Boxing Day

The Sun is shining, the Christmas day meal is still in my bloodstream, all that frying! At least it was the best olive oil! As the walk yesterday was not that long, about 30 minutes, today I feel like walking to Greenwich Park!

I was thinking of going to look at the Boxing day sales, but it is just pure madness, only the thought of getting squashed by crowds for the cashmere cardigan that I don't even need!

So I will try to look at nature and breath some fresh winter air.

I decided that there are not enough photos of Greenwich park on my blog, and of us! So stay tune...
See you later...we better go now as the weather forecast says heavy rain from around lunch time...

x
Susannah

Christmas at home

Christmas at home is very relaxing, a bit of suspense and tension in the early morning as presents get unwrapped slowly, one by one, so we have the time to look at each one, appreciate and then to the next one...and the next one, ....and for the grand finale, the big one: the car racing track! The grand prix commences...
Oh the tension was inside me as I wanted to make sure that the car racing track was assembled gently and now that it works I am fine!

Christmas breakfats was Pain de Noel from our local Boulanjerie Jade in Blackheath, and chocolate spread, a good one this time ( Whole Earth).
Now onto the meal...by the way I only worked out the menu now! This is exciting! A sort of ready steady cook: with the ingredients we have in the kitchen today and an electric cooker and grill that I can use, but not the oven ( BROKEN!), what can I do?
This time I am going to ask people to peel potatoes for me ( people: my husband and Morgana, my daughter)

So I decided to cut the potatoes in tiny cubes, boil in stock and then fry them with rosemary, sage and garlic, a bit like hash browns:

So here is the preview:



 

 

 

 

I

am browsing now the internet for the best recipes, I need to remind you that these recipes and images are not mine, I am simply preparing mentally for my Christmas meal!

Cotolette di Seitan al rosmarino

 

• per 2 porzioni:

• 400gr. of fresh cutlets of wheat protein: seitan
• pane grattugiato- breadcrumbs
• rosmarino
• origano
• aglio
• salsa di soya(shoyu)
• olio di oliva for shallow frying

• per la pastella- the batter:
• farina - wholemeal flour
• acqua san pellegrino or lager- not Prosecco! needs a few bubbles!

Prendo fettine sottili di seitan, trito l'aglio, con il rosmarino e l'origano e lo unisco al pane grattugiato, lo condisco con un pò di olio di oliva e shoyu sbriciolando tutto con le mani, passo le fettine nella pastella, poi nell'impanatura e friggo, scolo bene, asciugo nella carta assorbente e a piacere salo ancora un pò con il sale fino rosa himalayano!

I take the cutlets and dip them in my batter, then the breadcrumbs I am using the sage and onion pack of stuffing as well as breadcrumbs, garlic finely chopped and rosemary...
So dip in batter cover with crumbs and shallow fry for a few minutes both sides until golden and crisp and dry on kitchen paper- getting rid of excess oil. Yes I used Pink Hymalaian salt too!

I am going to serve the above with some kind of Parsnip dish...here I am going to browse and choose the best: I have in mind thinly sliced parsnip chips...let's see what I find:



I think I am going to thinly slice the parsnips and parboil them and then shallow fry them...

Then I am going to mash the swede:



then I am going to steam the brussel sprouts:


then I am making onion gravy :
my recipe is 1 onion cut in half moons and tamari soya sauce and miso gravy:

Ingredients
1tbsp Clearspring Extra Virgin Olive Oil
 1 large onion, sliced in half moons
1 tsp Clearspring Balsamic Vinegar
1 tbsp Clearspring Mikawa Mirin
 1 tbsp plain flour
1 sachet Clearspring Miso Bouillon mixed with 750ml hot water
or a tbsp of miso paste
 1 tsp wholegrain mustard (optional)

Method

1. Fry the onion in the olive oil on a very low heat until soft and brown.
2. Stir when necessary. This will take around 15 to 20 minutes minutes.
3. Add the balsamic vinegar and allow it to evaporate.
4. Add the flour and stir in thoroughly.
5. Add the stock a little at a time, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
6. Simmer for another 15 minutes or until the gravy is thick and you cannot taste the flour.
7. Stir in the mustard if using, check the seasoning and serve.

I am not sure if this is enough or should I add some boiled carrots too...

Not sure about pudding either...but we got seriously dark chocolate truffles and I think that is enough!

