Living in Harmony with the Seasons: Preparing for Winter

Traditions, holy days, and seasonal celebrations have created sacred space and supported community connection for millennia. It takes a lot of work and creativity, though, to keep these practices relevant and fresh, updated and meaningful. Many of us lack the time and resources needed to keep our personal and cultural traditions “alive.” As a result, our holidays may feel empty and our seasonal observations non-existent. As we lament what is lacking, we might come to dread holidays while we wistfully long for a deeper experience. Living in Harmony with the Seasons workshops can help.

I created these workshops to help people re-connect to what is happening on the Earth during each season, to inspire new ideas and personally-meaningful practices, to share the anthropological/psychological power of ritual structures and stories, and to share the deep and not-so-deep history of our culture’s popular communal holidays.

Each workshop will prepare participants to engage more deeply with the Earth’s cycles and with loved ones during the upcoming season. Each one-day workshop will explore the origins of our familiar cultural holidays and also look at ways in which the seasons have been honored by other cultures through the ages. We’ll take a look at the structure and function of ritual to assess what we want to change or keep about our existing seasonal celebrations to achieve a deeper experience. We’ll also explore the art of gathering and what it takes to “hold space” for both human connection and a sense of the sacred to arise. Individually, we’ll identify what we long to create, consider our current personal challenges and stumbling blocks, and explore ways in which we might live more harmoniously with the energies and demands of the upcoming season.

As we begin to craft our own unique visions of a season lived in harmony with the Earth and with our particular soul needs, examples of projects, types of gatherings, practices, stories, foods, activities for children, and more will be shared. There will also be plenty of opportunity for collective brainstorming, sharing of ideas, samplings (food, music, crafts, etc.), and creative discussion. Participants will each leave with at least one personalized seasonal and/or holiday plan (maybe more!) designed to fulfill the deep need for connection, reflection, creative expression, and celebration as we also honor what is happening on the Earth.

These workshops are open to people of all spiritual backgrounds and traditions. What we will explore can be used to adapt or deepen existing practices and holidays, or to create entirely new practices or create entirely new celebrations. All are welcome. Workshops are offered individually, so you can take one or all.

Preparing for Winter: November 20

(St. Nicholas Day, Santa Lucia, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanza, New Year’s,  Twelfth Night, Candlemas Day, Valentine’s Day, etc.)