Celebrating Winter Solstice On Dec 10 2023

 

Picture credit to my brother.

Some folks have asked how we celebrate Winter Solstice.  Each year it is slightly different.  This year, I was guided to have our celebration early because of the weather ahead so we scheduled for the 10th of December.  Winter Solstice is about the shortest day and the longest night.  By having our celebration on the Sunday, 11 days early, we had a bit more daylight and we started early…at 4 PM. 

We have a group - our tribe - that comes to our meditations and celebrations.  Including my husband and me, we had 17 people in front of the fire.  Yes, we have a fire to light the way and to carry away all that we throw to it.

Our steps for the evening included:

1. Smudging everyone
2. Drumming
3. Welcome and quick overview of what will be happening
4. Opening Sacred Space
5. The theme
6. Breathing exercise to support the theme
7. Meeting the guides for this evening
8. Several quick meditations
9. Sharing Circle
10. Closing Sacred Space

The experiences that folks had were amazing!  It was fun for all of us.  The evening helped to wipe out some anxiety and restore balance.  The energy was so high!  It all felt right.

Blessings,

Judy

Thunder and Rain

We are the Angels that look after the rain.  We like to announce the rain with the sound of thunder because it so much like the sound of big drums!  Rain is for washing and cleaning the air and the earth.  Animals that do not like to swim love their showers from the rain.

Rain is a way to bring oxygen and light to Earth.  The more rain, the more light, as contradictory as that sounds.  Bringing light to Earth is a matter of physics – H2O – two hydrogen and one oxygen bring down a little light.  

Rain causes people to be alone with their thoughts; to be self assessing.  This is perhaps why so many people feel that rain causes depression.  It is not the rain; it is one’s thoughts!  If your thoughts, your life, and your world are clean, then you will enjoy the rain because it brings in new life.

Rain is for crops and gardens, for flowers and trees, for meadows and for creeks, for sleeping and for meditation.  It is the moisture that keeps the sparkle in all of life. 

Enjoy the rain!

Many blessings,

Judy

My First Drum

 

Picture is from the website native-drums.ca 

My first drum came to me in 2001 when I was out in Vancouver.  I was in this great shop of indigenous crafts and clothing.  The lady managing the store asked me what I was looking for and I told her that I was guided to the store to buy a drum but that I was not seeing a drum that called to me.  She said, “Aaahhh.  Wait a minute.”  

She came back about five minutes later carrying a beautiful drum.  She said, “I think this drum is for you.  It just came in this morning.  It is made by a young lady after her first moon and brings the strength of the young girl now woman and her Ancestors. She said that the first drum that a person makes is special and that she was guided to not keep it.”

I took the drum and the drum stick and gently beat the drum.  The tone was powerful but gentle and vibrated through my body.  I knew the drum was for me.  I turned the drum over and there was a little carved paddle attached to one of the support sinews.  I asked what the paddle was for.  The manager replied that it was a gift of good luck.  Again, I knew the drum was for me.  I beat out a few more notes and happily paid for the drum.

I took it back to the house we were staying at, and smudged the drum and hugged it and introduced myself.  I asked the drum for its name but it was not ready to share it with me.  During the next week, we were at several drumming sessions.  Every time I played her, my drum sounded sweeter.  And yes, eventually the drum gave me her name.

Now twenty some years later, the drum is still beautiful and still sounds sweet.  She hangs on the wall in our meditation room when I am not drumming.

Clients and students have asked me if they should buy a drum or make a drum.  I have made several drums.  Each is different.  My first drum still resonates with me the most.  I do not think it matters whether you buy a drum or make a drum as long as the drum or the drum making process speaks to you at a soul level.  I think everyone should have a drum for the resonance of the drum beat creates balance and healing like nothing else.

Many blessings,

Judy

Winter Solstice 2022

 

                                                   Winter Deer - By D. Hirst November 2022

Over the last twenty years, I have attended quite a few winter solstice events and hosted a dozen or so winter solstice ceremonies with my husband.  We love the time of the longest night as the celebration of the closing of Nature’s year and the welcoming of the new year ahead.  There is excitement about moving from a short amount of daylight to a day that gets longer light.

Past celebrations start with smudging all the guests and then creating a sacred space to hold the ceremony. After the sacred space is invoked, I lead several short meditations, we have some drumming and fire ceremony - even if it is the fireplace - and close with a sharing circle and then closing the sacred space.  After the ceremony, we have food and chatting and laughing.  

The ceremony, for me, is a tradition that helps me keep my spiritual balance through out the year.  It is a time where the camaraderie of the Tribe of people that attend our gatherings increases the energy of the prayers and meditations that we do, and, increases the energy in our house. 

I am grateful for our celebrations and togetherness.  I wish you peace, love, and sanctuary at this Winter Solstice.

Blessings,

Judy