So, as it is now nearly 11.30 am and I like to serve at around 1pm, I get on with prep and cooking...

Having a nice Christmas so far...

update:

the meal for real this time, my recipes and the outcome:

While the kids played...

Susannah cooked ( ok, husband did peel potatoes, then went to play!)

I put 50 words for snow album ( Kate Bush)

And carried on cooking...

 

 

 

 

our 'meat'

 

 

Our fried potatoes with garlic and rosemary

 

 

Our parsnips and grilled with oil and garlic and rosemary

 

 

Steamed carrots and sprouts

 

We sat for our meal at 1.30 pm - not bad!

 

 

Seitan escalope, dipped in batter and then in breadcrumbs with garlic onion, sage and parsley and shoyu..very tender inside and crunchy outside, yum!

 

Mashed swede and potatoes

 

 

And onion gravy, of course

( all recipes mentioned above)

 

Now, too busy eating so no more photos of food...but we did take our time to taste and eat everything ( I do eat slowly and chew my food!)

 

 

Out for a walk after...see the face? It says I had enough food now I am stuffed and need a walk!

 

 

 

 

When back from our walk, more racing! Morgana winning and daddy cheating!

 

 

 

Practicing solo!

 

 

 

The candles are still flickering

 

 

And now it's 7 pm and I am listening to Dazed and Confused by Led Zeppelin (did listen to Bing Crosby Christmas songs, enough of that)

 

xx

Susannah

Inner Christmas

The Soul’s Inner Solstice

 

Since the beginning of human consciousness, the soul has experienced an inner cyclical rhythm that mirrors the activity of the stars and of the earthly kingdoms. Our souls know an Inner Spring, an Inner Summer, an Inner Autumn and an Inner Winter. These are the seasons of the soul. Each inner season brings a special relationship and a significant task to our evolving consciousness as we develop into both an earthly and a spiritual being.
Reflecting the natural world, the soul seasons transform at solstices and equinoxes. The light and dark aspects of our inner lives move from attention to ourselves as earthly beings to attention to ourselves as spiritual beings and returns. In summertime’s light and warmth, our souls embrace our intense perceptions of the world. But in the dark, cold silence of early winter, our souls turn inward seeking the Spirit. Inner Christmas focuses on your soul at its “Inner Solstice” and its birth of new inner light.
What do we find for our spirit-seeking souls at the Winter Solstice? The inner Winter Solstice is the time when the “I,” the pure selfhood—the inner sun—seeks rebirth in the soul. The “I” dawns anew within the soul, and with this dawning come new perspectives, new insights, new intentions, new freedom and new love. These are the gifts of Inner Christmas.


http://imagineself.com/messages-for-the-holy-nights/

Mid-Winter Thoughts
from Esther Leisher
 
Cultivating a spiritual approach to the solstices will be different for each person, but for me it comes from living with the soul of the Earth. Her upwelling joy and life in spring, the warmth and light of summer, the mellow, contemplative quality of autumn and the deep inwardness of the darkness of winter. Experiencing the dawns, the sunsets and the seasons with the Earth throughout the year is something that all of us do to some extent, consciously or unconsciously. Making it conscious adds to the joy. Whatever thoughts and activities you choose, bring your natural reverence to full strength. A brief meditation (3 minutes?) on one of the verses or songs you want to use would be a place to begin. Or go out and speak to the Sun or the Earth. Then you can plan the outer forms.

