Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Townsfolk and others gathered in Copemish Tuesday evening to walk the winter solstice spiral of evergreen boughs laid by Archangel Ancient Tree Archive.

Story and photos by Nikki Schneider

I finished skiing at Crystal Mountain yesterday afternoon and decided to attend the Winter Solstice Spiral Walk held last night in Copemish. It was the first time Archangel Ancient Tree Archive hosted such an event. 

The origins of the spiral walk date way back and the ritual is practiced by many cultures in varying ways. One walks the spiral reflecting on the past year, celebrating accomplishments and shedding feelings that do not serve us.

Tending the campfire at the center of the winter solstice evergreen spiral in Copemish.
Tending the campfire at the center of the winter solstice evergreen spiral in Copemish.

At Archangel, evergreen boughs laid in a spiral led us toward a campfire in the center. We walked back out again with candles in our hands to light luminaries along the path of the spiral.

Musician Tom Wall miraculously made “tree music” by using a device to tap into the tree’s energy at the root. The sounds serenaded us. There were sparkling lights and hot beverages to warm us.

Lumenaries along the evergreen spiral backlit by Christmas lights and snowfall..
Luminaries along the evergreen spiral, backlit by holiday lights and fringed in snowfall.

Though there is much to worry about in the world today, we were reminded to take some time to be grateful for all the good. For little things ⸺ like a warmup of coffee, freshly fallen snow or the smell of Christmas cookies in the oven.

That feeling of gratitude will cultivate hope in the new year, as we move forward each day out of the darkness into new, more plentiful light.

1 Comment

  1. Barbara Anthony Reply

    Heading into the Light: Sparkling lights, hot beverage & the smell of freshly falling snow such a great description. Even though I am in the south I feel as though I am up north. ?

Write A Comment