Monday, November 18, 2013

Moving Toward the Solstice


Winter Solstice 2013

The year is coming to an end with the normal angst and stress of the season.  Inspirational movies and television specials are the order of the day.  Each year I remember that our holiday at this time of year was first observed thousands of years ago long before Christ was born most likely when the first primates walked upright and noticed the changing of the seasons.  And I recall that this, the winter solstice is the marker that many of man’s religions observe by different names and with different traditions.  As Wikipedia observes:

The Winter Solstice, also known as Midwinter, occurs around December 21 or 22 each year in the Northern hemisphere, and June 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere. It occurs on the shortest day or longest night of the year, sometimes said to mark the beginning of a hemisphere's astronomical winter. The word solstice derives from Latin, Winter Solstice meaning Sun set still in winter. Worldwide, interpretation of the event varies from culture to culture, but most hold a recognition of rebirth, involving festivals, gatherings, rituals or other celebrations. Many cultures celebrate or celebrated a holiday near the winter solstice; examples of these include Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Years, Pongal, Yalda and many other festivals of light.

Our planet moves through space the days change getting longer until December 21 or 22 depending upon your geographical position on earth and then moving away from winter, the days becoming shorter until the summer solstice when the whole pattern repeats.  My mood like that of many other humans I have found at this time is manifest with anxiety and trepidation.  “The light” folks always say when I complain about this phenomena.  I don’t know why or if it is the declining light but this is always a difficult time for me.

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