Locust Light Farm

Dear Reader,

What does Solstice look like for you?

Someone asked me this recently, and I answered that there was a way I celebrated Solstice before I became a parent, and the way that I'm attempting to celebrate it now.

Before Althea was born, I would take a Solstice retreat in a cabin in the woods for a few days in mid-December and spend time in deep reflection, card-pulling, and careful examination of my life, followed by even more careful Intention-crafting.

On Winter Solstice, John and I would deep clean our home, followed by a sound and smoke clearing. Then, we'd walk in the woods and gather pine boughs. We'd return home to drape pine boughs all around and light candles, eschewing electric light for the evening, and our friends would arrive for a Solstice circle as pine incense wafted through the air. It was magical, and supportive, and close, and it felt like a celebration of the belonging and love we all felt together.

In the first two years after Althea was born, I didn't have the bandwidth for any of this (we'd also adopted a kitten, who has put a hamper on the candles. yes, he's older now, but he's an orange cat so...)

Last year I managed to scrawl some intentions down.

This year, I'm hoping for more: I've been reading all the children's books I can find about Solstice to Althea (any suggestions? Do share! I'll list some below). I also hope for a night free of electric lights, and maybe a small family Circle.

We'll see how it goes. I'm glad to be hosting a Solstice Retreat for the first time in a while -- it will be good to truly sit in a Circle again and connect with others on that level.

My primary Intention has remained the same for the past ten years: find a permanent home for Locust Light. I hold that candle in my heart, even now, until it comes forth.

So, what does Solstice look like for you? Do you set Intentions? Take a break from electricity? Go outside and smell the starlight?

I'd to hear. I'm always up for a chat.

yours in candlelight,

Amanda

---

Here's a whole list of how we can gather together this Solstice season:

If you're craving community, join me at the Solstice Retreat tomorrow. ​

If you'd like guidance on how to craft Solstice Intentions and potentiate them with a ritual, dive into the Yule Advent Calendar (you'll get the Intentions + Ritual workbooks right away, then 21 days of Solstice magic delivered to your inbox).

For herbal community gatherings in the new year, check out my class calendar. I just added a class at Grounds for Sculpture in January: Herbal Reset for Winter Wellness. We'll be brewing decoctions!

For virtual herbal community in the new year, join the live version of 13! We'll be moving through the course as a group, and chatting the whole time. Plus you get first access to the snazzy audio recordings.

And of course, I'm available for both consultations and chats, about health stuff, spiritual stuff, or anything at all.

I'm sending you all the Solstice sparkles I can conjure.

Amanda (yes, I'm signing off a second time)

P.S. Mountain Rose Herbs is having a huge end-of-year sale. It's a great time to stock up for winter, or to buy supplies for the live version of 13 that's starting on January 5th! ​

P.P.S. Here are my favorite Solstice books: The Yule Tomte (this is Solstice-adjacent but so lovely), The Shortest Day, this one involving animals, and Luke and the Longest Night. And of course I must mention Owl Moon. ​

​
​

---

Did a friend send you this email? Awesome! To get more herby goodness in your inbox, click the button below:

Send me herby goodness