A Supple Advent Journey Week Two: Letting Go to Cultivate Hope for Inviting the Light.
Finding Hope in the Midst of Winter
Welcome to the second week of our Supple Advent journey. This week, we focus on the themes of letting go and finding hope—even when the world outside feels cold and bare. Winter is a time when everything can seem stripped away, but this also presents an opportunity: a chance to go into the darkness of our souls and see what’s in there.
What needs to have a light shined upon it so you can see what’s lurking inside? What’s been hiding in you? What have you been suppressing? What makes us an individual and a universal human being simultaneously?
These are the questions we must ask so we can find our truth and honestly know who we are. We must see this so we can live our truth and understand what no longer serves us or let out something that will serve us better. Take a look around inside yourself this week and make space for the light that wants to shine through so you can be your most unfiltered, unhidden, and fully alive self.
My Journey of Letting Go: A Personal Reflection
As we go through this Advent season together, I want to share a little bit of my own story—my journey through perfectionism, conformity, and the desire to fit a mold that wasn't truly mine.
What Are You Letting Go Of?
As you read this, I ask you: what is hiding within you? What layers do you need to shed to make space for the light to come in? What old identities or stories are you holding onto that no longer serve you?
Going into our own darkness doesn’t have to be a daunting or depressive journey. It’s about bringing warmth to those inner spaces, nurturing the hidden parts of ourselves so that light can take root and grow. Let’s learn together how to nurture our inner darkness, to bring warmth and light, and to allow ourselves to be fully seen.
Singing as a Path to Awakening
Singing is more than making beautiful sounds—it’s about waking up to our true selves. Many of us live our lives reacting to the world around us, trying to protect ourselves, fitting into the identities that others have created for us. When we sing with awareness, we step out of this reactive state. We enter a space of possibility—a space where we can shed those old layers, find our true voice, and reconnect with the divine light within us.
This Advent, we are letting go of what holds us back and making space for the light to come through. This is the journey we take together, not just through words but through the sound of our voices.
Singing Exercises for Advent 2
Exercises for Cultivating Warmth and Light in Your Voice
Singing Exercises
Song Practice
In addition to this, I recommend that you explore two beautiful contemporary songs below in the Bonus section—"Winter Song" by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson, and "River" by Joni Mitchell.
For "Winter Song", we’ll practice the "Bum Bum Bum Bum Bum" phrase only, which brings an element of playfulness and rhythmic connection, allowing you to enjoy the energy of this song as you engage with its meaning.
For "River", we won’t be able to practice it together due to copyright issues. But please work with it on your own in the bonus section.
These songs carry deep emotions of winter—longing, letting go, and the quiet hope for something more. Let their meaning sink in. By learning these phrases, you can hum along as you watch the music videos, experiencing the beauty of their message on a deeper level.
Even if you're not ready to sing these songs fully, just humming a line or reflecting on them can be a lovely way to add depth to your journey this week.
There are also karaoke versions you can practice with.
Remember, it’s not about perfection. It’s about allowing the song to be a meditative journey—a way to feel the light growing within.
In the Bleak Midwinter
by
Christina Rosetti (1830-1894) Cranham, Gustav Theodore Holst (1874-1934)
Karaoke to sing along with
King’s College Choir to enjoy listening to
Original Text
In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone
Snow had fallen snow on snow Snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter
Long Long ago
Our God heav'n cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain
Heav'n and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign
In the bleak midwinter
A stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty
Jesus Christ
Angels and archangels
May have gathered there Cherubim and seraphim Thronged the air
But His mother only
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss
What can I give Him
Poor as I am
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb
If I were a wise man
I would do my part
Yet what can I give Him
Give my heart
Universal Text
In the bleak midwinter,
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone.
Snow had fallen,
Snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter,
Long ago.
A love so deep and boundless,
Earth could not contain;
Light and shadow dance away
When love comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter,
A quiet place sufficed,
To cradle warmth and wonder,
A glow to melt the ice.
Enough for those who wander,
Seeking night and day,
A heart full of kindness,
And hope that lights the way.
Enough for all the weary,
Longing for so much more,
To rest in gentle silence,
And feel peace forevermore.
Stars and constellations
May have gathered there,
Heaven's endless beauty
Filled the frosty air.
But only love’s pure spirit,
In its gentle grace,
Held the light within it,
With a warm embrace.
What can I offer,
Simple as I am?
If I had great riches,
I would share my hand.
If I were full of wisdom,
I would share my art.
Yet what I have I give now—
I give my heart.
Bonus Section
For those of you who want to explore this theme further, I've included two beautiful songs—'Winter Song' by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson, and 'River' by Joni Mitchell. These songs capture the emotions of winter—the longing, the letting go, and the quiet hope of something more. You might not be ready to sing them fully, but even humming a line or listening to them while reflecting could be a beautiful addition to your journey this week.
Karaoke Versions you can sing along with.
Closing Reflections and Invitation
I'd love for us to share our journeys:
What are you releasing, what are you letting go of to make space for the light?
Is there something deep inside that needs to have a light shined upon it so it can serve you more?
Does singing In the Bleak Midwinter or listening or singing River or Winter Song help you wake up to what needs to be released or what needs to have a light shone upon it?
Please share your reflections in the comments below. I want this to be a space where we can support one another as we each make room for more light and warmth in our lives., or message me by clicking here. Your journey matters to me, and I’m here to support you. Make sure to check back each week for new Supple Advent Sunday reflections, carols, and exercises as we sing our way into the light of the New Year.
With warmth and evergreen joy,
Shannon
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