Day 355: 12/22/11- Winter Solstices Yoga Advent Spiral

Day 355: 12/22/11
New Thing: Winter Solstices Yoga Advent Spiral                                   

Inspiration: The Winter Solstices, Amy, Advent         
Cost: $0   
Time: About a hour and a half          
Bottom Line: An amazing practice

Reflection: Today is the winter solstice when we enter into the longest night of the year and start our journey back to the light. To celebrate, my yoga teacher, Amy, set up an Advent spiral on the floor of our practice space. An Advent spiral is a large path (like a labyrinth) created of pine greenery which made the room smell amazing. In the center stands a large pillar candle, lit. Outside of the spiral stands a tray with several small candles. One person at a time carries an unlit candle into the center of the spiral and then lights their candle from the large central candle symbolizing the Light of Christ. On your way out of the spiral, you are invited to leave you candle on the path and by the end of the meditation, the whole spiral is glowing with people's lights. Then we went through our yoga practice around the spiral.

It was so beautiful and a powerful reminder of the light of Christ which shatters all darkness and is about to be born at Christmas.