Winter SolstiCelebration 2005
Long before there was Christmas, Hanukkah or even New Year’s Day, there was Winter Solstice, the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year. On this date, the Sun in its apparent passage east to west across the sky has gone from being nearly overhead in the hot summer to shifting downward a little more each day until its path was as low to the horizon as it could go. At that winter moment, so dark and cold, the ever consistent Sun seemed to halt in its path, rising and setting in the same spot for three days in a row before shifting directions and heading north again. Winter Solstice is the middle day; the word solstice means "Sun stands still."
Cast into the darkness of the longest night of the year, people chose this date to gather, forming a circle to affirm the continual cycle of life and burning a Yule Log to evoke the increasing light. Thousands of years later, now in the urban city rather than the wilderness, we still feel a need to observe the Solstice in a way that connects us with our roots as human beings and celebrates the Earth and our shared bonds.
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13th annual Winter SolstiCelebration
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
seating music at 6:30 / service 7 to 9 pm / social hour 9 to 10 pm
Location: Cathedral of Hope
5910 Cedar Springs at Inwood
northeast corner, access from Nash St. off Inwood, map at http://www.cathedralofhope.com/contact/where.php
FREE -- donations gladly accepted
For pictures from last year by JR Compton
Come and see why 700 folks think Winter SolstiCelebration is an essential part of their holidays! Whole-bodied and experiential, singing, dancing, chanting, yoga and loads of participatory rituals are blended with fine performances. Afterwards is a social hour of groove music and great food prepared with love.
In our 13th year, we return to the World Tree theme, where the event gets its roots (ar ar ar...). The event will be framed as a story about the People of the Tree who gathered in a forest clearing on Winter Solstice. It then follows how the people developed over time, yet never let go of their roots.
!!! ~ Please bring a small flashlight to create a special moment ~ !!!
We’ll be accepting donations of canned meat/fish and fruit for the Cathedral of Hope food pantry.
More information: http://www.moonlady.com/crc_wsol.html
Hotline: 972-999-1337
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PERFORMANCES
- poet Karen X
- storyteller Tim Couch
- singer Debbie Ramaker
- dancer Karen MacIntyre
- shamanic healers Spirit Moon Community
- singer/dancer Lora Cain
- baritone Matt Woodbury
- harpist Geoffrey Ricketts
- trumpeter Freddie Jones
- ritualist and writer Amy Martin
- singer/songwriter Annie Benjamin
- percussionist Michael Kenny & friends
- children's yoga class from Priya Yoga
- Ya Elbe ("the heart") dancers, drummers and musicians
- storytellers Gene and Peggy Helmick-Richardson
- No Rhyme or Reason Native American flute circle,
- the dreamsicles (Tom Prasada-Rao & Cary Cooper)
- vocalist Lainey Bernstein
RITUALS
- Mayan greeting chant
- a nut for your life dreams
- communal bringing back the light -- please bring a small flashlight
- World Tree song and dance celebration
- community formation of the World Tree
- invoking the spirits by Spirit Moon Shamanic Community
- New Year dance procession through Sun and Moon gates
POST-EVENT SOCIAL HOUR
- groove music by Tao Jonesin’ (Kim Corbet and Chad Evans)
- surprise bits of wisdom from the Wyld Professor, otherwise known as Boudreaux T. Wyldmon, Swamp King and Hoodoo Mage (aka Bradley Ellis)
- fun food with vegan bread by Bread Haus, cinnamon bread from and Kalachandji's, cakes by Amy (not Amy Martin), homemade jams by Milo and others, and baked goods and fun food presented by participating circles of the American Tradition of the Goddess, with organic coffee from Crosby Cafe & Catering
LOBBY ACTION
- Kids of all ages can get a free picture taken with Ed Townley as Father Winter in his sumptuous new costume by Luna of Mystic Moon Mansion. Get a digital of yourself with the big guy by Jennifer Walz of Sentient Photography.
- Learn about Celebration Tree Grove and the reforesting of White Rock Lake being organized by For the Love of the Lake.
- Peace Zone: Fold origami cranes with Jo Wharton of Cranes Fly for Peace and and learn about the upcoming international women’s peace conference being held in Dallas.
- Tie your ribbon on the Peace Prayer Tree presented by Center for Spiritual Living’s Living Peace Ministry.
- Meet folks from the Dallas Peace Center and other peace groups.
- Peruse the Community Flier Table or the Holistic Helper table and pick up fliers and such on the many aspects of our community. You are invited to bring your flier, business card or brochure.