Solstice Candles & Ritual Meditation
Saturday 12/20 and Sunday 12/21
TWO SECTIONS:
6:15 -9:15am OR 5-8pm
Darkness surrounds us. Summer gave way to Autumn and now we awaken in moonlight, not sure if it’s still night or morning. Crystalline frost covers the world that was once verdant and warm. Winter Solstice is coming, marking the halfway point in our journey back.
In this 2-day workshop a group of 13 will gather to cast a circle and meditate upon the wisdom Winter Season has to offer: death, hibernation, the hearth, protective warmth, slowness, and gathering of kin. On Day 1, each person will choose a branch from the circle and spend the evening carving it into a wand that will be used to create a silicone mold. On Day 2, we will cut open our molds, extract the wooden wands, and cast beeswax in the space left behind, creating wands in their likeness that possess the capacity for illumination, also known as candles.
As a culmination to this workshop we will place our candles in the center of the circle and have a celebratory meditation.
Tuition: $110 per participant
Materials Fee: $35 to be paid to instructor
Optional Tools to Bring: Personal Carving Knife
Age / Ability Level: This class is open to all people who can safely use a carving/whittling knife. For participants under the age of 18, parent permission is required.
Morning Section Registration (6:15-9:15am)
evening section registration: 5-8pm
Calvin Stalvig (Afro-Norsq) brings an animist practice rooted in landscape, ritual, and craft — his work reflects an entwined relationship with Gitch-gaami/Lake Superior, Mississippi River, and a deep curiosity about ecology, ancestry, and transformation. Calvin sees traditional craft as modern technologie for collective survival, storytelling, cultural renewal and transmission.
What to Expect: This workshop will be an intimate gathering of people interested in creating ritual that honors celestial timekeeping, honeybees, trees, candles, light, and darkness. Tea will be provided and participants are invited to contribute to the communal gathering by bringing snacks, cookies, or other items inspired by the nature of the workshop. All participants will leave with a high-quality silicone candlemold, 2 candles, candlewick, resources for purchasing beeswax, and an instruction manual for candlemaking at home.
Accessibility: CENTER FOR PEOPLE AND CRAFT is committed to building a diverse, inclusive learning community where people of all backgrounds feel welcome and able to participate. As we launch our first workshop series, we are dedicating space in each class for reduced-tuition scholarships to support anyone facing financial barriers. As we build a more robust scholarship program, we hope this initial launch will remove barriers and expand access to hands-on learning for all.
Anyone with financial need is encouraged to apply for a half-tuition scholarship. To be considered, please submit a brief online application. Please note that CENTER FOR PEOPLE AND CRAFT is operating with limited financial resources and an entirely volunteer staff. Therefore, we cannot guarantee a spot for every applicant. Each class has one scholarship slot available. Applicants who are not selected in this current round are welcome to reapply. Apply here
Cancellation Policy: CPC is able to provide refunds up to two weeks before the start date of the class for which the registration was submitted, though we do retain a $20 fee for return payment processing. If you need to cancel your class within the two week window, a refund is not guaranteed, but will be considered based on several factors.
If CPC needs to cancel a class due to low enrollment, teacher illness, or other factors, you will receive a full refund.