Embracing the Magic of Winter Solstice: Our Final Newsletter of 2023
The Winter Solstice, occurring annually around December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, is the astronomical moment when the Earth's tilt away from the sun is at its maximum and the sun's position is at its southernmost point in the sky. This results in the shortest day and longest night of the year.
It marks a key point in Earth's journey around the sun, symbolising the interplay between light and darkness, and the balance of seasonal changes. After the solstice, days gradually start to lengthen again, bringing more light.
The Winter Solstice has been celebrated in various cultures throughout history. It's often associated with the rebirth of the sun, representing new beginnings and the return of hope. Many ancient cultures observed it as a time of death and rebirth, celebrating the gradual return of the sun.
Pagan and Spiritual Traditions
In pagan traditions, particularly in Northern Europe, the solstice was known as Yule. It was a time to honour the gods and goddesses and to celebrate the return of the light. This festival included feasting, merrymaking, and the burning of the Yule log, symbolising warmth and lasting light.
In contemporary times, many of these traditions have been incorporated into Christmas and New Year's festivities. People still celebrate the solstice with gatherings, lighting candles, and reflecting on the past year while looking forward to the future.
Symbolism: The Winter Solstice is often seen as a symbol of the enduring cycle of life, death, and rebirth. It's a reminder of the resilience of life even in the darkest of times, and the enduring promise of the return of light and warmth.
Overall, the Winter Solstice is a time of introspection, celebration, and renewal, deeply rooted in the natural rhythms of the Earth and the human connection to these cycles.
The Solstice, a time of profound celestial significance, brings with it an aura of magical energies centred around the themes of giving and receiving. This period, marked by the longest night and the promise of increasing light, invites us to embrace the warmth of human connection and the joy of community. It's a season where the simple act of giving – whether it be gifts, time, or love – becomes a powerful expression of our bond with family and friends. The cold outside contrasts with the warmth inside, where hearth fires glow and tables are laden with good food, symbolising abundance and nourishment. Communities come together in celebration, partaking in age-old traditions and creating new memories. This time is not just about the material aspect of giving, but about the deeper exchange of care, support, and gratitude. The Winter Solstice encapsulates the essence of togetherness, reminding us of the enduring human spirit through the simple joys of shared experiences, laughter, and the collective anticipation of the returning light.
The Gift of Giving: A Unique Opportunity from SCA
Embracing the spirit of generosity and growth, we at SCA are excited to present a unique opportunity for those who feel a calling towards a meaningful career path. In 2024, we are offering an internship for those of you, anywhere in the world, interested in becoming a Sacred Celebrant, a role that enriches lives and communities. Our ‘in person’ training programmes are not only IPHM Accredited but are renowned for their high-quality and comprehensive curriculum. With two training courses scheduled for April and September, this is your chance to gain a high-spec qualification in a field that promises both personal and professional fulfilment.
Are you someone who has dreamed of being a Celebrant, of guiding and supporting others through their most significant life moments? If so, this could be the path for you. Our training is unparalleled, attracting people from all corners of the globe who seek the very best education in this unique vocation. We take pride in being the only course globally that offers this specialised form of training.
But don't just take our word for it. Here are some testimonials from our past participants:
Elle: ‘’Absolutely without doubt one of the best weeks of my life! To have connected with such incredible people, to have been taught and guided by the most caring, supportive, and generous team! The training to become a Sacred Celebrant was an honour and a calling like no other and the way in which we can guide people through the most sacred rites of passage is more than words can ever describe’’
Maisie: ‘’The most amazing spiritual mentors and guides you’ll ever meet. My time with this beautiful group in Glastonbury was honestly life changing’’
Kathy: ‘’Definitely one of the best weeks of my life’’
Maisie: ‘’The most amazing spiritual mentors and guides you’ll ever meet. My time with this beautiful group in Glastonbury was honestly life changing’’
This is more than an internship; it’s a journey towards a fulfilling career, an opportunity to make a difference, and a chance to be part of a global community of dedicated Sacred Celebrants. If this resonates with you, we invite you to step forward and join us in 2024. Let's embark on this transformative journey together. To find out more about this amazing opportunity email Priestess Dawn Kinsella: dawn@sacredcelebrantsacademy.com
Expanding & Growing: We continue to expand our offerings of excellence and 2023 marked a remarkable year with the successful launch of our first Spiritual Funeral and Memorial Celebrant training, with the excellent tutelage of Sacred Civil Celebrant Sally Ingle holding the first three days with Civil funeral skills and a deeper dive into grief ceremonial work with Dawn Kinsella . Building on this, we introduced 'Advanced Funeral Training' for established Funeral Celebrants seeking to deepen their spiritual offerings, this will be run by Priestess Dawn Kinsella and OneSpirit Minister & CEO of AOIC (Association of Independent Celebrants) Grace Jevons. Excitingly, we're gearing up for the July 2024 launch of the 'Sacred Ceremonialist of Avalon - Path of the Priestess' training, which is nearly fully booked! Our programs are designed to enhance and upskill participants, whether as part of their vocational role or a career change.
