Last week I had the honor of celebrating Winter Solstice in a sacred circle of friends ~ a gathering which also served as my birthday party!
This week I got to relive those memories as I cuddled up with my mom in rainy Seattle. A dear friend had gathered all the quotes and poems shared in that Solstice Gathering, and sent them to me along with photos and lots of TLC. How precious to spend sweet time with my mom reading and savoring each word!
I share a few favorite quotes and poems from the evening with you below, in hopes they bring deepening peace to your year’s end, and joy to your heart. Feel free to share with friends, in your own Sacred Circles, or in your yoga classes.
With love, Laura
First, please step into our circle, with commentary and poetry compilation by Hemasri Chava, photos by Dhiraj Makam….
“Candles are lit, cakes are baked, tables are decorated, flower vases are ready, and the rain is calling us to embrace it.
Food is ready, seating is arranged, and everybody started coming. Had a beautiful meditation.
After having our dinner, we all danced our hearts out, danced as if no one is watching us. We all became very light and sat down for the circle time to share a poem or a story or a quote.
Vaishik shared a quote, which we had to listen to couple of times to digest….
Nature looks dead in winter because her life is gathered into her heart. She withers the plant to the root so she may grow it up again fairer and stronger. She calls her family together within her inmost home to prepare them for being scattered upon the face of the Earth.
Shashi shared a heart touching quote. We all went into contemplation for a few minutes before we continued to the next person. Here is the quote:
Diya shared a poem which she has been contemplating for several years now. Here You Go Dawn by Paul Laurence Dunbar:
An angel, robed in spotless white, Bent down and kissed the sleeping Night. Night woke to blush; the sprite was gone. Men saw the blush and called it Dawn.
Susan, shared the following quote by Hafiz:
An Awake Heart is like a Sky that pours light.
Bhagya shared her favorite poem from Gitanjali by Rabindranath Tagore:
I ask for a moment’s indulgence to sit by thy side. The works
that I have in hand I will finish afterwards.
Away from the sight of thy face my heart knows no rest nor respite,
and my work becomes an endless toil in a shoreless sea of toil.
Today the summer has come at my window with its sighs and murmurs; and
the bees are plying their minstrelsy at the court of the flowering grove.
Now it is time to sit quiet, face to face with thee, and to sing
dedication of life in this silent and overflowing leisure.
Pranathi shared a quote and she had to repeat it couple of times; thank you Santhi for letting us sink into the quote:
Life is like an empty box. It doesn’t matter what you got out of it. What really matters is what you put into it.
Shaku sang a song about Lord Krishna and her surrogate mother. Here is the link to that song: http://youtu.be/GGDZHXI_-XQ
While Shaku is singing …Bhagya and Susan are drowned in ecstasy.
Immersed in and listening to the circle intensely.
Snehita’s inspiring words awed us as she shared her poem.
Where I’m From
By: Snehita Vallumchetla
I am from creativity
found within my inner self
I am from a cottage filled with love and the aroma of honeysuckle
I am from the ocean the most peaceful place on earth
I’m from hiking and visiting new places with my lovely mother
I’m from the peak of Mount Everest and the valleys of the Grand Canyon
I’m from meditation and everyone being equal even if they are my enemies
I’m from camping in the forests of Narnia and laying in the sand of a calm peaceful paradise.
I am from Martial Arts twisting and turning me to go in the right direction,
making me more self confident each day
I am from a lighthouse of imagination beckoning boats
To refill their engines with creativity ,
and spark their imagination with many more unique ideas.
Chaitra shared a quote which put us in long silence:
“Wisdom is to utilize all the faculties at their best. Wisdom is to have the maximum output with the minimum input.”
Yamini sent me the following to share with Laura:
“If light is in your heart, you will find your way home” – Rumi.
We have concluded the gathering with hugs and goodbyes. Everyone carried the richness of the togetherness home. Couple of us stayed back and cleaned all the dishes, emptied the food, evening cleaning becomes joyful when you do it with your heart full of love. We all enjoyed thoroughly.
This is the result, everyone filled with joy, and feeling the love of each other. I hope we will continue to connect and grow.
