A Weekend of Events to Celebrate the Winter Solstice
Come for one moment or for the whole weekend!
Saturday and Sunday Celebrations of Light, a Day of Mindfulness, or a Weekend Retreat.
Sunday Celebration of Light – Registration is Still Open
Weekend Retreat – Nearby Accommodations Available 5 minutes down the road, please email us for Information
Saturday Celebration of Light – Waiting List Email us to get on the waiting list if you can’t attend Sunday, as spaces often open up.
Dear Friends on the Path,
We are so happy to be able to celebrate this season together. Our practices throughout the weekend will invite us to find space and warmth inside ourselves, to touch the healing and deep quiet of this time of year, and to feel the light of our love and compassion.
The heart of the weekend is a Celebration of Light:
It will include a Tea Meditation and Offerings (a tea meditation in which we enjoy mindfully drinking our tea and listening to offerings from the community) The offering could be a poem, song, musical piece or short story with the theme of the season of inner light, the Winter Solstice. You can also share a meaningful or joyful personal story from the winter/holiday season, recently or reaching back into childhood memories. The Celebration will culminate with a Spiral Walk and Candle Lighting Ceremony. We will meditate on the Solstice, being embraced by the quiet dark and awakening our inner light of compassion. Then, with music and silent prayers, we will each walk the spiral, light our candle and place it as an offering in the spiral.
Below you can find details on attending any combination of:
- Sunday Celebraion of Light, 3:30-6:30
- Sunday morning Day of Mindfulness, 9:30-12:30
- Whole Weekend Retreat
- Wait List for Saturday Celebraion of Light, 3:30-6:30
(Scroll Down for More Details or to Register)
DESCRIPTION OF SOLSTICE EVENTS:
- Solstice Weekend Retreat – Friday 7pm- Sunday 12:30pm Arrive on Friday evening after dinner and stay through to the end of the Day of Mindfulness of Sunday. On Saturday, the morning will have a light schedule of meditation, a BYO bagged lunch, and then some simple working meditation to prepare for the evening Solstice Celebration. Dinner will be provided after the Celebration for those staying overnight. Then wake for breakfast on Sunday before attending the Day of Mindfulness. Please note that Morning Sun will prepare your meals while you are here, with the exception of Saturday lunch (bring your own bagged vegan lunch) and the program ends BEFORE lunch on Sunday.
- Celebration of Light – Saturday 3:30-6:30pm We will gather in the meditation hall to share tea, cookies, singing and stories from all traditions (you are welcome to bring a story, song or poem!) culminating with a winter spiral walking meditation. With quiet song and reverence, the room moves from complete darkness to radiant light as, one by one, each of us (adults and children) adds our candle to the evergreen spiral in the center of the room, placing a prayer of peace. (NOTE FOR DAY GUESTS: If you would like to stay for dinner after the Spiral Walk, please let us know and bring a vegan potluck offering to contribute to the meal.)
- Day of Mindfulness – Sunday 9:30-12:30 This day of mindfulness is open for everyone. It will include sitting meditations, a Dharma teaching and sharing circle, and outdoor walking meditation.
- Celebration of Light – Sunday 3:30-6:30pm We will gather in the meditation hall to share tea, cookies, singing and stories from all traditions (you are welcome to bring a story, song or poem!) culminating with a winter spiral walking meditation. With quiet song and reverence, the room moves from complete darkness to radiant light as, one by one, each of us (adults and children) adds our candle to the evergreen spiral in the center of the room, placing a prayer of peace. There will NOT be a meal on Sunday evening after the Celebration.
Accommodations: Depending on the time of year we have several types of accommodations.
- Dormitory Beds: We have several rooms available in El Cielo (our retreat building) (beds for 10-14 people depending on whether folks are alone, or couples, or in a ‘pod’). We also have a few dormitory beds available in our simple living yurt.
- Nearby Accomodations: Currently we have accomodations 5 minutes down the road in a lovely Cabin on a Lake. Please email us for more information.
- Commute: You may also choose to commute in and out if you live locally. Please register for the program below (as a commuter), and also book your local accommodations separately (you need to do both).
- You may also book at other hotels and rentals offered by airbnb, vrbo, etc in the area. Please note that you need to provide your own transportation to and from MorningSun during your program if you register as a commuter.
Retreat Conduct: There will be periods of silence and periods to enjoy conversations with others. To create a gentle and quiet retreat atmosphere, we practice with the Five Mindfulness Trainings. Meals will be plant-based (vegan), and we do not drink alcohol, ingest intoxicants or any recreational drugs. Firearms and other weapons are not permitted in the Mindfulness Center. In order for everyone to feel respected and safe during their retreat MorningSun will not support or tolerate any act of bullying, discrimination, sexual harassment or assault. On arrival each participant must affirm these practices by signing a commitment to maintain retreat conduct.
Dear friends,
Email us with any questions at morningsunoffice@gmail.com
Thank you so much
REGISTRATION FORM FOR SOLSTICE WEEKEND 2025