December Solstice 2009

Solstice Day of Silence

On December 21, a one-day silent meditation retreat honoring the solstice. Day starts and ends with sunrise and sunset on the beach. Six sitting meditation sessions alternate with slow walks, a forest/lake walk, yoga, lunch, and chanting. After sunset, discussion and a glass of wine followed by night walk in the dark. Guests attend all or part of the event. See songs and alignment chart.

Night

Begin Astronomical twilight 5:10 a.m.

 

Begin civil twilight 6:09 a.m.

 

6:15 be at retreat center

6:20 walk to beach (normal walk)

Sunrise 6:35 a.m. be there

 

Go back to retreat center (normal walk)

6:50-7:30 sitting meditation 1

7:30-7:40 slow walk 1

 

7:40-8:30 breakfast

8:30-9:10 meditation 2

9:10-9:20 slow walk 2

 

9:20-10 meditation 3

Moonrise 9:55 a.m.

10-11 walk to E lake (normal walk)

 

11-12 Chants and singing (see Solstice Caroling for some)

Sun transit 11:41 a.m. (directly overhead)

Solstice 11:47 a.m. facing sun, in alignment with center of galaxy (see chart)

12-1 lunch

 

1-1:40 meditation 4

1:40-1:50 slow walk 3

2-3

 

3-3:40 meditation 5

3:40-3:50 slow walk 4

Moon transit 3:41 p.m. (directly overhead)

 

3:50-4:30 meditation 6

4:30 walk to beach

 

Sunset 4:48 p.m. be there

5:00 walk back to retreat center

End civil twilight 5:14 p.m.

 

Discussion and glass of wine

End Astonomical twilight 6:13 p.m.

 

Walk on beach in dark

Moonset 9:32 p.m.

Follow the day with the sun. For background at wholeo.net, see 1998 and 2004 pages. See also Season and 12 solstices and equinoxes.