Welcome to Winter
 The Winter Solstice marks the "official" beginning of WINTER. It is a traditional celebration of the birth of LIGHT. December 21st 12:47 EST, Winter Solstice, is the day of the longest night. From that night forward we will have more light. YIPPEE! The Winter Solstice marks a crucial part of the NATURAL CYCLE. As the sun begins its journey toward longer days, times of new growth and renewal are ahead.
The Winter Solstice (meaning “to cause the sun to stand still” in Latin) has been celebrated throughout time by just about every culture on the planet. This is the point of the year when the sun, and the light begins to return. As such, for centuries many cultures associated the winter solstice with birth and death and honored this point with ceremonies and monuments.
In ancient Greece, the winter solstice was called Lenaea, or the Festival of the Wild Women. Yee Haw!
Whatever your beliefs, the Winter Solstice is a powerful time of the year, physically, emotionally and spiritually. My friend Rolando, who is an internationally known Tuscan sculptor (and very wise alchemist) says, “The Winter Solstice is cause for joyous feasting because it’s the “Christmas of Nature”. This is the time when you flip the frittata.” The frittata is done on one side and the seasons are ready for a turn. Use this time to revisit your life and your heart to better understand what is important to you at your core.
This is a powerful time of change and rebirth. Use it help you become a radiant light force throughout the winter.
Tips of how to allow
“Comfort and Joy”
Restore! December is a month when cheerfulness is pushed on us in commercial doses, but it isn't really the mood of the season. The "natural" mood of the month is introspection, self-doubt, questioning, and withdrawal. The elements are turning us inward for our resting season. Animals know this is the season to hibernate so take their cue and retreat inside for some self-analysis and de-stressing. Be gentle with yourself. This is the time of the year for restoration and rejuvenation. Take time out from pushing your body, striving for success, and mental noise. If you have not learned to meditate give yourself the gift of a lifetime and dedicate some in-time to your mental, physical and spiritual well-being.
Sleep! *Solstice derives from an ancient Latin word meaning "stop," or "to stand still." Make sure you take time for yourself during the Holy-Daze, especially on the solstice. Luxuriate in a warm bath by candlelight to honor your inner being and go to bed early for some extra ZZZ's. Being the shortest day, nature intends for us to get some extra sleep.
Here is the key to staying healthy:
Stop
Calm
Rest
Restore
Celebrate! Long before Christmas, people celebrated the Winter Solstice. They felt this made the Sun God happy and hurried the coming of spring. Celebrations were held on the eve of the shortest day of the year, winter solstice. Celebration in thoughtful, appreciative ways such as brewing a warm cup of tea, baking some cookies, or placing sunflower seeds outside for wild birds to munch. It is fun towatch them celebrating with a treat! I enjoy hangingevergreens around my home this time of year. They smell delightful! Their green reminds me that life shines on, even when things may appear dead and withdrawn. Even better hang mistletoe in your doorway for good luck (and kisses!)
 Give Away the Old! Clean out those dark spaces in cluttered drawers and closets and give away all that you do not use. If you are part of a group or a neighborhood, take up a collection of food and/or clothing and give what you collected to a social service agency to distribute to people in need. This way you have affirmed the clearing out process and made some room for the light to come in.
Start Anew! After winter solstice start over on your new plans and programs, building from the beginning to make yourself anew. Go slowly. Winter is the time for foundation building, and is only effective when built from the inside out!
“Go Slowly, Breath and Smile”
(this is my favorite saying by Thich Nhat Hahn)
While there are many legends about the first Christmas trees, the consensus seems to be that they came out of Germany in 1521, which were decorated with apples, wafers, gold foil and sweets, but no lights. It turns out that people had been bringing evergreens into their homes around the time of the solstice to symbolize life in the midst of death for years; many of these were potted trees which found their way back outside after the celebration.
Lights came along a little later from the custom of lighting candles on Christmas to symbolize Christ as the light of the world.
Lastly, the tree is a reminder of the crucifixion based on references in the bible. There are now 35 to 40 million Christmas trees sold and decorated in the US alone every year. Even though the vast majority of these are grown for cutting, perhaps we should consider going back to the early Germans who brought potted trees into their
homes for decoration, only to be returned to the earth after the celebration is over?
