Honoring the stillness and welcoming the light…
You are warmly invited to join us for a deeply sacred and contemplative Winter Solstice Circle, focused on co-creating a powerful 24-hour journey from sunrise to sunrise, where we come together to honor the turning of the seasons. This ceremony will be held in reverence to the stillness of winter and the rebirth of light, featuring a fire ceremony, lots of chanting around the fire, as well as the collective observance of silence. By gathering in this sacred space, we will create an environment for profound inner reflection and renewal. As we hold the silence together and offer our prayers and intentions to the flame, we cultivate a deep sense of connection to the Earth, to one another, and to the divine. This ritual offers a rare opportunity to slow down, reconnect with the sacred rhythms of nature, and receive the transformative spiritual benefits of quiet presence, collective intention, and the cleansing power of fire. Every year that we have offered this experience, it has brought us peace, clarity, and alignment with the deeper currents of our souls.
We’ll gather in the evening on Friday December 20th for a shared meal and connection time. Our ceremony will begin with the lighting of the fire at sunrise on the 21st. We’ll keep the fire going all day, and observe silence (other than chanting mantras around the fire) until sunset. There will be time to wander in the woods, practice yoga, make art, read, journal, nap, sing, play an instrument, walk in the creek and just BE. Depending on how many folks are willing to stoke the fire in the dark, we’ll keep the fire going for as much of the night as we can, and then gather again for more chanting at sunrise on the 22nd. Then we’ll close the ceremony and make a big shared breakfast together and have some time for harvest, sharing and integration. All participants will be asked to help with clean-up before departure.
This year, we’ll be gathering at a private residence in Stanton, Kentucky that has a creek, acres of woods, a cozy wood stove and lots of deck/porch space.
Requested Donation for the Ashram: $108 (as always, contribute as your heart informs and finances allow)
Accommodation and Sleeping Arrangements - We are able to accommodate up to 12 people sleeping inside - 10 people in the living room and 2 people on floor mattresses.
Please bring a pad and a sleeping bag, and earplugs (in case we have snorers). There is also plenty of room to camp and/or sleep on the deck outside.
Food: There will be a big pot of red curried lentils and brown rice for Friday evening. Please bring other “potluck” fare or items to supplement so we can have a shared feast! For Saturday, there are no organized meals. Folks may choose to “fast” on Saturday - or eat only snacks like fruit/veggies/broth. Please honor your own needs: prepare for and follow your own food practice for Saturday. On Sunday morning, we’ll make breakfast together. Basics such as eggs and oatmeal will be provided. Bring other items to supplement. There is a stove, fridge, toaster, microwave and a grill.
Coffee, Tea& Water: Please bring your own coffee & tea or juice. There is a coffee maker. The tap water is potable and is filtered via a Berkey filter, so that will be available for drinking.
Other Items to Bring:
mala beads
hiking boots/shoes
musical instrument(s)
journal & pen
reading material
art supplies
camp chair or something to sit on
head lamp
yoga mat
oracle decks/tarot cards/divination tools
palo santo, sweetgrass, sage, incense
pad, pillow and sleeping bag
warm clothes for around the fire
Showers & Communication: There is a shower available, should you need it. And there is cell service and wifi. However, we agree to encourage and support each other in unplugging, creating space for contemplation and simply “being” in our own internal processes. Please keep devices on silent/vibrate and/or turned off and stowed away when not in use.