It is the longest and the darkest night of each year. But, Winter Solstice celebrations are all about Light!
This year, from sunset on December 21st to sunrise on December 22nd, 14 hours and 56 minutes will have passed. During that long, dark night, at 12:30 am EST, Mother Earth’s northern hemisphere ~ in which we live ~ will reach its farthest tilt away from the Sun’s light. This moment is our astronomical new year. From that moment until June 20, 2012 (the Northeast’s Summer Solstice), each day we will gain approximately one minute of daylight.
Now, all of the above data represents the scientific facts about the Winter Solstice. But Winter Solstice is so much more. Think about how vitally important the Sun’s light is to us. Virtually, every living thing on Earth literally owes its life to the Sun. So knowing when the Sun will rise, as well as how long it will be before it once again disappears below the horizon, is also vitally important. Thus, the science of astronomy exists. (Thank you Galileo.)
Today, we take this astronomical information for granted. It’s just a normal part of our daily weather report. But imagine living in a time before we had this knowledge. Imagine being there, thousands of years ago, with the very first of our ancient ancestors as they began to notice that each morning the sun rose just a little later, and each evening it sank below the horizon just a little earlier. Imagine feeling as though the night was stealing all of the light and that darkness was taking away the Sun.
We may well have feared that at some point, the Sun would never return, that we would never again have its light and warmth, that we would have nothing but darkness and frigid cold forever. Certainly, those individuals who suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder, or Winter Depression) will probably have no trouble connecting with such imaginings. And anyone who has gone through very trying and emotionally dark times in their lives can also relate to the feelings of “this will never end.”
Just as we do today during our dark and cold months, the Ancients went inside. Inhabiting caves and other protective structures, they lived together and sustained each other, their bodies’ collective heat helping to warm their shelter. Hunters and gatherers, they shared the responsibilities of gathering food to eat and fuel to build fires .. for heat, light, and to cook the animal meats they had hunted and stored.
While they waited and prayed for the Sun’s return, they also would have spent countless hours sleeping and sojourning in the Dreamtime. Awakening, they would probably have shared with each other the dreams that they remembered. They would have told personal stories, reminisced, and made plans for brighter days. Minus all of our creature comforts, would they have been so very different from us now?
Today we are the beneficiaries of our ancient ancestors having figured out the “timing” of the Sun’s relationship to Earth. Of course, by necessity, they were keen observers of their world’s reality. We know through archaeological studies and digs throughout the world, that our ancestors built firelight altars and stone circles aligned to the sunset and sunrise on the Winter Solstice. Stonehenge is one of the most famous examples, but there were many such structures, some of them aligning to the Summer Solstice. We (and Galileo) owe them a great intellectual debt for the physical information that they left behind.
“So what?” you may be wondering. What is the point of all of my ramblings about Winter Solstice?
The point is that, whether or not we consciously and purposefully celebrate the Winter Solstice, we still celebrate Winter Solstice. Many major world cultures’ religious holidays are deeply rooted in ancient Solstice traditions and themes. They carry on the universal themes of Hope, Faith, Light and Interconnection. We Hope for ~ and have Faith in ~ the return of the Light .. whether it is the light outside our windows, or a lighter feeling within ourselves. At this time of year, the phrase “Peace on Earth and Goodwill" harken back to the strong Interconnection of the ancients to each other as they waited for the Sun’s return ... as they waited to be able to emerge from within Mother Earth and be reborn with the Sun.
Now, I ask you to give yourself the gift of Winter Solstice. Make yourself a nurturing comfort-food snack and something warm to drink. Get a pen and your journal, or just some paper to write on. Find a cozy corner. Put on some relaxing music, and ceremoniously light some candles. Then curl up with your writing materials, and journal on these questions.
Let the words flow straight from your heart. (Try to leave your head out it.) Reach within and find the Solstice light illuminating what you need in order to bring back your Inner Sun.
What Hopes and Dreams
are stirring within you right now?
are stirring within you right now?
What within you needs to be Lightened?
What part of you needs to be reborn?
What do you need to release ... to let go of ...
in order to make room to receive new Light?
What Interconnections need to be nurtured,
to be warmed and restored, by Solstice Firelight?
What dreams and personal life wisdom
can you share with your family and friends?
can you share with your family and friends?
~~~~~
I wish for you and those dear to you
Peace, Love and Solstice Light,Jae
NOTE:
If you would like to learn more about the various religions’ connections to Winter Solstice, Wikipedia has posted an extensive and very interesting article on Winter Solstice, which includes information about many cultural rituals and observances that “are believed to be directly linked to the Winter Solstice.”
Or, if you are more of a “curl up with a good book” kind of person,” I recommend The Winter Solstice by John Matthews (c. 1998, Godsfield Press).
