Winter Solstice Celebration

Friday night I attended a Winter Solstice celebration at the yoga studio at East West Living. I have limited familiarity with the Winter Solstice, having attended a number of the celebrations that Paul Winter and the Winter Consort presented over the years. While the one on Friday was entitled the Winter Solstice Sacred Circle, I was somewhat surprised by how it was celebrated. I understand the evergreens and candles and sand and water, but the use of crystals and a repeated mantra were not quite what comes to mind with earth-based spiritual celebrations. I attached the description of the event below (I could not link to it directly here, as the scripting the site uses does not allow for this):

Winter Solstice Sacred Circle

When	Friday, December 21, 2007, 8 – 9pm
Where	Yoga Studio West
Presenter	Tom Capshew, Ph.D., Adrienne Gammal & Jan Mathews
About	Shamanic Winter Solstice CeremonyThe Winter Solstice – Turning Within This event will align you with the inward gaze of the season, connecting you to peace and inner wisdom even as you hustle and bustle through the holidays. Join a powerful meditation and shamanic/Reiki healing circle to join with the ancient energy of self-reflection and renewal. In a few short days, we will come upon the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere – the day when the sun stops its southern migration in our sky. From December 21 forward, night retreats from day. In this season, all of nature is beckoning us to turn within. You will do this too in a rare opportnity to join a community of Spirit and three powerful healers who will hold space and lead you through ritual, chanting and a crystal-healing meditation to assist you on your inner journey of strength and knowledge. Reiki Master and Shaman Tom Capshew will set a sacred altar and clear you energetically for the intention-setting process ahead. East West CEO and longtime meditator/meditation teacher Jan Matthews will take you into the highest consciousness sound vibrations of the Gyatri Mantra, and Crystal expert and healer Adrienne Gammal will give you the proper stones to aid with your ritual purifying and centering. Winter is the in breath. Breathing in brings us life sustaining oxygen – turning within brings us equally essential sustenance, reconnecting us to our spiritual core, thereby connecting us to that which is bigger than us With this quiet time of raising your vibrations, even as you deepen your roots into the earth, you will find yourself more able to relate to others during the holidays and beyond with more integrity, empowerment and compassion. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED–THIS EVENT WILL FILL!
Price	$25
Category	Special Event
Location	Yoga
Link	www.innerspark.org

Yes, I found it very relaxing and quite reflective, just not what was expected. I wonder how true that is of the holiday season for many people?