Gathering in the light

The Advent Spiral

"When Christmas arrives, a turning point is reached. The light increases, days grow longer and nature reawakens. So the birth of the light at Christmas time has been celebrated since the times when the light became the symbol of revelation in the world and man."

~ Rudolf Steiner... Read full context

A darkened room quiet with anticipation illuminated by candle light and the gentle song of a harp. Fragrant pine boughs laid out on the floor in a giant spiral with silver stars twinkling among the branches. Everyone holds a space of reverence to this season of dark. Each child, in turn, takes a small red apple with an unlit tea light inside and slowly walks the spiral path to it's center where the largest and brightest candle sits. There, they carefully light their candle from the center's strong light. As they walk the spiral path outward, they place their candle somewhere among pine boughs- each child's candle adding more brightness to the spiral.

Such a simple yet deeply powerful ceremony. A gentle ritual for younger children who do not yet fully have their own Light and so must take from the Central Light. I was caught off guard by how deeply moved I was while witnessing the children's Advent Spiral. I held my tears at bay as I watched those precious children so reverently journey within the spiral. Lo, who had never lit a candle or really even held one, handled hers with such confidence and calmness as if the whole act was a natural extension of herself. All the children took the ceremony so seriously and were so well behaved-again, it was just second nature to them.

I now regret not continuing to hold the mood and the image of that light for the rest of our evening by returning home to eat by candle light and perhaps snuggle on the couch and tell stories among the light of our own holiday candles. ~Sigh. Whipping up a raucous batch of ravi's and watching Fred Claus was very not the way to end the evening....

~Bangs head with pan. Then flushes it in toilet.~

Live and learn. I WILL remember to plan for a quiet electronics-free evening for next year...



Advent Story(a nature table play from TODAY IN FAERIE SCHOOL)

Softly in the earthly darkness
Seeds are stirring towards the light
In the earth the seeds lie dreaming
Nestled under crystal white
When in winter's deepest darkness
There came a shining light…

(light candle and add)

Sing: From Heaven's arch so high…
From Heaven's arch so high,
A little Light draws nigh.
Shines so bright,
In the night,
All the children take delight…

A little hare hops nigh
And holds his head up high
Stops to hear, stands quite near,
Wonders what is happening here

The little mouse…he scurries from his frosty house
Stops to hear, stands quite near….

Then came the gnomes, the plants and the stones…

All the creatures drawing near
Stop to hear
And wonder what is happening here
The snow fell softly in the night (add snow)
And all the world was crystal white
The angels from the stars looked down (add angel)
On Mother Earth’s new shining gown.

Sing: Second verse of "From Heaven’s Arch.."
And shining ever clearer
The light shines softly nearer
Shines so bright
In the night
So that all may take delight.

(as you sing draw creatures closer to the light)
(Pause and sprinkle stars)

Closing: And so it was that this tiny light that shone on the darkest night grew in the hearts of all people and filled them with peace and joy.