Most people don't notice it, but many aspects of Christmas relate to the Winter Solstice -- the darkest night, the Light in darkness, the turning of the year. For my own family I simply incorporated Winter Solstice into our seasonal activities. I used its thoughts and verses amidst the Christmas ones. But if you want to give the Solstice more emphasis, many Christmas songs, verses and activities can be used as they are or can be slightly changed to fit a Solstice celebration. For example, the song, "A sound rings forth at deep midnight" can be used for either festival. Anything that speaks of the darkest night or a special night can be used for Winter Solstice. The verses "The Gift of the Light," "Seven Angels, Light and Bright" can be used as they are. The song "Down With Darkness" works well toward the beginning of a Winter Solstice celebration.
There are some verses written specifically for Solstice. Susan Cooper's delightful "Yule" could close your celebration on a joyous note. Or find a song that anticipates the holy morn of the Sun's return. The Sun's return! Earth and humans breathe together at this special time of year.
The Sun, of cours, is the great Fire. Anything that speaks of Fire could be used. Which of us is not in some way a fire worshiper? At mid-winter we most feel the awesome mystery of fire and candle, of ancient Fire, of stored-up Light. Firewood comes from trees that nourished themselves on light. Candle wax is from ancient trees that fell into a swamp and over thousands of years became petroleum. Beeswax ultimately comes from flowers, and oil lamps use oil from plant seeds. All are stored sunlight now released in fire. What unending meaning life has! The song "Rise Up Oh Flame" could be used as candles or a fire are lit. (I know it is a campfire song, but if your kids don't know that, it isn't going to matter.)
Crafts can also reflect motifs of Sun or Light. For example, candle holders, transparencies, sand-cast candles, a wreath of dried flowers (memories of summer sun and summer joy). Seeds are the life-force drawn inward during the fall to a small, self-contained magical power. Bird feeders could be a feature of your celebration of stored sun-light, the sun remembered in its power at the time of its greatest weakness.
I remember one magical winter experience, during the time of the weakest sunlight. A group of us were sitting in a circle, candles were lit, a fire was in the fireplace. Outside there was storm and cold and darkness. Several inches of snow, frozen and refrozen, lay on the ground, buffeted by a bitterly cold wind. "In the deep midwinter, Frosty winds made moan. Earth was hard as iron, Water like a stone." Christina Rosetti. Jasmine tea was brought to each of us and its flowery, summery smell wafted up to us from our cups, giving the perfect contrast to the barren, cold darkness outside. Truly we had summer in winter, light in darkness.
For your family, if you did not use it for Advent, you could celebrate the in-spiraling of the Earth's forces at winter with a spiral candle-walk. Feel within yourself the in-spiraling, followed by the out-spiraling. That turning point at the center is Winter Solstice. Demonstrate to your children your hushed reverence as you walk the candle-lit spiral. Let your reverence for the spiritual forces of the Universe flow into that ritual of beauty and meaning. Then let each of them walk that in- and out-spiraling while you play a lyre, a recorder, or softly sing or hum a simple, quiet song.
Verses in Steiner's Calendar of the Soul can give you some sense of how the human soul can accompany the Earth through the year. Out of about six translations the one that speaks to me most is Owen Barfield's paraphrase, The Year Participated. It best expresses for me both the sense of the Earth's soul experiences and my own inner activity. It is a small book of verses, one for each week of the year, beginning in the spring. To individualize it, I rewrote most of the weekly verses in my own words, right in the book. I can open it and make an immediate connection -- both to the content (in my words) and to the lyrical sound (in Barfield's verse). It gives me a place to begin, a reminder, a way to switch to inner thinking/feeling. Then I'm on my way to bringing meaning into the outer actions and words that celebrate the soul's participation in the cycle of the year.
In the cycle of the year the Earth soul experiences the seasons, the extremes of summer and winter, and the transitions of the balance points of spring and fall. The earth passes from dwelling in the dream of summer to the self awareness of winter. In summer the Earth gathers Sun-treasures as it sings its way out into the cosmos, expanding, rejoicing, seeking the Spirit in the Cosmos. Then it draws inward as the sun weakens. In our uniquely human way we do something similar. We gather outer and inner sunlight into ourselves all summer, expanding with the Earth. Then we carry that soul-light into winter. The Sun's power fades, but we carry Summer within us into the dark and cold. We dream and awake, we preserve and remember, just as seeds dream and awake, as seeds preserve and remember.
The more consciously we gather in Summer's power as we go out with the Earth, cherishing it and bringing it into the quiet time of winter, the more strength we can gain from it. We resonate with the Earth, and every part of the cycle of the year becomes more meaningful. Every sunrise, so different at different times of year, becomes a work of art, a source of joy. We sense the Sun like a majestic Being. We delight in its fiery mane in high summer and in deep winter we rest inwardly in our own sense of self, the Fire within, as the Sun grows weak.
To show the low point of the sun, you can go out each day at high noon in the week before solstice with someone to measure your shadow. Mark the place each day. You have then a visual picture that shows how the sun's light is diminishing. You can have a Solstice celebration that darkest night, and the next day, soon after breakfast, the Sun will be on its way toward summer. (Though do remember that not much movement of the sun goes on in the days around Christmas. The twelve holy days after Christmas are a quiet time, with not much change in the light.)
If you are not celebrating Christmas, the winter festival could include the making of wreaths, decorating the archetypal Tree, and some kind of festival of Light, with songs, verses, special foods and crafts. (I have a handout about ancient symbols that can be hung on the tree.)
There are many ways to celebrate a Winter Solstice and many ways it can be included in Christmas celebrations. The Being of Love, the Spirit of the Sun who joined himself with the Earth at a special moment, lives wherever the soul mood allows it -- whether we call it the Christ or something else.
You are an individual; create festivals that you find deeply moving. Change verses and songs. View things as archetypes if that carries meaning for you. Our souls bring rich experiences from the ancient past to current festivals. We can be steeped in many religions, many reverences. We bring that fullness now to the moments of hushed reverence. The hopes of the ancient Mysteries can be fulfilled as we internalize Light and become able to create festivals out of our own hearts, out of our own spiritual knowledge.
Once you decide to begin, you will find your own way to create sacred moments for your family -- soul-restoring family traditions. Whether you use wreaths and trees, the Sun Spirit and the darkest night, or not, imbue your festivals with soul and spirit, with heart-felt meaning. To be satisfying, rituals have to be infused with spirit and have to come from the heart. None of us wants festivals to be superficial, nor do we want the outer activities to obscure the inwardness. Children remember the magic and the mystery of deeply felt festivals. You can create a sacred space, can participate in the experiences of Earth and the cosmos. There were times that I did not feel that inwardness, but it came with time and experience. Just begin. Do one simple thing.