Shopping and Recycling
Did you know…
During the holidays, twenty five million extra tons of trash are produced in the U.S. each year. Booooo!!! So, when looking for last minute gift ideas, try these creative earth-friendly, low-waste options!
***Give the Gift of Time: give your friends certificates for help with babysitting, gardening, and other household chores.
***Give Consumable Gifts like food, gift certificates, and movie passes. There is a gift certificate for everything, including Women’s Quest. My favorite is the Heifer International nonprofit organization and it works to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth. Heifer helps impoverished families become more self-reliant by providing food, and income-producing animals and training. www.heifer.org
***Speaking of gift certificates: This year I shopped online to save time and brain cells from the frantic malls. I went to Athleta.com and I ordered up a storm. I also made my wish list with them and it was pages long.. I just could not stop myself from going crazy (and I am not a shopper!!)
You can’t go wrong with all the soft, fluffy shirts, pants and accessories.
Athleta.com for Christmas and Chanukkah!!!! YES!
***PS. Women’s Quest also has gift certificates available and you get a shirt and certificate mailed to you. Call now or visit www.womensquest.com to get it by Christmas 303-545-9295
Happy deepest darkest, longest blackest night
May your dreams be rich, your healing arrive
On velvet wings
May the brilliance of your light
Sparkle like stars,
Like reflections in the surface
Of slowly rolling waves
May the blackness of this night
Be a womb for your light,
May we see with clearer sight
And may we own, with delight
The darkness within
Chris Prim
Give yourself the Gift of Adventure this Season:
2010 Winter Wonderfest Retreat
Jan 27-31st at Snow Mountain Ranch in Winter Park, Colorado
 This winter retreat is the most delightful retreat that we do. We stay right on 100k of freshly groomed ski trails, where we snowhoes and ski right out our front door. To balance out all our outdoor fun time we do yoga each morning with meditation and relaxation. To top it all off we help you jumpstart your fitness program and also help you with your Vision and Heart’s Desire for 2010. We nurture you with great food and massage… So this retreat is your chance for renewal on every level. See www.womensquest.com for description, price, and details for this lovely winter retreat in the Rockies.
It’s WINTER so it is time to get outside and learn how to
Skate and Classic Ski!!!
Jan 23rd Learn to Ski Day at Snow Mt Ranch in Winter Park, Colorado
 All levels can join in on the Skate and Classic Ski Celebration. If you are a first time beginner and have always wanted to learn how to Skate or Classic Ski or you are a seasoned skier looking to fine-tune your technique this one day clinic will transform your skiing and make it more enjoyable.
The mellow trails and spectacular setting of Snow Mountain Ranch will make learning to skate fun and easy. Join other women who are also stepping into a sport that is brand new for them. Your team of expert instructors will have you up and going in no time. Come on, there’s adventure and new friends waiting for you!
Here are a few things you’ll learn:
- Skate and Classic skiing technique taught to you by the best from the Snow
Mountain Ranch staff and Women’s Quest staff.
- Learn to descend, climb hills, V1 and V2 technique and just plain have fun gliding
on skies
- Swix teaches how to wax your skies for improved glide and ease
- How to choose the proper skate skies and boots for you
- Yoga and stretching to keep you healthy before and after skiing
- Outdoor Diva’s will have the latest and greatest in outdoor gear
Sign up early. Space is limited and the clinic will fill up fast.
Click here to learn more
$85.00 includes ski rental, trail pass, instruction, waxing clinic and yoga
Sponsored by Rossignol, Alpina and Swix
Go to Active.com to register, go to new search and go to Women’s Quest
NYR Organic Meet Colleen & Jacqueline
Happy December! My name is Carolyn Beeley. I assist on some Women’s Quest retreats and liaison with Women’s Quest alum. Recently, I was invited to join Colleen and Jacqueline Stanford in Vermont for the awe-inspiring Women’s Quest Vermont Retreat at the beautiful Lake Mansfield Trout Club in Stowe, VT. I could only stay two of the nights as I juggle a number of projects in my role as CEO (Chief Enjoyment Officer) of Funemployment. In a rush to get to there, I added a few things to my already loaded SUV and headed north.
