pay attention to anything energetic going on around you while doing your ceremony.  Surprising things may happen! 

Stay in contemplation by your fire until it is completely out.  Leave your bowl outside overnight, and then offer the Epsom salts and ashes to the Earth Mother.  Do not simply throw everything away. 

There you have it.  Do not let this once a year opportunity to slip by.  The energy on this day is very potent for manifestation. 

On another note, I drove down to St. George, Utah, yesterday to go hiking.  It is desert and about 3000 feet lower in elevation than Cedar City.  One can hike the trails almost all winter as long as it is not too muddy.  The header for this post is of the trail that I hiked.  Below are some more photos.