While meteorologist Cliff Mass writes that yesterday Dec. 20 was ‘the darkest day in Seattle history,’ Langley celebrated the Advent Season with a lantern walk that brought us light.
Autumn Preble, a long-time South Island resident, is sheltered from the Dec. 20 rain by an umbrella as she walks the Healing Circles Labyrinth
Lighting a dark and rainy night, locals walk from Healing Circles Langley to Soundview Center a few blocks away.
Keeping dry during the lantern walk
Shannon Arndt, owner of Soundview Center Physical Therapy, wrote in a flyer: “Is it only for kids? No! This walk is a chance for all of us to show our inner light, and to use our lanterns as a symbol of our spirit as a community. It may be the darkest time of the year but South Whidbey has a lot of light to share with the world! Everyone is invited to make a lantern and walk in the Parade! The lantern parade is a creative collaboration based in community participation. Be the parade!”
The evening began at Healing Circles Langley at 4:30 with the building of a labyrinth comprised of evergreen boughs. Bringing light to a dark and rainy evening, gatherers walked from Healing Circles to the Soundview Center to warm up and gather for cookies and hot chocolate.
Rick Ingrasci plays a melodica to add to the Langley lantern parade Dec. 20.
Homemade lanterns on display at Soundview Center
Staying cozy and dry, a gent adds snacks to enjoy for the lantern parade which ended at Soundview Center
“The event was created by Soundview Center and Healing Circles Langley, and we got involved at Create Space as a co-sponsor,” says Peggy Taylor, who co-founded Create Space Langley, where the lanterns were made. “The lanterns are inspired by the turn of the season from the darkest day of the year. The intention was to create a beautiful event for children and families that would shine light on the beautiful children in our community.”
Advent dates back to 4th century, France, as a preparation prior to Epiphany, 12 days after Christmas.
May you take time to reflect on the season with wishes that your way is lit by hope and love.
Kate Poss David Welton
This Is Whidbey was founded by Kate Poss for readers who are interested in cultivating our island’s quality of life, including its land, sea, and air; its people, plants, and animals; and the bodies, minds, and spirits of its inhabitants. You may know Kate from her work in island libraries through May of 2016. Her background includes a career in newspaper reporting in Los Angeles for various weeklies and dailies, including The Los Angeles Times. She was a frequent contributor to the online Whidbey Life Magazine and still writes for the biannual print magazine.
Stories are highlighted by David Welton’s excellent photography. David is a retired physician who was a staff photographer for Whidbey Life Magazine since its early days. His work has also appeared in museums, art galleries, newspapers, regional and national magazines, books, nonprofit publicity, and on the back of the Whidbey Sea-Tac Shuttle!
