Creating Meaningful Winter Holidays
12 Days is a contemplative practice that complements the American winter holiday cycle. It is appropriate for all ages and for people of various faith traditions.
Based on Carl Jung’s 12 stages of individuation, 12 Days starts on the winter solstice and concludes on New Year’s Day. Each day has a theme from the 12 stages, posing questions for reflection. Each participant decides how to do 12 Days, so it works for him or her: journaling, painting, singing, meditating, praying, dancing, etc.
You may do 12 Days alone or with your significant other. You may do it as a family or a spiritual exploration group. You may do it with folks close by or across the globe.
The 12 Days workshop gives you everything you need to do for 12 Days.
We Need 12 Days
To be human is to live in responsive relationship with the community-of-being, constantly evolving and growing. Holiday rituals are expressions acknowledging that relationship, with outer tasks and opportunity for inner reflection.
American culture tends to focus on outer activities – family traditions of cooking, gifting, and gathering, and community traditions of caroling and decorating home and commons. We all benefit from inner practices to become aware and intentional of our changes, to integrate them with our outer traditions, and make meaning of the changing cycles around us and within us. We need 12 Days.
Beyond Winter Holidays
12 Days may be started at any time of the year. When you’re facing profound changes, when you’re feeling blocked, without direction, and need to reassess, 12 Days can provide a helpful structure to reflect on where you’ve been, when you are, and where you feel called to go.
12 Days can be used by yourself or as a part of a group. Contact Mary for more info.
Bring 12 Days to Your Congregation or Spiritual Exploration Group
Contact Mary Grigolia: 216-402-3438 or mary@marygrigolia.com