Winter Solstice Spiral 2025

Timetable

Start your path with an unlit night light candle. Walk mindfully towards the centre of the spiral, reflecting on the past year. Light your candle in the middle and follow the path out into the light. This year for the first time, an alternative wider, straight path is available for wheelchair users or others with mobility concerns.

Saturday 20th December

2pm - 5pm                Family Spiral. Everyone welcome. Children under 12 to be accompanied by an adult. Quiet atmosphere with gentle live music.

5pm - 8pm                Adult Spiral. Quiet contemplative atmosphere with gentle live background music.  Please refrain from conversation.

8pm - 9pm                Silent Spiral

Last entry 8.30pm.

Sunday 21st December

8am - 9.30am             For early birds! Very quiet atmosphere.

9.30am - 10.30am      Taizé Prayer Service.  Spiral open while service is on.

10.30am - 11.30am     Quiet contemplative atmosphere with gentle live background music. Please refrain from conversation.

11.30am - 12.30pm     Spiral reserved for people with mobility issues or other special needs. Quiet atmosphere with gentle live music.

1pm - 3pm                 Everyone welcome. Quiet contemplative atmosphere with gentle live background music. Please refrain from conversation.

3pm - 4pm                 Silent Spiral, honouring Winter Solstice at 3.03pm

Last entry 3.30pm.

Solstice Spiral 2025 Guidelines

Please supervise children under 12. Encouraging quietness may enhance the experience for children.

Please switch off mobile phones and refrain from conversation.

  • If the Spiral is full please wait awhile before entering. You may anyway like to sit around it for a time before you walk it.
  • Take an unlit night light candle and walk slowly into the Spiral with it. You may want to reflect on the passing year. Feel free to overtake if necessary, while respecting other people’s personal space. 
  • Light your night light in the centre of the Spiral.
  • Walk slowly out with it along the exit path. You may want to dream into the coming year.
  • Place your candle on the table with the other lit candles.
  • Choose an Angel card to look at, but please return it to the table.

Feel free to sit quietly in contemplation for as long as you would like to.

 

Music for Solstice Spiral 2025

SATURDAY  20th DECEMBER 

Family Spiral         2 - 5pm

2pm - 2.30pm              Rev Simon Howell             Keyboard

2.30pm – 3.30pm       Celyn Adar Telyn               Harp & Birdsong

3.30pm - 4pm              Matthew Heyse-Moore       Clarinet

4 – 5pm                     Katie & Friends                  Gregorian chanting

Adult Spiral           5 - 9pm

5 – 6pm                  Barry Mason            Titanium Gongs & Hand Pans

6 – 7pm                  Liz & Lucy                Voice with Indian Harmonium

7 – 8pm                  Ahana                       Voice & Guitar

 

Silent Spiral   (no music)         8 - 9pm

SUNDAY 21ST DECEMBER: 8 - 4pm

8 – 9.30am               Silent Spiral (no music)

 9.30  -10.30am         Taizé Prayer Service         Spiral open to all

10.30 – 11am            Maggi Moon                   Voice & Guitar

11 – 11.30am             Trumb                             Voice & Guitar

11.30 – 12.30            Zambodhi                       Sounding Bowl

12.30 – 1.15             Christine Hudson            Harp

1.15 – 2pm               Simon Howell                 Keyboard

2 – 3pm                    Liz & Lucy                      Voice with Indian Harmonium

3- 4pm                      Silent Spiral

 

Provisions for Wheelchair Users and Others with Mobility Challenges

We are aware that up till now the Winter Solstice Spiral has not been easy for people with mobility challenges to navigate, so we are making some adjustments this year which we hope will help.

  • The Spiral itself will have wider pathways which we hope will make it more accessible for wheelchair users and others with mobility challenges.  It is an experiment and we can’t be sure how accessible it will be until we’ve tried it out.  We welcome your feedback.
  • For those who may not wish to enter the Spiral and would prefer an alternative, there will be a straight pathway for wheelchair users, and anyone else,  in the South Aisle of the Church  to the right of the Spiral. You will enter, with an unlit night light, via a willow arch.  You will then follow the path to another arch  where you will be invited, if you wish, to do a simple letting go ritual before lighting your night light.  You will then place it on a table near the Lady Chapel, where you can also choose an angel.
  • For those who wish to enter the Spiral but may prefer a time when it is quiet, we have designated 11.30 – 12.30 on Sunday 21st morning  for people with mobility challenges and special needs.  There will be live background music, as usual, and assistance available for anyone who needs it.

Your feedback would be very much appreciated.