Example: Instead of getting each other an obligatory gift for Valentines Day... we had dinner as a family, watched a movie together, and had a special sweet dessert. We marked the occasion. Simply and wholly as a family. I LOVED it. Did I feel less loved by my husband? Of course not. We are so free and generous with showing signs of affection. There is NO need for an obligatory day for it. I feel that way about most holidays.
Christmas is the worst. Right? And while we haven't done away with gifts all together, we have minimized it through a pretty sweet Solstice ritual. It took a few years of trial and error, or trial and adjustment to find our ritual but The Solstice Ritual we do now is amazing and perfect for our family. So perfect and requested by my kids nightly all December long, that I thought I'd piggy back on the idea and create a similar Equinox Ritual.
Spring is when we celebrate balance as the day and night are equal again.
Spring is when we celebrate new beginnings and growth.
Spring is when we plant. Physically, mentally, and metaphorically.
SO this year we "planted" qualities that we want to sew in the year to come. Really, truly, honestly sew. Not new-years-resolution-that-gets-ditched-by-the-end-of-January-if-you're-lucky kind of sew. But right-in-our-kind-hearts,-growing-because-it's-nurtured-and-supported-by-our-entire-family kind of sew.
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| Step 1: paint background for words to go on. |
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| Step 2: add words. |
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| During the month, this was our alter. Each night, a rock was added. |
I knew I wanted to do rocks. Cute painted ones with words representing our plans. They say things like kind, listen, shine, etc. I did not include honesty, because my kids are 95% openly honest with us, AND everyone they meet. Small price to pay. But I digress. We were wondering through Hobby Lobby, me, my husband and kids in tow, carrying 3 lbs of rocks, looking for something to make our alter from (the mossy cross). I mentioned wanting to get wooden eggs to paint as I hate the idea of plastic, cause we either have to store them or toss them, neither of which work for us. At least if we store painted eggs, they become like Xmoose ornaments. Memories of each year past.
My husband suggests painting the other side of the rocks!!
Are you kidding me right now?? Brilliant! The equinox is that last day of our celebration. We officially won't need the rocks on the alter and they could be scooped up for an "egg hunt". I love how he takes my crazy thoughts, ideas, wants and needs, and creates solutions that are so life changing.
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| I LOVE how the kids painted their 'eggs'. |
This year we painted words and colored the backs like eggs as we went so that we had a new 'quality' to add to our alter each night. Then we used the other sides for our egg hunt. We scooped them up, hid them around the apartment outside and the kids searched for them in the morning. Now, we just store them away for next year! Next year, we'll add a few words, as I'm sure there will be qualities that we continue to plant year after year as we grow.
What did you do to celebrate the Equinox this year? What ritual have you loved? What ritual are you just starting? Let us know in the comments.
ING
!jen
