Living more cleanly

Setting an intention for the new year

Dec 25, 2024

A dear friend invited me to join her over the Winter Solstice weekend at Brietenbush Hot Springs, an old-school retreat in the Willamette National Forest not too far from Portland, Oregon where we live.

This section of the forest was decimated by a wildfire in 2020 that roared through the area and consumed half of the venue’s wooden buildings, including their divine sanctuary that had hosted many gatherings over the long decades this place has been a beloved retreat. Thankfully, the main lodge which dates back to 1927 and their various natural hot springs’ environs were spared. The roaring flames had licked up one side of the trees closest to these treasures, leaving black bands in their wake, as well as many stumps of trees that didn’t make it.

Breitenbush serves its guests three fantastic meals a day without a trace of meat. An eager line of us formed up a few minutes before the dining room doors opened to the buffet-style setup. We feasted on vegetarian meals (always with dairy-free and gluten-free options) such as tempeh turned into Bahn Mi sandwiches, eggs turned into cheesy & mushroomy frittatas, and mung beans turned into a spicy tikka masala, along with a perfect salad bar that swaps out with a yogurt & toppings bar at breakfast time.

I felt deeply blessed to be there on the Winter Solstice this year. The shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere unfolded in heavy rain and light fog and sparkling trees, our time spent soaking in the hot springs, chatting, reading, and resting. Breitenbush also put on daily activities, such as yoga, meditation, talks, or even “meditative coloring” — and special rituals on those oldest of holy-days, the Winter and Summer Solstices.

In the evening after dinner, many guests gathered in the North room with its giant fireplace for the Winter Solstice ceremony. Our ritual leader and her helper created an altar before the fireplace, and attendees sat on cushions or fold-out chairs around the space. During her welcome, our leader shared her thoughts from preparing for the moment. Last year, she said, they’d used the occasion of this longest night to delve into our shadow selves, and embrace the darkness within. As she consulted her guides for this Winter Solstice, she’d realized that this year, we were better served to look toward the coming return of the sun: to focus on the light. As she spoke this insight, the room buzzed spontaneously with “mm-hmmm” affirmations.

We participated in the invocation of great gods and goddesses to grace us with their presence, welcoming them from the four cardinal directions. The room grew brighter as candles were lit in tribute. Many small tea candles were distributed around the room. We were asked to consider setting an intention for the time ahead of us, and then we sat in a long period of quiet meditation. The room was still and silent, filled only with the gentle sound of breathing among our souls.

Our leader chimed a bell three times to close the meditation, and we illuminated our candles in unison. Gently and spaciously, people spoke their intentions aloud to share with the group. “Create beauty.” “Let go of fear.” “Be in community.” “Peace.” “Accept myself.” “Love more.” Many other meaningful pledges were made and witnessed before our leader lit a Yule log in the fireplace, and we closed the ceremony by bidding farewell to those spirits who may have joined us.

My intention was: “Live more cleanly.” I’m re-inspired by Breitenbush’s vegetarian cuisine to eat a more consistently plant-based diet. Soaking in the hot springs and sweating in the sauna helps to detoxify our bodies in much needed ways. Carpooling to Breitenbush with my friend reduced our energy consumption. And this intention will surely play out in varied and meaningful ways through the days, weeks, and months to come.

CHOOOSE wisely

With the intention-setting season upon us, perhaps you’ll be similarly inspired. I wanted to share one way that I’ve been managing my existence as an American with a high carbon footprint and some disposable income: I make a monthly contribution to a climate action organization based in Norway called CHOOOSE. (Its funny spelling with an extra ‘O’ makes it more Google-able, I expect.)

My particular contributions are funneled to projects related to the Sustainable Development Goals of the greatest interest to me (three of them captured in the screenshot below):

Among other SDGs, I support projects for “Decent Work and Economic Growth,” “No Poverty,” and “Climate Action.”

I hadn’t checked in on the CHOOOSE portal/dashboard for a long time. Upon returning home from Breitenbush with this fresh intention, I logged in and read about one of the current sustainable energy projects I’m helping fund, this one in Costa Rica:

“Costa Rica Grouped Wind Project is implemented by Alisios Holdings S.A., and aims to generate electricity by using renewable wind energy to the Costa Rican grid. In order to facilitate the development of new power plants and their further inclusion into this Grouped Project, Alisios Holdings S.A., which is in charge of the project, will collaborate closely with the developers of the wind power plants—100% owned by Alisios Holdings, S.A.—as well as with other organizations involved in the energy sector in the host country. The estimated yearly generation of the initial four project activity instances is 382,634 MWh; thus, the average GHG emission reductions is 92,710 tCO2e. The total estimate [of] GHG emissions reductions over the first crediting period is 927,100 tCO2e.”

I often find it hard to take action as an individual which feels meaningful given the scale of the climate emergency we face as a species — a species with vast accountability for our intense impact on this one and precious Mother Earth. This monthly monetary contribution is one positive way I can help nurture and restore our planet. I’d love to hear other ideas and suggestions for living more cleanly from my dear readers…or just press “Love” / ❤️ if you also share this intention!

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