Light spiral illuminates darkest time of year

By Karina Andrew • December 24, 2021 5:00 pm

The Whidbey Island Waldorf School put on a peaceful and introspective display of light and music in advance of the holidays.

The “Winter Spiral” was held on the school’s woodsy campus on the evening of Dec. 17. Evergreen branches were arranged in a spiral on the floor of an outdoor covered pavilion, and a candle was lit in the spiral’s center. Members of the public then walked through the spiral, lit their own candles in the center, and placed them in the spiral, creating a glowing pathway for others to follow.

“The idea behind it is that we want to offer something at this time of year, just before solstice, a kind of gift to the community — and one that is soft and inward reaching, rather than outward, which is what so much of this time of year is,” said Karina Bergen, outreach director at the Waldorf School.

Participants were encouraged to walk through in silence, and live violin music accompanied the procession, offering a time of quiet reflection in advance of the holidays and the new year.

“You walk the spiral, and maybe you bring your question or your wish,” Bergen said.

The spiral grew brighter as the night went on and more community members added a candle or lantern to the path.