Savouring Ceremony: Celebrating the Dark Days. Once again the turning of the wheel of the year has brought us close to the darkest days of the year.  These days can be times for quiet and reflection, but also of rebirth and renewal.  This short days invite us inward, but also herald the return of the light, festivities to come, and the beginning of a new year.  Lovely contrasts, to be ceremonially savoured, I’d say :-).

When I came across an essay actually called Savouring Ceremony, the phrase immediately resonated with me, and it seemed a fitting theme for the solstice season, and offers inspirational quotes.  For me, ceremony is almost any pleasant action, small or large, alone or with others, that is experienced deeply, and savoured consciously, with presence.  It can be like a mindfulness meditation.  Tea time, sitting by a stream, a walk, supper with friends can either flow by as ordinary, barely noticed, or can be appreciated, celebrated and savoured.  

Giving and receiving, a part of so many traditions honoured this time of year, offers yet another opportunity for ceremony and savouring.   We can expand our awareness to include giving to those less fortunate — those in need of love, caring, food, shelter, peace, safety — and include them in our hearts and lives, attention, and giving.  In these dark times, which include much suffering, atrocities and trauma, may we do our part toward transition, and be part of The Great Turning. 

Even as we are aware of and experiencing some of the darker aspects of human nature and history, it is timely, as we return to the light, to also learn about and focus on all the goodness in humanity.  Take heart, join in, celebrate and savour!  

“Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for.”   — Seamus Heaney’s inspirational quote, paraphrasing Václav Havel the former dissident, playwright and first president of the Czech Republic.

In closing, I want to remind myself, by offering to you, this gift of savouring soft and subtle moments, mindfulness mediation;  being open to inviting them, noticing them; letting our souls and spirits be surprised and touched. 

Posts you might enjoy, recent and reprised, include:

•  Forgiveness and Flow  We cannot be sure that our forgiveness will be accepted by, let alone change, the other person. Even so, the act of forgiving is beneficial to me, to my inner life; it reduces blockages which hamper energy and vitality.  It invites flow and aliveness.

  •  Savouring — More than Just Yummy.  Savouring, (also called “Taking in the Good“ by Rick Hanson, the eminent neuropsychologist), can actually change our brain chemistry, and affect us beneficially, at the deepest level. 

Something I savour is our advent wreath…I love the ceremony of gathering the greens, assembling the wreathe, then enjoying lighting the candles each morning and evening, with coffee or tea, peace and ease and gratitude.  Savouring ceremony: celebrating the dark days.  And oh, the glorious seasonal poinsettias.

Jill Schroder is the author of BECOMING: Journeying Toward Authenticity.  BECOMING is an invitation for self-reflection, and to mine our memorable moments for insights, meaning, and growth.  Check the website for a sample chapter, or see the reviews to get a flavor for the volume.  Your feedback,  forwards, tweets, likes are most welcome. 🙂