Meditative Thoughts

Steiner made many comments about Solstice as it was experienced at the time of the ancient mystery schools: "People used to see in the sun's victory during the winter solstice a symbol for the victory of the spiritual sun in the depths of the human soul. They said 'Winter, how deeply you are related to my soul, to my own inner being.' The Earth's winter can be found outside, but it can also be found within."
"The moment arrived when the pupils of the Mysteries experienced by means of their awakened spirit organs the spiritual light within them. This holy moment came when the outer light was weakest, on the day when the outer sun shines least. On that day the pupils were gathered together and the inner light revealed itself to them."
"Everywhere the pupils of these Mystery Schools had the same experience at the midnight hour on the Night of Consecration."
Thoughts like that can bring a soul deepening that silently carries over into your family, if you take such thoughts in and meditatively listen to them.
You can use some (or many) adult verses and songs for your festivals. Children understand a lot from tone and emotional quality, and it gives you a chance to put your whole heart into what you are doing. You can also do some artistic activities that are purely adult. The children can watch, comment, and take in the message that art is interwoven with life at every age.
You might also be able to find ideas for family festivals in the non-Waldorf books about solstices and equinoxes. However, I was keenly disappointed in the books I looked into. There is, however, an interesting meditation/ritual in The Winter Solstice by John and Caitlin Matthews (found on page 175) that can give you clues about creating celebrations and rituals. Stories and ritual for your festival could be created from that meditation using -- as in every festival -- the elements of reverence, ritual, symbol, beauty, and meaning. (If you would like to use the meditation from The Winter Solstice, e-mail me and I can send it to you, eleisher@aol.com). -Esther Leisher




The Shortest Day
By Susan Cooper And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, revelling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us – listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!


Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/yuletide-poem.html#ixzz2FtNc85om

 

Chilled Christmas

The other day I went downtown, to Charing Cross, walked  to Cecil Court, went into my favourite shop, Watkins, where I found some crystals I was looking for, a few books, a lunar chart- map-poster and I bought also a salt rock lamp for my daughter's Christmas present!

 Then just round the corner, going down to the square, walked briefly into Robert Dyas to get candles, found a cute nordic style little wooden house with a light inside, a must have for my nature table which at the moment I made into a sort of mountain with a forest and a house on top and pine trees with gnomes and elves hiding, then I saw this box: racing cars track! Then there's me walking down to lunch by the square near St Martin's Church with a huge box in a bin bag and a green and shiny bag, rock salt heavy, but with a big smile. Thinking of my brief shopping trip so far...

I like Cecil Court a lot and all the shops there and the bookshops in Charing Cross road are very interesting and attractive...



