The Sun Returns to Seattle

ChildrensDay6The 2014 Winter Solstice and Children’s Day celebration:

The sun returned to the kingdom of Seattle Shambhala as the sangha gathered for our annual Winter Solstice and Children’s Day celebration. Lewis Helsel, age eight, helped defeat the winter darkness by playing the role of the warrior who retrieves the lost sun in the short play, “The Iliana Story.”  With a retinue of boy and girl warriors, he gathered strength from each of the four dignities – Tiger, Lion, Garuda, and Dragon – before returning, victorious, to the King and Queen, played by Robert Reichner and Jeanette Miller.

ChildrensDay4The Winter Solstice and Children’s Day celebrated the strength of our community. Morning meditators greeted the solstice with the Aspiration of Samantabadra chant and songs by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso, led by Nathan Tice.  People relaxed at the center all day long, listening to music from Oud player Fathalla Goma and drummer Noe Kafka.  There were arts and crafts for kids, a Kasung color guard, a lasang offering, lots of food and drinks.  Chris Roberts read a jazzy version of “The Night Before Christmas,” accompanied by his son, cellist Aedan Roberts. Children’s Programs coordinator Robin Willett and her team decorated the shrine room with evergreen branches, lacy cutout snowflakes and a special shrine.

Watch for planned children’s programs including Horse Tales, culminating in a visit to Craig Stevens’ and Mary Ann Campbell’s equestrian center in Snohomish County; and an exploration of the lives of children in Ghana with Sala Sweet.

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