 On the first night, I updated Colleen and Jacqueline on my latest exciting endeavor – working with NYR Organic. The “about to launch” US division of Neal’s Yard Remedies -- one of Britian’s best known and most award-winning brands. When I mentioned the (as yet) unavailable product samples were in my car, they pounced on them. By day two, I could not get Colleen out of the Wild Rose Beauty Balm and Jacqueline had used the Lemon Essential Oil to freshen her smelly backpack. The quest for these products began and soon, after conferring with friends “across the Pond” and reviewing the products, Colleen and Jacqueline have joined together to offer NYR Organic products to friends of Women’s Quest. Our first article and product feature is included in this newsletter.
Your Largest Organ – and What the Wise Men Knew
Did you know that your skin is your body’s largest organ? Every day our skin works to protect as well as nourish our bodies. With healthy skin, 60% of what it comes in contact with goes into your blood stream. With unhealthy skin, even a larger percentage is absorbed into your blood stream.
If the foods we eat are important to our sense of well being and our physical health, what our skin comes in contact with is just as important. Eating fresh oranges and brightly colored vegetables make us feel good on all levels – beautiful food to see, smell and taste. And our body and mind responds in kind – satisfied, energized or relaxed, well fueled to accomplish physical, mental and emotional tasks and strengthened with antioxidants to keep us well.
The Wise Men brought gifts of Frankincense and Myrrh – why they didn’t bring oranges or vegetables, we don’t know. Frankincense comes from the bark of the frankincense tree (image of tree). It was used to induce prayer and meditation as it naturally slows heart rate. These ingredients were also used in mummification balms due to their skin preserving properties. Recent research at the Kingston University into the properties of Frankincense and Myrrh reports: “The antioxidant  effects of this combination is shown to have potential in reducing the effects of free radical damage to the skin, slowing down degradation of collagen and elastin.”
NYR Organic ingredients are grown under tight regulations without the use of artificial chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Since we don’t know the long-term implications of many of the artificial chemicals and pollutants, being wild and organic means not being exposed to them. NYR Organic -- organic skin care powered by nature -- is a wise choice.
You can learn more about the NYR Organic products by visiting their website: www.US.NYROrganic.com/shop/ColleenandJacqueline
Astrological Forecast for Upcoming Month - Capricorn
From 21 December to 21 January we are in the time of CAPRICORN
 Capricorn, ruled by ringed Saturn, is symbolized by the reclusive mountain goat, often solitary, in her persistent and determined climb to the top of whatever mountain she chooses to ascend.
You will often find a woman with Capricorn dominant in her birth chart as successful in whatever field she chooses to master, confident that with patience and perseverance she will attain any goal she desires… one little hoof in front of the other, all the way to CEO, business owner, and leader of nations. Capricorns often have their share of challenges on their way to success, which they use as stepping stones to their own character building and ultimate success.
During the time of Capricorn use challenges as stepping stones to your own successes using the qualities of Capricorn: sincerity, trustworthiness, patience, consistent forward movement, determination, duty and responsibility to family, home, and the traditional values you hold dear to your heart.
Priestess Astrology for Business Success
Astrology readings for all the times of your life
Cindy Morris, msw
cinnabelle@earthlink.net
www.PriestessAstrology.com
Our Women’s Quest Hero
Inspirational Women from Women’s Quest Retreats
At Women’s Quest we are immensely blessed to meet a diverse group of women from all over the world. These women are daughters, sisters, mothers, pioneers, warriors, yoginis and the like. What an amazing experience to come together on the retreats to learn and share with one another. With the permission of a sister Quester, we will include stories of inspiration from some of these women in our newsletters.
 "Women's Quest participant Nancy Reinisch recently published her book Chemosabee: A Triathlete's Journey Through the First Year of Breast Cancer, Novel Road Press, ISBN-10:0-615-22963. The book was a 2009 Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Book Awards in the Women's Issues division. Reinisch provided a copy of the book to each participant of the 2009 Colorado Horse and Yoga Retreat and talked about her use of triathlon and exercise to cope with her sixteen rounds of chemotherapy, bilateral mastectomy, reconstruction, and a BRCA 2 diagnosis. We found the book to be a wonderful resource for anyone dealing with the challenges of cancer. You can read more about Reinisch and order Chemosabee at www.chemosabee.com ."
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