Solstice Party Ritual Planning

Solstice Toast
Stand around punch bowl, everyone gets a full cup
Everyone says something they would like to leave behind in the darkness of winter, and something they'd like to move toward in the new year
Pour the punch back into the bowl
Mickki: Darkness ritual
Turn out all the lights and give people some time to reflect on the darkness and on loss
Bring the light back starting with a single candle
Or have each person light a candle and set it on the windowsill
Shelley: I like this better than the toast
Decorating the Solstice Tree
Cards on which people would write things they have lost or gained (or that they wish to leave behind or move toward)
Burn the ones for loss
Hang the others on the tree
Don't pressure everyone into doing it
Berries and poinsettia
Ben: Participatory song, "When the Winter Comes We Gather" (?)