At a bonfire last night, standing close as I could get for the warmth, I took part in a small wonderful celebration of the solstice, the longest and darkest night of the year.
Kelley Harrell, author of Gift of the Dreamtime, led this ceremony. The heart of it was her reminder that: OUT OF THE LONG DARKNESS CAN COME CREATIVITY. (I certainly have felt a burst of creativity after a difficult time, and then the same pattern again: almost like stitches in a fabric, the thread sinking, then reappearing.)
In last's night's cold, we each tossed into the fire some symbol of whatever we wished to be finished with from the past year. Because OUT OF DESTRUCTION, SOMETHING NEW must inevitably come.
I threw in a handful of dead leaves; I'd forgotten to bring a home-made symbol. Those leaves stood in for the dead, dry images of the "starving artist" stereotype, whatever limited ambitions I have had that allowed me to run a business that "gets by." This choice had emerged weeks ago from the Creative Capital seminar I've been writing about these recent days.
Now those no-longer-useful ideas are smoke that has dispersed out of existence. I replace them with practices that will allow me and my work to flourish.
For once, I do not fear that this is a New Year's Resolution that will go away. I know it's here to stay.
After solemnizing this vow, I warmed myself with a new taste sensation: hot chocolate made of white chocolate and laced with Triple Sec. Mon Dieu! it was good. A toast to all the births and re-births of the season!
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We did a similar ceremony here last night, but we use candles and read various poems and passages that speak to the longest night.
The horses were mesmerized by the candles. And very quiet, almost solemn, as they ate the treats we gave them at the end.
A new addition to our ritual was walking the path to the back of our property, through the woods, candles in hand to light the way. Quite powerful.
I have to say though - we did NOT end with such a decadent and yummy-sounding drink. I might have to add that to the menu for next year! :)
Perhaps I'll add horses to my solstice evening next year.
At a New Year's Eve party I went to on an icy night a few years ago, there was a huge fire outdoors next to a frozen pond with a path around it.
A couple of twenty-ish guests decided it would make an inspiring start to the year to run around the pond naked, each of them carrying a blazing torch.
I thought of it at first as a joke, but then it was a truly inspiring sight. Two beautiful young guys running in the distance, lit by their own flickering firelight. They ran like Olympians. They looked heroic. I felt as if I were seeing Adonis. In double.
But then one of them happened to bump a branch with his torch and set it on fire. The whole party safe by the campfire rose in alarm. Clothed people set off running toward the spreading fire. And the rest of us watched that naked fellow leaping and hopping as a frantic crowd raced toward him.
The fire was contained and finally doused. The damage was minimal.
The young man, a bit shaken, put his clothes back on and claimed the distinction of being among the few who'd ever tried to put out a forest fire naked.
I felt as if we'd all spent twenty minutes at the beginning of human life on earth. It was one rousing New Year's celebration.
How did I manage to do a double comment?
That New Year's celebration sounds fabulous - what a way to start a year!
Kenzie's idea of a solstice ritual involving the horses was to ride bareback with halters and lead ropes (no bridles) holding candles and galloping down the power cut behind our property. She possesses enough boldness for the both of us. :)
I meant to say before that I love the idea of creating the courage to flourish. Here's to bold strides forward in the coming year.
Thanks for creating the spirit a lovely evening, Peggy! Wishing you dazzling light into the new year =)
Thanks for the dazzling wishes, Kelley. The same to you.
Happy New Year to the Boldness Blog Community!
Thanks, Peggy, for the nudge to those of us who enjoy reading this blog, but don't respond much.
The issue of an artist's process is one of endless fascination to me, and one reason I love reading the entries on individual authors in the series "Contemporary Authors." William Stafford, for instance, got up really early most mornings to write before heading out to his job. Toni Morrison, the same. (I think she still has that regimen.) Lee Smith, on the other hand, has said that she can't see writing every day, she would worry about running out of things to say. She also talked about composing her novels as she was driving her sons to tennis lessons, and then just writing them out in a fell swoop when she got the chance.
The juggling act between my commitments and drives and limitations and strengths is a constant for me. What my focus is along the lines of "choose this moment, choose this day" is to feel more joy and acceptance of whatever I am doing, say, not having actively pursued my writing since October, but really attending to other things in my life, family and health etc.
Luckily, I have an artists' colony berth, at Ragdale in Chicago,for the month of February, and boy does that make my heart leap with joy!
As well as reading about Billie's horses on New Years. . . .
Amey, I like your approach of "joy and acceptance" for whatever is going on in the moment. That sure is a great antidote to the self-berating that I have frequently indulged in.
Happy New Year to you.
Sarah Lando, I did visit your blog about life as a park ranger. Nice story about the honeymoon couple. Does your job give you time to sit and listen to the wind in the trees? Or is that just a civilian fantasy?
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