Power in Winter

​Power in Winter - Craft with pine & pinecone, mistletoe & cinnamon

This season is full of traditions and festivals of lights & wards of protection.  It is not just for survival during winter, it’s about physical health & well being seeing you through the outward death-lands, cremation grounds, hinterlands & barren landscapes of desolation & danger.  Every tradition the world over has – given the timing of their geographic location – some celebration of light & surviving darkness within and without during their winter season/solstice.

Part of it is the strength and hope of the evergreens and the bright power of red holly-berries or leftover cranberries.  Even the spicy and sweet depths of strong bark, like cinnamon, warming the insides.  And the cleansing purity of white mistletoe berries, dispelling illness and misfortune.  We hang these items in swaths, wreaths, and charms all over our homes in this season – along with candles and lights of all kinds.  We build the warmth within and ensure both cleansing of illness and protection from harm.  Like all things in life, we experience this on every level Spirit, Mind, and Body – so as we decorate our homes, cook and bake traditional foods, and celebrate with others – we are always tending the Light in the darkness, the light within ourselves, the light within our homes, the light of celebration and joyfulness within our families, and the light of hospitality in our communities.  

Take a moment, if you have not hung any greens or decorated in common traditions of where you are, to intentionally choose a few things that will draw the power of this season into your space.  For example, candles, strung lights, decorative stars, pinecones or an evergreen branch if you can gather one in nature are great ways to bring in some small element of the season. 

Choose your focus & items:

• the light within - a candle for meditation and ambience or a string of lights;
• health and well-being - use the evergreen branch, a sprig of rosemary or mistletoe, and the pinecones with a white ribbon to tie it up to hang or pull them together in a bundle you can place by your door, in the kitchen, or in your main living area. 
• abundance, warmth, and prosperity - holly, cinnamon sticks, pinecones, big nuts still in their shells or acorns.  Use a red ribbon to bundle the cinnamon sticks or tie some of these elements together. 

Perhaps you can find or make a wreath or circle and glue and string these elements together to be hung of placed on a mantle or table.  As charms, the small bundles hung over doorways are good, or wreaths decorated with the smaller items.  As centerpieces, these displays draw our eyes and thoughts and can be a focal point for meditation.  

Everyone is different and their spaces are different.  Winter does not have a race or religion, nor does health or well-being or happiness.  You do not have to have deep pockets or be crafty to select some of these items you can find easy access to in nature or at a grocery store. 

​Simply put your intent for strengthening your light, cleansing and healing, prosperity and well-being into any selection you find and accept.  Then, continue that intention joyfully as you place them, glue them, and/or tie them together.  Then, continue further with your joyful celebration as you light your candle and meditate, or plug in the lights and watch them glow, or smell the aromatics stewing on the stove or in the potpourri crock, or hang your evergreen charms.
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May the coming year bring you joy and well-being through your Inner Light!  Have fun decorating and meditating, charming your life and enchanting your spaces!