SCA’s Gift to you! For those of you that wish to take the Sacred Celebrant and Spiritual Funeral & Memorial Training together we are offering them both as a package deal, with a discount of £200! That’s two incredible training programmes for a total £2,790 and staged payments are available. This is your opportunity to gain a unique ground breaking vocational career as a Celebrant on the world Celebrant stage!
A Special Gift for Handfasting Celebrations
Are you, or someone you know, a celebrant preparing to conduct a Handfasting ceremony in 2024? Or perhaps you're aware of a wonderful couple embarking on their journey towards this beautiful commitment? If so, we have the perfect offering for you. Our exclusive '21 Blessings for Handfasting Ceremonies' available on Amazon is an ideal gift for both couples and celebrants alike. This collection of channelled and written blessings by Priestess Dawn Kinsella adds a meaningful touch to the ceremony, encapsulating the essence of love and union. For celebrants seeking a more personalised approach, we also offer a downloadable version on our website. This allows you to easily print and incorporate these heartfelt blessings into the ceremony, ensuring an unforgettable and deeply personal experience for the couple. Don't miss the chance to make a Handfasting celebration even more special with this thoughtful and unique gift.
Yule Indulgence!
Indulge in the festive flavour of the season with our guilt-free, luxurious chocolate recipe! Packed with goodness and crafted for pure deliciousness , these chocolates are the perfect treat to savour the holiday spirit. Enjoy this deliciously decadent yet healthy recipe in your celebrations! filled with a fruity pink cashew cream.
Yummy Raw Chocolates with Cashew Cream Filling -
Ingredients:
Chocolate: 100g raw cacao butter, 100g raw cacao powder, 60-100ml raw agave syrup (to taste), 1 tsp vanilla powder (optional)
Cashew Cream Filling: 100g cashew nuts (soaked overnight), 50-75ml water, a pinch of sea salt, 2 tsp super vital powder (or superfood powder of your choice), 2 tbsp agave syrup (or to taste)
Instructions:
Melt cacao butter in a heat proof dish within a pan over hot water, stir in vanilla powder, cacao powder, and agave syrup until smooth and glossy.
Coat chocolate moulds with half of the mixture and freeze for 10 minutes.
For the filling, blend soaked cashews, water, salt, superfood powder, and agave syrup until smooth.
Spoon or pipe cream into chocolate shells, leaving space for the base.
Freeze for 10 minutes, then cover with remaining chocolate mixture.
Freeze for another 10 minutes or leave in a cold place to set. Enjoy once set!
Notes: Substitute agave syrup with your preferred sweetener.
And finally as we close another remarkable year, we at SCA extend our heartfelt gratitude to those who make our journey so special. A huge thank you to our dedicated Sacred and Funeral Celebrants, past, present and those of you yet to come, our skilled course tutors - Sally Ingle, Grace Jevons, and Jade Dalton. Our appreciation also goes out to Holly Kinsella, our exceptional web designer and social media manager, whose expertise is invaluable to our operations. Additionally, we're grateful for the Glastonbury Goddess Temple for their continued support and provision of training facilities, the staff and guardians of the Sacred White Springs in Glastonbury and the staff at the ‘White Rabbit’ Glasty for their excellent staff, beautiful venue rooms and Peace Garden , you all make our journey on this amazing path so completely possible and special. Dawn and Gregg wish you and everyone around the globe a peaceful and prosperous 2024. Here's to another year of growth, learning, and meaningful connections!
