Santa Shamans & Solstice Circle

The fading light on the longest night 

brought golden clouds and brisk wind. 

I loaded wood on the cart and 

wheeled it to the fire pit in 

a clearing in the hemlocks. 

A handful of hardy souls gathered around 

the Solstice Fire to celebrate the sun's 

re-birth. The silent and silvery moon

 rose to watch our revelry, dancing 

with the clouds as we danced with 

the fire. With boughs of spruce 

and fir we swept the year clean, 

'round and 'round the circle

sweeping and blessing 

each other, 

and the land. 

This morning, Pasha and I gathered the left over kindling 

to light our morning fire and bring the blessings of 

the circle into the house. 

Inside, my tree is the Shaman World Tree.

With owls and angels up high, 

and a skiing Santa Shaman who looks to me like a Sami 

from the arctic circle in Norway. In his bag he carries

the magic that makes reindeer fly.

Another of my favorites is the Santa who stands with 

arms outstretched for several weeks offering himself

to the wee critters who come to my tree to be a 

part of the story. 

There's also a sweet, sledding faery who lights her 

way with a lantern,

and a mighty king who surveys the kingdom, 

wandering the forest from Solstice 'til New Year's. 

(actually, its a Queendom, but I don't tell him)

The Solstice table, ready to welcome

moon cakes and mulled cider and 

cold-toed revelers, is guarded 

by the White Reindeer and 

his friend, the Santa Shaman 

who shelters critters in his 

robes. 

And possibly my favorite of all, with his 

Stag Staff and oak leaf bordered robe, 

dances in spirals around his fire

in the center of the table, 

banging his staff 

loudly to make 

sure he's got the 

attention of the 

ancestors.  

Through this most lively of celebrations, 

Pasha manages to dream other stories

by the heat of the wood stove, 

on his little sheepskin rug.