Candle-night: It's Winter Solstice--Turn Off the Lights & Take It Slow

Candle-night, a winter (and summer) solstice event in Japan, Korea, and Mauritanius is a thoughtful, introspective, connecting, beautiful celebration:

We call for Candle Night Summer/Winter Solstice.

Turn off your lights for two hours from 8 to 10 p.m. on the evenings of the summer and winter solstices.

Do something special . . .
Read a book with your child by candlelight.
Enjoy a quiet dinner with a special person.
This night can mean many things for many people.
A time to save energy, to think about peace,
to think about people in distant lands
who share our planet.

Pulling the plug opens the window to a new world.
Awakens us to human freedom and diversity.
It is a process of discovery about our potential.
However you spend them, for just two hours, join us.
Turning off the lights, and help us spread
a gentle wave of candlelight around the earth.

On the evenings of the summer and winter solstices, for two hours from 8 to 10 p.m. Turn off the lights. Take it slow.

The creators ask people to be mindful of the natural rhythms of day and night and the seasons. In being attuned to the renewable sources of natural energy in our lives--the sun--we rediscover the renewable sources of energy within ourselves and live on a deeper, restorative, cosmic level that was meant for us. (The best way to to live naturally is to go to sleep when the sun goes down and awaken when the sun rises, according to holistic health perspectives).

By awakening and developing this natural connection to our world's natural rhythms, we awaken sensitivity to our own natural rhythms--resulting in the kinds of transformative states of consciousness::

Shin'ichi Tsuji:

"At a time of dynamic shifting of food, energy resources, finance, and etc. in the world, it is important to think locally, not globally. In this difficult time, it is also important to review our way of life through Candle Night, feeling connected to the world."

Kazuyoshi Fujita:

"Now is the time for us to protect the primary industry before a global food crisis develops, and also time to think about life's diversity. On Candle Night Summer Solstice 2008, the Tokyo Tower, a symbolic building in Tokyo turned out their lights. Why are lights-out events necessary? This is what each of us should think about."

Miyako Maekita:

"Recently, I visited some rural areas and I strongly feel that we should put more focus on local democracy. These areas also need our attention as along with as the capital, Tokyo. It is time to use democracy more effectively. Candle Night remains to be a platform, providing many alternatives to all of us."

Shin'ichi Takemura:

"What is real happiness? This is a type of question people hesitate to ask in ordinary settings. However, a small effort can be effective for creating the atmosphere. For example, by turning off the TV during meals, you can be peaceful. Candlescape offers a platform for people all around the world to share their feelings. I hope people will connect with each other on the globe.

Junko Edahiro:

The crisis we are now facing will not be solved quickly. We need to think about what real happiness is. Global warming itself is not a problem but a symptom. The real problem is that humanity wants to grow limitless on limited Earth. The true value of Candle Night is that it can give us an opportunity to think about what really matters to us by spending slow time.