Last night, I came to the church for a Winter Solstice Spiral. Betsy Campbell, part of our Faith Formation Staff here at UUCA, set up a beautiful scene for us. We began with time around the firepit, hearing the origins and purpose of the Winter Solstice Spiral. Then, one-by-one, as folks felt ready, each person took a candle, walked the spiral to the center, lit their candle, and then placed their lit candle around the spiral on their way out. Visually, this slow process of watching families create this growing glow of lights did indeed resemble what Betsy had told us the intention was – the returning of the sun.
I used the day leading up to this event to think about the darkness that this past year has held and to acknowledge the grief, hopelessness, death, and injustice it caused. I walked to the center of the spiral, with my four-year-old and thought about this past year. We lit our candles, slowly walked out, and placed our lit candles along the spiral where there hadn’t yet been light.
Later, after most people had left I went to look at all the candles that had been lit. I was moved by this sight of the completed and fully lit spiral.
I knew these lights had been added by church members of different ages and backgrounds and it felt powerful. I have my own spiritual practices and create sacred space in my personal life, but the power of being in community is not something I can recreate at home, or when I’m walking alone in the woods.
I believe that I am a part of something larger than myself. All of us together and all who have come before us, who share our Unitarian Universalist values and faith are a power greater than myself. When I am tired or weak, the collective movement towards justice and love holds and restores me.
Just before the longest night of the year at this time with the most darkness, I saw the power that is larger than myself in this fully lit Winter Solstice Spiral.
I saw individual lights placed next to mine and collectively, they shone bright.
Today I celebrate the return of the light, in community, with you.
~ Julie Burman