The Solstice Sun Wheel

This weekend you might be seeing Facebook posts about something that is called a Solstice Sun Wheel, Advent Sun Wheel, or Yule Advent Wreath. The word “advent” means “to come”, and what we are doing is counting down, anticipating the return, the “coming” of the sun at Winter Solstice. We celebrate a time when the days once more start to lengthen, giving us the promise of Spring, and renewal. We are welcoming the return of the Light to ourselves and to the world through our prayers and intentions.

Years ago, Helen Farias started this new practice in The Beltane Papers magazine. It was then picked up by Waverly FitzGerald for School for the Seasons. Now it is brought to us by Beth Owl’s Daughter, who is guiding us through this for her 16th year.

So, how exactly are we doing this, what are we doing here? Well, to me it is part Advent, part Ritual, part Spell work, and a thing that is quickly becoming an eagerly anticipated seasonal tradition. We will create a wreath, that will be laid flat on a table. This can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish. Buy one at the store or gather some loved ones and head out into nature to gather some evergreens to create your own. Add in some herbs, ribbons, décor, whatever you wish, there are no rules here. You can even make a simple circle of candles. Research the meaning and symbols of various greenery to make it more magical. This can become part of this lovely tradition. Make a day of it, drink hot cider, sing songs. Create the tradition that you want.

Then we need five candles. The colors and types are up to you. I like to use yellow, red, blue, green, and purple candles as I assign mine the aspects of the Elements. You can choose to dedicate your candles to a quality that you would like to bring into your life or into the world. Peace, harmony, kindness…

Around dusk on the evening of the fourth Sunday before Yule, this year on the 29th of November, we light the first candle and each Sunday after that you will light the first candle, then the second, and so on up until Solstice. On that night you light all the candles, ending with the final candle in the center.

There is no set ritual for this, nor are you held to any set time, just cast a circle and take it from there. You can write up your own personal ritual, you can read poems or stories of the season. But always remember that you are joining in with people all over the globe who are each lighting a candle and empowering their thoughts for a better, kinder, healthier planet. As the sun sets all over our planet, people are joining in sending these prayers, spells, and intention out into the universe. You are a part of something so powerful, a wave of intention spanning the Earth. Just hooking into that power can bring tears to your eyes.

From Beth: “And so, in this year of heartbreak and isolation like none of us have ever faced, I would invite everyone to recognize how our years of practice have taught us to tune in to the presence of one another, without technology, and regardless of location or even clock time.

Every Sun Day before Yule and/or Christmas, all across the face of our Earth, there are thousands who are with you in spirit. One of the subtle miracles of the Sun Wheel Advent Ceremony is what it feels like to realize you are a part of hundreds of concurrent ceremonies, each one unique, and staggered across time zones, yet happening together in the space that is no space, and the time that is no time. Thus, we are all present together, hand in hand, soul to soul.

If ever we needed such a skill and such reassurance, it is this year.”

Be sure to pay a visit to Beth’s’ page for her wise words and all the details of this heartening tradition.

I believe that now in a time when chaos seems to have taken over the whole of the world, developing traditions is so very vital to us. Having traditions has been shown to strengthen the bonds of both family and community, and this is something that reminds us that no matter our political climate, the pandemic, or how we are physically separated, we are still ONE people. Bonded by our humanity, strengthened by our love, and connected by the spark of Light within us all. We are sending our love, strength, and Will out into the Universe in a rolling tide of prayer and sacred blessing that honors the hope that resides in all our souls.