Eating my edamame beans with much gusto, ma non troppo, thinking of hitting the South Bank Christmas stalls...and there I was half hour later...completely disappointed, by the prices, the smell of dead hogs and the rain!
The National Theatre shop was a little oasis, though!






















Back home through hellish Lewisham, went for a bit of civilazation in Marks and Spencer's in Eltham for a last minute food shopping, craving avocados...back home in time for supper!

The day after had a nice browse in Greenwich Market,met Jo Mandala is back from India, saw Mec and her felt fairy lights, took the kids to the Cutty Sark and had a nice day!




Yesterday my house was filled with lovely children and their parents, as this alone gives a Yuletide feel I felt happy! We had warm winter punch and played a few games and sang songs...but mainly chatted and shared a bit of food...it was lovely(thank you for coming, friends!)



Candles were lit, and after they were gone, waiting for my friend Chrissie to come, I put Terje Isungset's ice music on and lit even more candles and made some soup.

We sat and chatted and opened a couple of presents and listened to music and watched the candles while eating Booja Booja raw chocolate truffles!

Today, maybe we go to Blackheath Farmer's market, lunch, a browse in Oxfam to get fair traded prezzies for family and sing carols in St Michael's church...

Laaa, la la laaaa, la la la la laaaa!

to be continued!


15.30 Sunday 23 December:
Went to Greenwich for for browse and lunch in the market ( Ethiopian vegetarian, of course!)
nice walk across the heath and through Greenwich park, the market is buzzy and busy but not packed! So quite pleasant, really! Felt quite relaxing, but now glad we are at home before dark and I just put some incense I got from the indian shop in the market and now my friend Chrissie are listening to Tori Amos Night of Hunters album ( very clever she puts lyrics and melodies and sings over piano and cello sonatas by Debussy and Satie, etc...)
This is what I call chilling!

oh, by the way...we are not carol singing in church, we might here later...after watching Ice age 3 (we got Ice age 4 for surprise Christmas present)

Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice

It is our quiet time.

We do not speak, because the voices are within us.

It is our quiet time.

We do not walk, because the Earth is all within us.

It is our quiet time.

We rest with all of nature.

( A Pagan song)



A time of Quiet:

Let us go inward to that place where we will find the spark of the divine within us.

Let us be with winter as she rests and renews herself.

Let us take this time to rest, to recreate and restore ourselves.



 A time of Blessing:

May the blessing of inwardness be ours

May the blessing stillness surround us.

May the blessing of darkness lead us to inner depth.

May rest and relaxation quiet our hearts and minds.

May the starkness of winter lead us to the core of truth.

May we accompany nature on its inner journey.




A time of celebration!

Go through the darkest times, through fear,
finding my inner strength, the light divine within me to guide me through mid winter ...

We made it so far!
We are half way through winter
Now, this is the shortest day and the longest night
And this is exactly mid winter
The Winter Solstice,
from the 22nd December onwards
we will come out of the darkness, slowly moving towards the Sun...




Susannah


 

craft workshop

Dear crafters, thank you all for coming to the felt workshop, it was a great success and I would like to thank you Susanna Wallis for coming to do this for us!
Thank you also for coming with your little goods to sell, it was nice to see what one can make with just wool!
Here is an example of Susanna Wallis felt figure:



I was too busy to take any photos but I do welcome any of your pics, we all had quite soapy hands! But if you managed to take any photos,especially of your finished products at home ...send them to me via email if you want them published here!!!

Susannah
xx

Acorns Craft special! Wed 19th Dec

Today!

A MUST FOR ALL CRAFT LOVERS -

 

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS WORKSHOP:-

FELTING A SIMPLE WALDORF STYLE puppet- STEINER INSPIRED ANIMAL OR SIMPLE NATURE object WITH WOOL

A VERY SPECIAL GUEST TUTOR IS COMING TO TEACH US AT ACORNS!:

SUSANNA WALLIS -

 AUTHOR OF FELTING BOOKS AND FELTING EXPERT.

A TWO HOUR SESSION ON

WEDNESDAY 19TH DECEMBER

11.30 TO 13.30 - £6.50 -  BOOKINGS ONLY
cancellations less than 24 hours - fee still to pay, please, sorry!

 

We will a chance to buy some of Susanna Wallis work, stocking fillers for your child or family or that special gift. All made with attention to details and lots of love.

So hope to see you all there, I am booked!
 
