The Winter Solstice is the start of the new year for me. I have never resonated with January 1st as the date. Energetically, the Solstice holds the potential for new beginnings. I love to celebrate with a fire, releasing all of the old, creating space for the new to infill my being. This year, it was our family Christmas celebration as well as my eldest grandson departed the next day to spend his holidays in Quebec with his Papa and other grandparents. We had a lovely evening which was highlighted by my eight year old and two year old grandchildren dressing up in white robes and silver crowns with lights (battery operated fairy lights) carrying candles to light ones passed out by them to the family. All was in darkness, the children rang bells to signal their approach and cue Silent Night to begin to play. We sat in the dark and watched the light come forth with our two angels flowing down the stairs. They took it very seriously, walking in silence to distribute candles (the youngest’s duty) and to light the flames (the eldest’s duty). There were tears as the magic of fire and music touched hearts. The children then distributed the cookies that they had helped me make and decorate. After the dinner and exchange of gifts, it was the highlight of the evening. The children were so touched by the experience and both thanked me numerous times for creating this opportunity for them.

Moments of magic are missing in our lives. It is not only for the children that we need magic, it is for all of our souls. When we experience it, our souls echo with memories of participating in rituals that created feelings of wonder. I want to bring more of that into my children’s and grandchildren’s lives. I want more in my life! My grandchildren are already asking about the next time we can do something like this.

It is meant to be something shared in community. There are schools, Waldorf Schools for example, that do foster magic in their curriculum but by and large, it is left out in our schools where the focus is academics and test performance. As a community, we need to bring magic back into our lives. Other countries do a better job of including the children in events rather than the separation by age that is so common in the USA. I recall spending a New Year’s Eve in Spain in the coastal town of Nerja with two of my children. On the Balcon de Europa, which faces the Mediterranean sea, townfolk gathered to celebrate the New Year. Everyone had twelve grapes (one for each month) that you were to eat with each of the twelve clock bell strikes.  Each grape represented a wish for each month of the coming year. They were to bring good luck. Grapes and champagne enjoyed by young and old. Fireworks and dancing enjoyed by whole families together. A memory of magic that all shared in.

Our new way of living will include so many more celebrations aligned with nature. As we gather with our soul tribes in villages or my term, love pods, we will be more connected to the landscape. Nature offers her cycles of seasons that lends itself to rituals around planting and harvest, growth and rest, darkness and light. The movement of the sun, moon and planets offer markers for our lives. We are moving into a deeper connection to the plant, animal and elemental kingdoms. 2024 will see more migration as people will feel called to move to places on the earth where they feel more in resonance with the land. Drawn to the place where their soul dances on the earth. Soul tribes will come into being as folks’ frequencies will guide them to one another. That deep love that we all crave will blossom amongst all the kingdoms as all remember how to communicate from the heart. Imagine a daily conversation with the trees, the birds, and ground where you live. Imagine strong hugs with one another as love flows freely from heart to heart.

Maxfield Parrish was famous for his magical landscapes.

There is so much freedom ahead if we are willing to take it. We are being supported by our ancestors and our future selves to bring all of our Christ light into our forms. This is the wonder and magic of Christmas. To birth the Christ light in our own hearts and walk it into this world. The little children and babes being born, arrive with it intact. They are living love, they spread it through their sparkly eyes and hearts that love unconditionally. There are times where I am stopped in my tracks when one of my grandchildren beams at me. The light is so bright and pure.

May we cherish this light and one another’s hearts. May we know our own beauty and walk it into the world. May wonder and magic flow into our lives as we reclaim our innocence and joy. May peace prevail on earth.