Heartsong’s Winter Spiral!
A reverent evening of stillness, light, and community.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11TH
Each December, our Heartsong community gathers for the Winter Spiral—a deeply reverent celebration honoring the returning light and the quiet stillness of winter. Together, children and families walk an evergreen spiral by candlelight, welcoming the gentle glow that carries us through the darkest days of the year.
The spiral is formed on the ground with fresh evergreen boughs, with a single candle glowing at the center. One by one, children walk the path in silence, light their candle from the central flame, and place it along the spiral, slowly filling the space with warmth and light.
This simple yet profound ceremony invites stillness, reflection, and a felt sense of inner light—offering our members a meaningful way to enter the heart of the winter season.
What is the Winter Spiral?
The Winter Spiral is a gentle and reverent celebration of the returning light in the midst of winter. On the ground, a spiral is formed from a circle of fresh evergreen boughs, with a single candle glowing at the center.
In this quiet space, children and adults are invited to slow down, soften, and feel the warmth of community as we honor the light that lives within each of us.
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“One by one, children walk quietly along the spiral path toward the center, each representing a day of the year. At the center, they light their personal candle from the central flame”
On their way back, they find a star placed within the spiral to hold in their hands. They then carefully place their apple candle on the ground, leaving a trail of growing light, and carry their star back to their family.
The ceremony begins with the kindergarteners, followed by the older grades, so that each child is held in a moment of focused reverence. Through this simple yet profound ritual, children and adults alike experience the stillness, reflection, and light that sustain us through the winter season.
Evening
Schedule
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Families are invited to share a simple evening meal together in the greenhouse, easing into the night with warmth and community.
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Grade school children head to the Artifactory to prepare for welcoming the kindergarteners.
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Kinderforest children join to prepare for the ceremony.
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We enter into quiet, candlelit reverence as children walk the evergreen spiral.
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A Gentle, Mindful Gathering
This festival is designed to guide children from the lively energy of dinner into a space of quiet reverence as we walk the evergreen spiral together.
