Winter Solstice

14th Dec 2007

Winter Solstice occurs each year as the sun moves into the sign of Capricorn, the goat, which symbolizes the persistence and patience it takes to get through the dark days of winter. This year, the Solstice falls on December 21st at 10:08 PM (PDT). The word “Solstice” means “sun stands still” and as everything seems to slow to a crawl, it feels as if time does actually stand still, giving us the quiet space and time we need for deep reflection.  This reflection time is essential to allow the awareness of who we truly are and what we truly desire to emerge, slowly bubbling up from the depths of our subconscious. As we let go and allow this process to run its course, waves of emotion come up from the deep, to mix and churn within our consciousness. Out of this great cosmic pool of potential explodes the bright spark of new energy.

Goddess Creation Story

Alone, awesome, complete within Herself, the Goddess, She whose name cannot be spoken, floated in the abyss of the outer darkness, before the beginning of all things. And as She looked into the curved mirror of black space, She saw by her own light her radiant reflection, and fell in love with it. She drew it forth by the power that was in Her and made love to Herself, and called Her “Miria, the Wonderful”.

Their ecstasy burst forth in the single song of all that is, was, or ever shall be, and with the song came motion, waves that poured outward and became all the spheres and circles of the worlds. The Goddess became filled with love, swollen with love, and She gave birth to a rain of bright spirits that filled the worlds and became all beings. But in that great movement, Miria was swept away, and as She moved out from the Goddess She became more masculine. First She became the Blue God, the gentle , laughing God of love. Then She became the Green One, vine-covered, rooted in the earth, the spirit of all growing things. At last She became the Horned God, the Hunter whose face is the ruddy sun and yet dark as Death. But always desire draws Him back toward the Goddess, so that He circles Her eternally, seeking to return in love. All began in love; all seeks to return to love. Love is the law, the teacher of wisdom, and the great revealer of mysteries.

In many cultures all across the world, this time is a celebration of rebirth, the return of the light, and the birth of the Sun/Son. The names and faces may vary somewhat, but the essence of the story is the same. As the Divine Mother goes deep into the dark void of herself and dances the dance of Creation, we hold the light as a sign that warmth and life will always return, no matter how dark.

As the Wheel once again returns us to where it all began and the Goddess re-creates the Universe anew, we are given the chance to go into our own void and re-create ourselves anew and emerge into a new life. Each year, at this time, I feel the contractions of my soul moving through, like I am being turned inside out – taken apart piece by piece and put back together again in a new way. It’s customary to hold an all night candle lit vigil with loved ones and wait for the first rays of morning light to appear.

When the Sun comes up, we greet it as a symbol for the new life that has been conceived within the darkness of the Mother’s womb. We allow its bright rays to warm our hearts and know there is always hope. Change is inevitable, but struggle is an option. What kind of world will you re-create this time around?  May we sit in stillness and allow our heart’s vision to emerge; of who we are and who we want to be after another turn of the Wheel. May the new born light of the morning inspire us to keep our hope alive throughout the winter and months to come.

For more information about Winter Solstice, including ways to celebrate, click here.