About Susanna Wallis :

''My crafts are high quality and beautifully made with love, care and detail. I aim to make long lasting, heirloom and cherished items using the best materials and consider environmental issues in the making process.
I prefer to use high quality and natural materials. ''

Susanna is a craft author / tutor / textile artist / designer.
She has written two books on Needle Felting for Search Press (UK).
Susanna teaches freelance craft workshops, one off workshops and short courses at various locations. She has taught at the Knitting and Stitching show, is a visiting tutor at Guilds, womens groups, craft shops, colleges, schools and arts centres.

                                                                                           
 These are some example of her work: she is taking orders for Christmas now! Go to her Etsy page:

http://www.etsy.com/people/SusannaW?ref=ls_profile

                 

        I love these Christmas tree decorations, I bought some from Susanna last year at Blossoming Together cafe and they look really good on my tree....oh that reminds me I need to go to the Tree shop to choose a tree for us...

      

I use Susanna's puppets all the time at Acorns for my puppet plays and storytelling; also they hang on my walls and have a place on my nature table at home!

    


I bought a crown for a little girl's birthday gift and it is a perfect thing for a fairy/princess!

   

yes it is real snow...aren't they sooo cute?!

Acorns Craft Session

Acorns Craft Group

Wednesdays at 11.30-2pm

Church of Ascension Dartmouth Row, SE10 8AW

This is a new informal drop in session.

Be Creative, relax and socialize.
Here you learn new crafts, Steiner inspired creations share skills, make simple Waldorf dolls, knitted animals, puppets, gnomes, learn silk dying, needle and wet felting and much more. What you make is for yourself, for your child’ or a Christmas/Birthday gift.

Thank you to all the parents (and the elves) who worked so hard to contribute to the craft stall at our Greenwich Steiner School Winter fair.

Tea and homemade cake/biscuits, any contributions are welcome!

Of course bring your own lunch!

The session officially ends at 1.30 pm but we ask kindly for your help tyding and cleaning the space afterwards.

There is no leader in this session so all join in the work and the looking after the Church. The toys and materials have to be stored in the usual way and the kitchen cleaned.

You may bring your children as you know this is their play space;

These sessions are not like Parent and Child sessions; there will be no ring time and formal snack time or story time! This doesn't stop any parent from singing or playing with the children! The session's focus is learning and making crafts for the grown ups and perhaps the parents may take turns in settling and watching the children and look after the toys, furniture and guard the materials used for crafts. Each adult is responsible for the children they may bring.

Anna will guide you through a simple, or more advanced craft in this session so all join in the work and the looking after the Church. The toys and materials have to be stored in the usual way and the kitchen cleaned.

Thank you!

Anna is the 'facilitator' of this new group. She is an 'Acorn mum' and she has a passion for wool and knitting: she has a business making and selling gorgeous creations.
We are very lucky to have her with us at Acorns!

Any crafty people out there willing to come and contribute and share their skills? We can discuss offering in the future, once the group is established and learned a few basic skills,from time to time, extra special workshops, so may the experienced knitters/weavers, painters, etc... come forward!

Susannah

http://www.greenwichacorns.org.uk/index.html

Email Susannah.andrews@gmail.com

Advent at Acorns

Advent at Acorns parent and Child group:

I had a lovely morning, it was rather a special morning, even if the mood was lighter and more joyful than expected!
 Thank you all for being part of it as a guest, observer, singer, angel, parent or carer, leader, helper, cookie elves, kitchen fairies,  and all those together, which a lot of us were! (and Polly, who put the kettle on for us!).
 Above all thank you to all the children, we do all this for you as we love you all so much!
xxx
Susannah

Winter Spiral

Advent Festival time again!
 Carols by candelight and that special feeling of dimmer afternoons and sparkly lights in the evening and glimmering shining eyes of  little children...
memories of Christmas past, of polo mints and polo necks, of Monopoli and singing, of walks on frosty leaves, the feeling of wool scarves around my neck and mittens on my hands...
Christmas markets in the town square, theatre outings to see the Ballet, and the nice cosy feeling of staying indoors under a blanket and watch a nice film...
All this and much more, each year at this time, I try to recreate; the anticipation, the inward mood, the spiritual, the closeness.
It is every year more important to me, to try to find time to stop and breathe in all these sensations and memories, to stop and contemplate, to be still and stay in that limbo place where time and space melt away and nothing matters than the moment; stillness and quiet and my understanding what this journey is about....this journey that we started...this journey which is mine, but linked with all the others...my family, my friends, the community...
Only here at our Steiner school I find a sense of belonging and a connection with me and the Divine, the spiritual, and the time here on Earth; myself and my life and all the people related to me. My job, my tasks...unfolding in front of me...

