To shine Above

It's been a bit quiet on Rhythmic Silence. Once the children returned to school we had become riddled with all the new germs and illness that arise during the new school year and being around friends, old and new. Not to mention the children being cooped up for 6 hours a day which is diametrically opposed to how they spent the summer months, out of doors, breathing the fresh, warm air, getting dirty in the garden, and bathing in a pond or stream. Life is so different when you follow the rhythms of the 'school year'. In years passed, we've been lucky enough to be a part of the local Waldorf school, and then home school, and then public school (supplementing as much a possible the rhythms and loveliness learned through Waldorf education). This year, either for all the illness and other distractions that have come up as of late, we have had a bit of a hiatus. In many ways it shows. I won't go into how we each have missed out on the crafting, baking, less outside time, stories, songs, etc. because that would take several months worth of lamenting, so, I'll just let out my *sigh* of relief in knowing that Epiphany marks the end of our 'family rhythm celebrations hiatus'. Epiphany marks the day that we return to our simple celebrations of life and living in our rhythmic silence.

To begin our march into this reverent silence, we've quietly taken down all the little beauties that adorned our beloved Christmas tree as well as around our home.Quietly, tonight after my husband returns from work, we will watch as he brings our tree outside, into the unseasonably warm Northeast winter, and place it in the center of our garden. Our evening activity will be baking biscuits and bird seed snacks to hang on our tree as a winter's garden bounty for our bird friends, and whatever else may need a snack in these bleak mid-winter months. A simple celebration in merry-making as we end the Christmastime season, sip some warm homemade cider, refocus our hearts on being together and sharing this time, that slips away so quickly, in ways that are growing more and more in meaning. It is my wish that our hearts are so full, everyday, that not a moment goes by where we feel as though we've missed out on sharing ourselves with each other.

I look forward to redirecting our lives, not necessarily back on a path we've been together before, but returning to the familiar place of being,of living, of not getting washed up in our daily struggles but 'shining above' it all to be better, do better, feel better, love better.

"My path is not clear though I follow the star;

Come, be my companions it cannot be far."

*Sundays will be just photo posting days. I will post our events from this evening to tie it all together then!