This past weekend, the MPRC and Melange Magique joined forces and put together the Yule Fair, which took place December 5th and 6th. There were vendors, speakers, and many, many visitors. The Yule Fair is one of those community traditions when we get to reconnect with old friends and enjoy each others company for a couple of days.
Before I get sentimental, a big shout out to Lena, Vanessa, and Kevin from the MPRC who were really helpful in playing timekeepers, gophers, and keeping the MPRC open during the Fair. You folks seriously rock! We even got a few people to fill-out volunteer forms!
Highlights from the weekend included hanging out with Dr. Brendan Myers and his lady-love Juniper, joshing around with the vendors, and leading the Yule ritual on Sunday night. I spoke in a panel discussion and told Winter tales on Sunday afternoon (you can
hear one of the stories here).
The Yule Ritual went off so well: the effect I was hoping for not only happened, but it surpassed my expectations. Since it was a Winter Solstice ritual, part of the ritual was done in darkness. The only light was from the quarter candles, which produced silhouettes of the people. My thanks to Mark (for the grounding) and Juniper, Tam, Francis, and Rick for calling the quarters in their own unique ways.
Each person was asked to bring a candle, and after I spoke about the darkness and how it can fool you into thinking you are alone, I lit a candle and shared my light with another person. Then that person shared her light with another person, and so on and so forth until the room was filled with candlelight. I couldn't hear what everyone was saying to each other, but what I did hear seemed heartfelt and genuine, even when it was between strangers. It was beautiful.
There was a moment that I now wish I could have spent more time on, but I'm reassured that Brendan and Juniper took care of. There was a girl there who, for personal reasons, was worried that she would not be welcome in that space. When she revealed that reason to me, I assured her that she would always be welcome here, and that statement seemed to lift an incredible weight from her shoulders. I hope this girl comes back so we can continue to prove that to her.
Thank you for sharing your light with me this past year. Namaste.