Last Friday was our Advent Spiral Walk. The spiral walk is practiced in most Waldorf schools on or near the winter solstice. The tradition honors the seasonal cycle of light and darkness by arranging a simple spiral walk. Everything about the spiral walk is rooted in symbolic meaning: from the form of the spiral to the red apples, greenery, candles and the objects placed in the spiral. The spiral is one of nature’s many patterns and can be found in shells, flowers, pinecones, fingertips, and galaxies. We use the spiral to represent the seasonal rhythms as well as representing the contemplative journey we take to find our own inner “light”. Apples are used as candleholders during spiral walks. Inside the fruit lies the seed, waiting patiently in darkness until the time comes to sprout. The apples represent the seeds of our hidden potential. We don’t yet see the fruit of our labors with the students… but within each is the seed of the adults they will become. Evergreens are found in many myths, often representing the tree of life. These are the trees that weather the winter without going dormant. They represent the regenerative power of life, nature and the seasons. We use the greenery to represent the sustaining abundance of life on our planet. Candles are considered a symbol of eternal love and warmth. We use them as our light source in the darkness to symbolize that love is eternally present.