The Festival of the Inner Sun

Festivals are the breathing of the year. They carry the human soul into rhythm with the life of the cosmos.  —study from The Festivals and Their Meaning

As autumn steps in, the earth draws inward and the outer world grows darker. This is when the human soul is asked to awaken with a new light. In Steiner Schools, this season is an invitation to celebrate the festival of Michaelmas. Celebrated on September 29th, this is a festival of challenge, courage, and community. It is a time to show gratitude to the things of the earth and to trust inner life itself.

During this time of year, the harvest is gathered in fields and gardens, reminding us of the earth's generosity (and the work of human hands). And as the light fades, we are asked to find our inner strength.

​The story of Michael and the dragon gives us a clear picture of this inner work. The dragon is legend, a symbol of our own struggles and the forces that pull us down. Michael meets this dragon with the sword of light. For children, this picture awakens their courage in a way they can feel. For adults, this picture reminds us of all that tempts us into heaviness, and asks us to find the strength to face our own inner dragons.

As Steiner Schools and communities begin to prepare for Michaelmas, stories are told of the dragons and heroes—filling the imagination with courage. Children sing songs with strong and brave voices. Bright crafts in gold, red, and orange begin to appear. In some communities, older children prepare theatrical productions for younger children, offering a living image of courage passed from one child to another. 

The festival of Michaelmas presents families with games of challenge: obstacle courses, bobbing for apples, potato sack races. Other games require cooperation: tug-of-war, dragon hunts, and three-legged races. Each one asking the child to face difficulties together and to find joy in each victory. And always, the day ends with food and community—warm breads, soups, and ciders.

This festival is soul nourishment—weaving gratitude, courage, and community into strength to carry into the darker months ahead. While fear may still linger, the will to face it comes from a light living in the heart. 

Perhaps this is why the festival of Michaelmas endures. "We carry the flame," it whispers to us—in this shadowed season. And if we tend that flame with courage, we can light our way through the darkness ahead.

Don't forget to check out my new book: What Happened on Michaelmas Day

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AND

Watch an traditional Michaelmas festival unfold here.

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Read from other blog post below.

Awakening the Sword of Thought

Between the Scales of Light & Shadow

The Living Tapestry of Time