Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night.

Today we made a twelfth night cake not only for luck in the year ahead and as a sweet treat for tomorrow but also for a new tradition.

Inspired by the court of Henry Vll of England, who combined traditional British Wassailing on Twelfth night with a tradition termed as the Lord of Misrule, the Lord of Misrule - always a peasant chosen at random on twelfth night would have more powers than the king (within reason I expect) in ensuring that merriment on the last day of Christmas celebrations were had until the end. Apparently this tradition was held in high regard by Henry Vlll who also loved giving his kingly duties over to the Lord of Misrule for the day and taking a bit of a backseat - the lord would sit in the kings chair and often make rather serious demands to be fed and watered all day.

I am still so much in the Christmas spirit and really want to relish in these last hours so I thought that tonight we would have our own merriment maker for this evening and the Epiphany tomorrow. The person who found the raisin in our cake would have the honour and get to have their pick of games played, songs sung and merriment all around.

Safe to say my 10yo was so happy to have found that raisin, and we have a game of guess who planned (she said she’s sleep on the rest)

If you celebrate Epiphany I wish you all a blessed and fun filled celebration ⭐️

Epiphany Reflection

Tomorrow marks Epiphany and our starry theme for the month has sat so well with the preparation for the day. Stars hold such magic for us now as they did our ancestors, as we send satellites into space to discover worlds beyond ours we still look in awe and wonder at the sky.

One of the most famous stars in history, the Bethlehem star is said to have led the three Magi to the infant Christ, in the Gospel of Matthew it is written.

‘After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,during the time of King Herod,Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Scientists have debated for many years real events which could be explained as the star and many faithful have reasons for what it could be, most often a miraculous event which fulfilled Jewish prophecy of the coming of the messiah

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn” Isiah 60

In a lecture in 1904 Rudolf Steiner discussed his ideas on the three Magi in it he talks about the star being the Aura of Christ - the brightest light which draws the Magi to him.

“To be led by a Star means nothing else than to see the soul itself as a Star. But when is the soul seen as a Star? When a man can behold the soul as a radiant aura. But what kind of aura is so radiant that it can be a guide? There is the aura that glimmers with only a feeble light; such an aura cannot guide. There is a higher aura, that of the intelligence, which has, it is true, a flowing, up-surging light, but is not yet able to guide. But the bright aura, aglow with Budhi, is in very truth a Star, is a radiant guide. In Christ, the Star of Budhi lights up — the Star which accompanies the evolution of mankind. The Light that shines before the Magi is the soul of Christ Himself. The Second Logos Himself shines before the Magi and over the cave in Bethlehem”

I find this particular idea an interesting statement of the Epiphany quite a beautiful reflection and really wanted to share this here with you today as we prepare our celebrations. Although it does not fit with Catholic Theology it brings me to reflect and think about, as the hymn used to say .. 'This little guiding light of mine, I'm going it shine' So this Epiphany we can pray and reflect on how bright we can make our inner light and goodness - how can we in thoughts, deeds and words to shine for others to guide them from the darkness!

Peace and love dear friends , and a blessed Epiphany to you all.

Why not see what my friends are posting today on #wednesdaywaldorfwis

#wednesdaywaldorfwisdom

@vanessasholisticliving

@_seelenzauberin_

@peacewithnaturehandwork

@jleejarrin

@my_seasonal_treasury

@thewaywewaldorf

@onwillowsbend

@stephaniegreen_waldorffamily

Starry sky lantern ⭐️

I wish a photo could capture the beautiful glow of this lantern. It really is like the sky as the sun has just set but the night time has not quite took hold. The deep blue glow and twinkle of light through the holes and star cut outs, the shimmering gold ink in the candlelight 🕯

Today we spent time painting to make a celestial star lantern from our Waldorf Magic - Winter Sky guide . I thought it a very relevant craft considering it is the Epiphany on Thursday.

The little one had a lovely time as did I folding the lantern. Tomorrow we are going to paint the star cloth which we are going to use on our Epiphany table on Thursday and this week I am to make a fabric version of the board game from the guide!

Now I am so tired and looking forward to bed, dreaming of stars no doubt after today’s activity. ⭐️

#thewaywewaldorf #wintersky #steinerwaldorf #waldorfathome #starlantern #waldorflantern #nightskylantern