Spiral Of Light Festival

December 2017 at the eco institute we gather on the winter solstice to share warmth.

Spiral of light festival.

Of beauty and light. At the festival of spiral of light we look forward to the return of the light in the midst of the darkness. Annual festivals of nature and humanity are celebrated in ways that foster wonder reverence and gratitude and which nourish the future capacity to respond to be. In waldorf schools for many years children of all backgrounds have participated in the month long observance of the rebirth of the light through songs stories craft activities and the winter spiral festival.

But the cadence of the year receives its form through festivals. T he flower of life the kabbalah tree of life the seed of life the sri yantra the endless knot the torus the golden ratio spirals the vesica piscis the harmonics of music with 13 strand dna. To soft songs by a single as a single candle is lit in the center of a spiral of evergreen boughs a symbol of life amidst the dead of winter. Then as quiet music plays each child in turn takes an candle already placed in an apple into the center of that.

The tradition honors the seasonal cycle of light and darkness by arranging a simple spiral labyrinth walk. It was started in 2004 and the latest entrant to the list of festivals of light. Spiral of light winter solstice festival gather with us on the winter solstice to share warmth light and prayers for our world. The eco institute at pickards mountain is an earth sanctuary and learning community dedicated to healing the human earth relationship.

Our educational farm and regenerative sustainability learning center reside on 38 acres in the piedmont of north carolina eight miles west of chapel hill. During the spiral of light festival we sit in silence in a darkened room listening. The spiral walk is a festival that is practiced in most waldorf schools on or near the winter solstice. Winter solstice festival in chapel hill the eco institute at pickards mountain thursday 21.

In connection with ancient earth honoring cultures who celebrated the winter solstice we invite you to join us for this beautiful ritual which symbolizes finding the light in the darkness together. The spiral is often associated with the cycle of rebirth time and seasons and sometimes a spiritual journey. In waldorf schools the elements of festival light food song and story permeate the weekly school rhythm.