Dec21

essence of life.

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 picture from a past solstice celebration

—

every year

one of my favorite things to teach and share with my class

is the story and traditions of the winter solstice

i get to play the sun

the children play the tilting earth and the seasons

who spin and dance and throw snow

as the season changes

the sun stays in the middle

offering extra light

to the other side of the earth now tilting toward it

knowing it will always return to them

even as our days grow shorter

they quietly rest on the ground

waiting, waiting

only to emerge

when the time is right

  happy to dance once more

in the light of the warm spring sun.

—

*notes: here is my recipe for the winter solstice, and many thanks to all for your low-tech special effects support of this performance: torn paper snowflakes made by the children, many smiles, a bit of dizziness, a sun doing an interpretive dance, a person to turn off and on the classroom lights at just the right moment, a flashlight, a yellow paper sun, a dj to play the music (‘carol of the bells’ by george winston, and ‘here comes the sun’ by the beatles) at just the right time, and a class full of kinder/whirling twirling planets throwing snow, lying down, and awakening as emerging new life in the spring when the sun returns. somehow it all falls into place, each year a bit differently, as is the way of the world. 

—

“spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. joy is the essence of life.”

-agnivesh

80 responses »

  2. How wonderfully you explained to me, so that finally I get it! Thank you; you make a marvellous sun…. I repeat myself in saying that I would have loved to have had you for a teacher, although that‘s absolutely impossible. Hail solstice day

    Liked by 1 person

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  28. I can’t tell you how much I love this post, Beth. I can see my teaching style was like yours, which was always to have fun with my students. Why shouldn’t we make school a fun place? Those teachers who can’t act like a kid sometimes miss out on an enormous part of the bonding.

    Liked by 1 person

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  38. Pingback: essence of life. – DAILY GRUMPS AD

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