There are two essentials we use in in crafting our winter solstice celebration every year. The book, The Winter Solstice: The Sacred Traditions of Christmas by John Matthews and Beautiful Darkness: Celebrating the Winter Solstice a gorgeous and haunting soundtrack that pairs musical accompaniment to many of the poems, blessings, and invocations found in Matthews' book.
As part of one's holiday celebrations Matthews' suggests making a shrine in honor of the wild creatures that endure the long cold dark nights outside while we feast in the warmth and comfort inside our homes.
Upon following his guidance we decided to not only to honor them with a shrine and his invocation:
Creatures of the wild world
We honor your strength
We honor your power
We honor your joy!
May you bring us:
The gift of your presence,
The blessing of your truth,
The light of your being,
Now and through the year to come
but to also offer them a gift in return. We hung the treats on the trees that lined our sunrise walk to greet the returning sun on Solstice morning.
 |
| Biodegradable cord on pinecones. |
 |
| Nut butter and wild bird seed. |
 |
| Smeared. covered and ready to hang. |
