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Light in Darkness
Dear Colleagues,
We are just a few days away from the Northern Hemisphere Winter Solstice on December 21st , so we have truly entered the darkest time of the year. This is traditionally a time of pulling in, spending more time indoors, nesting, reflecting, and resting - activities that can be a challenge in the busyness of school and family calendars right now. We yearn for one thing; our surroundings often demand the opposite of us. Festivals help us to center ourselves: the path into the greatest darkness is marked by many festivals, reminding us in different ways that, even in the darkest hours, we hold an inner light that guides and protects us. This is a reassuring message for adults, but even more so for children, and seems more necessary than ever this year in a fractured, troubled world.
The symbol of light is central to solstice recognitions and celebrations, following traditions that date back to ancient times. We see this theme across cultures: to name just a few, in many North American Indigenous cultures, including Soyal for Zuni and Hopi, with recognition and honoring of the power and gift of the sun and ceremonies to support the return of the light; the Japanese festival of Toji, with bonfires blazing to encourage the sun’s return; in China and Korea, the festival of Dong Zhi or Donji; in Iran and the Iranian diaspora, Shab-e Yalda, held in recognition of the ancient sun god, Mithra. When we look to ancient history, we see that the Winter Solstice was believed to be the birth time of sun gods: Horus in Egypt, Apollo in Greece, and Mithra in Indo-Iran.
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Perhaps more familiar to many in our schools, we have the Indian/Sikh/Jain festival of Diwali (already celebrated this year), Hanukkah, now in its sixth of eight nights, Santa Lucia, bearer of light, from Sweden, and “the holidays,” a season that is all around us and that leads to Christmas. Each of these has themes of light into darkness, light to ward off darkness, and light as a symbol of hope and trust. As the world becomes cold and dark, we bring the outdoors inside and decorate with candles and strings of lights. We gather together, and we enjoy special foods.
Each community has its own traditions for this time of year, representing local history and conditions. As Public Waldorf education continues to evolve, our schools examine the “traditional” Euro-centric celebrations and festivals, asking about the purpose of each and whether they need to be adapted to reflect the local community and customs. This is as it should be, for our schools are located in widely differing contexts. Having grown up on the other side of the world, where the Solstice will celebrate the start of summer and the longest day of the year, I am very familiar with the need to examine traditions and adapt so they make sense in local conditions!
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More and more, schools are also seeking guidance from Elders in local Indigenous communities to learn more about traditions that reflect local patterns of light and dark. This can be extremely helpful in building deeper meaning in our festivals. Consider, as just one example, the times of sunrise and sunset and resulting hours of light and darkness (then layer on local weather conditions) as an immediate picture of the local conditions for celebrations of light - the following are just a few of the locations of Public Waldorf schools (all times December 11, 10 days ahead of the Solstice).
Kona, HI: sunrise 6:48 am, sunset 5:46 pm
Los Angeles, CA: sunrise, 6:48 am, sunset 4:44 pm
Fairbanks, AK: sunrise, 10:45 am, sunset 2:43 pm
Amherst, WI: sunrise, 7:23 am, sunset 4:17 pm
Keene, NH: sunrise 7:15 am, sunset 4:15 pm
Jacksonville, FL: sunrise 7:13 am, sunset 5:27 pm
Imagine, for each of these locations, the impact on commuting, school drop-off and pick-up, recess, time indoors, and evening activities!
Whatever time the sun rises and sets on your school for these last weeks before the winter break, we hope you will draw strength from gathering as a community to celebrate light in darkness, the promise of the return of light, and the great cycle of the year.
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"There is always light. If only we are brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it." Amanda Gorman.
Thank you for the great gift of light you bring each day to your students and their families.
With wishes for light and hope,
Liz Beaven,
On behalf of our Alliance
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We send our deepest sympathy to the Madrone Charter School in Medford, OR, for the recent, unexpected death of their Director, Kendall Roberts. He will be greatly missed. | | |
Regathering: Strengthening Our Public Waldorf Identity
Annual Conference: Jan. 12-14
In Person & Virtual Conference
Registration Open!
Don't miss out on our virtual early bird pricing
We can't wait to regather and reconnect with all of you!
In-Person Conference Registration: here
Virtual Conference Registration: here
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Conference information and schedule: here
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Professional Development and Teacher Preparation | |
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Upcoming Learning Opportunities
Kairos Institute: Healing in a World of Need
Fall 2023, online
https://centerforanthroposophy.org/kairos/kairos-fall-23-online-courses/
Starlight Rays in Darkened Times: Seminars on Contemporary Topics for Waldorf High School Teachers
Fall 2023-24, online
https://centerforanthroposophy.org/starlight/
International Handwork Teacher Development Program
2-year program beginning Jan. 2024, online
https://www.waldorfhandwork.org/teacher-development
Center For Anthroposophy: Mentor Training ~ Pedagogical Mentoring in Partnership
Jan. 2024-Nov. 2024, online with week-long in-person residency (Wilton, NH, Summer 2024)
https://centerforanthroposophy.org/programs/mentor-training/
Members of the Pedagogical Section Council of North America are offering a series of online workshops.
2024, online
February 3, 2024: The Social Imperative of Authentic Conversation - Holly Koteen-Soule
March 2, 2024: Positive Discipline - Vernon Dewey
April 6, 2024: Collaborative Leadership - Michael Holdredge
https://www.cognitoforms.com/WaldorfTeacherInstitute1/PSCFreeOnlineWorkshops202324
2024 WECAN Early Childhood Educators Conference
February 9-11, 2024, Spring Valley, NY
Online Conference opens on February 23, 2024
https://waldorfearlychildhood.org/news-and-events/conferences/
Antioch University Waldorf Teacher Education
2024 Entering Cohort
Minimal Online Hours June 24-28
Residency in Wilton, NH July 13-28
https://www.antioch.edu/academics/education/waldorf-education-med/
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WECAN Parent Evenings:
Parenting in an Anxious World with Adam Blanning, MD and Nancy Blanning
Wednesday, January 17, 2024, online
https://store.waldorfearlychildhood.org/products/parent-evening
Movement in the Child from Three to Seven Years Old with Jane Swain
Wednesday, March 6, 2024, online
https://store.waldorfearlychildhood.org/products/parent-evening
Love the Skin They Are In: Fostering Healthy Racial Identity Development in the Young Child with Keelah Helwig
Wednesday, April 3, 2024, online
https://store.waldorfearlychildhood.org/products/parent-evening
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Professional Development and Teacher Education
Gradalis Teacher Training
New Cohort begins June 20th through July 12th, 2024, Denver, Colorado
https://gradalis.edu/
Teaching as an Art Week: Grade Level Preparation for the working teacher
July 7th through 12th, 2024, Denver, Colorado
https://gradalis.edu/
Understanding Waldorf Education (UWE) Program
September 2024-April 2025, Denver, Colorado
https://gradalis.edu/
Gradalis Early Childhood Training
New Cohort begins June 20th through July 12th, 2024, Denver, Colorado
https://gradalis.edu/
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