For this I love the Winter festival where we walk the spiral of greenery in silence or with gentle music:
it is the Advent Festival.
We are holding this for us at
Acorns Parent and Child group -
(linked with Greenwich Steiner School)

so please go to the link for full info:

http://www.greenwichacorns.org.uk/news.html

So come,

This Friday 7th at 11 am

Deep Mid-Winter drawing near,
Darkness in our Garden here - -

One small flame yet bravely burns
To show a path which ever turns.

Earth, please bear us as we go,
Seeking Light to send a-glow:
Branches green and moss and fern,
Mark our path to trace each turn.
Brother animals, teach us too
To serve with patience as you do.

We walk with candle toward the Light
While Earth awaits with hope so bright:
In the Light which finds new birth
Love may spread o'er all the Earth.

Deep Mid-Winter drawing near - -
May Light arise in our Garden here.

Please join us for a small quiet
Advent Garden Festival
on Friday 7^th December
11:00 am
at the Church of the Ascension.
We will have a very special story,
some singing and a snack.

The Winter Spiral is a magical and heart warming celebration of light that brings us hope in the darkest time of the year.

 Please come and experience this beautiful event with your children!

What Happens: At Acorns we simplify and shorten the experience as the 0 to 3 years old can only do so much!  And for the same reason, instead of holding the festival in the afternoon/evening we do it in the morning...even if the mood is different, due to the little toddlers and younger children feeling too tired later!

In drop off Playgroup and from Kindergarten to Lower, and Middle school...It begins in a room lit by the glow of just one candle. The candle is placed at the centre of a large spiral pathway edged with evergreens arranged on the floor; the hall is lit by tiny night lights in glass jars all around. Singing and sweet violin or cello music sets a mood of peaceful anticipation.

At the Winter Spiral the children are called to the entrance by their teachers. One by one, each child takes a turn, with the help of the parent and carer if necessary. One at a time they begin the journey toward the centre of the spiral carrying small-unlit candles (inserted into an apple), which they light when they reach the centre. They then walk out of the spiral, placing their candles upon one of the golden stars that line the path.
The Kindergarten children walk the spiral with their chosen parents/carers, but if they are not present the teacher may walk with the child.
When all children have made the journey, the garden path and the whole room are aglow from all of the small lights.

The effect is magical—in this case the whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts. For the children, the experience of making a contribution to this beautiful end result is pure and profound.

For the adults, witnessing the look of concentration on even the youngest children’s faces and the pride in themselves upon completing their task can be extremely moving, even without the added backdrop of deeper meaning. If we are lucky enough to attend this festival over a period of years, then we can delight in seeing the children progress from their first tentative steps as 3 year olds to their confident, intentional strides as lower school children.

Families are encouraged to ride home silently or softly singing to let the experience penetrate deeply.

The essence of this festival speaks to all of us, and carries a universal message. During this darkest time of the year, we may turn to our inner light to bring warmth to the world. Certainly their innocence and intention of children can serve to inspire us.



Here for you, I share my favourite songs and verses with these I find my connection to this time of year and the longest night is approaching, The Winter Solstice in about 2 weeks...

May Goddess enlighten your path.

Brightest Blessings)0( &
Enjoy the music!

Music by Lisa Thiel
Vid by WiccaNoita

LYRICS:

Chorus:
Enter the night and you'll find the light,
That will carry you to your dreams.
Enter the night, let your spirit take flight,
In the field of infinite possibilities

On the longest night we search for the light,
And we find it deep within.
Open your eyes to embrace what is wise,
And see the light of your own soul shining.

(Chorus)
Wrap up in the cloak of starry darkness my child,
And you'll find the center of all things.
For from this space of the deepest dark place,
Life Eternal does spring.

(Chorus)
So when you find that spark
When you dream in the dark,
Hold it close to your heart and know.
All that you see is all that can be
When you give birth to the dreams of your soul.

(Chorus)