Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: holiday observances (was Rituals)

[Lynn Nadeau (welcome]

My first experiment with seasonal ritual here was a positive experience. 

My own spiritual tradition is related to "pagan", goddess, 
earth-centered, Medicine Wheel related practices, and so relates to the 
seasons and turning of the cycle of the year. Others here at RoseWind are 
Christian, Jewish, Unitarian, Buddhist, Quaker or atheist. 

 At the autumnal equinox, I announced that any who wished were invited to 
an evening "seasonal observance" and described what would take place. I 
set up a lovely display on a big round table in the center of the room, 
laid with symbolic items in the 4 directions, correlating with the 4 
seasons, sort of like a clock. And at the autumn, west, part, were an 
abundance of Harvest items- leaves, autumn flowers, produce etc. Candles 
marked the circle. 

I explained how at this season I think about what I take with me into the 
coming cold and dark, what comforts, what reminders of sunnier times. 
People brought something symbolic of the harvest time, or of what they 
take from Summer into Winter (symbolically, as well as physically). There 
was honey and beeswax, nuts and seeds, garlic, pumpkin custard to pass 
around and sample, dried figs. There were poems, CDs, books. Each person 
who wished to spoke, as the 14 of us sat around the circle enjoying the 
colorful abundance of the candlelit display and listening. Being a 
preschool teacher, I read the story of Frederick the mouse, who seemed to 
be dreaming while his peers were busy stashing away grains for winter. 
But when the grains were all gone and the mice were feeling grim, he 
turns his shivering comrades on to memories of the colors and smells of 
the summer, and other poetic nourishment, and they make it through.

Everyone enjoyed the evening. I think an important factor in its success 
included explaining it ahead of time, so people could self select, 
modifying it a bit so it was less Wiccan than I might have done with 
other friends, and putting the focus on the feelings and thoughts 
associated with the season. 

I think we could in the same way have, say, a Seder, a singing of 
Christmas songs, or whatever. Though it would be artificial and 
uncomfortable to foist any of these things on everyone. 

For several years a Danish member has had a Solstice party with the 
custom of each guest doing a little performance - anything from genuine 
music or literature, to reading a joke: it's definitely been a 
Talent/NoTalent show, and lots of fun. 

As a non-Christian, do I cringe at Christmas? Well, I don't share the 
religious beliefs, but I love the universal symbolism of lights in the 
darkness, the evergreens surviving through the cold winter, the warmth of 
candles and hearths, the comfort of friends and family when the weather 
brings us indoors. (I don't do TV or malls, so I'm insulated from the 
consumerist hype.) I want to propose to our group that this first 
December in our Common House that we have an evergreen tree, and decorate 
it with bright and beautiful ornaments (unbreakable, since we have a 
posse of three year olds tearing around). 

I'd rather celebrate all holidays than none! 

Lynn in Port Townsend WA, where our two Habitat homes are now occupied, 
two absentee owners sold to wonderful new families who are immediately 
participating, community suppers draw 20-30, we have only one resale 
available and are otherwise full, and we love our common house. 
PS- if anyone would like a copy of my written piece On Darkness and 
Light, about why I love the December traditions, just write me off list. 
Also available - The Egg and Us, an Easter- time essay about egg 
symbolism and customs from many cultures and times. Do you know about 
Ostara/Eostre?


Lynn Nadeau, RoseWind Cohousing
Port Townsend Washington (Victorian seaport, music, art, nature)
http://www.rosewind.org
http://www.ptguide.com

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