The shortest day of the year just occurred and now the Bringer of Light is here, Winter Solstice. Known as the Gateway of the Gods and Goddesses, many of whom were born during Winter Solstice — the light of the Sun begins to extend each day until it reaches its peak at Summer Solstice. The night, from this day forward, will continue to shrink while the daylight continues to expand. The Wheel of the Year has turned to Yule, a beautiful season of light, merriment, gratitude and hope.
Apollo, Artemis, Osiris, Horus, Ameratasu, Dionysis, Odin, Spider Woman — you name the God or Goddess from just about any culture — they were likely born upon the Winter Solstice, hence why in the 4th Century the Church coopted Winter Solstice and pagan celebrations for Christmas claiming that was when Christ was born. But most historians and scholars put Jesus’ birth in the Spring, as an Aries (some have claimed Pisces but the consensus seems to be Aries — definitely not Capricorn/December). Regardless, this time of year is very special indeed and it’s obvious why any religion would want to get it on the Solstice party. This is the Season of Hope as the Light continues to grow, even as the cold winter begins. For life is nothing without balance and harmony — with one must come the other. With the growing darkness in the Fall as we let go of long days, we slow down toward (and lament) the coming cold and dark, only to be given more light as the days lose their warmth. Pretty amazing system of Natural Order we have here, wouldn’t you say?
I love the winter and in Colorado it becomes quite beautiful with the white, snowy peaks and magical, sparkling snowflakes in the glimmering sunlight on a pine filled hike toward a gorgeous summit. Crisp, clean air with deer, elk and moose trotting around and endless blue sky.
It’s also the first day of Capricorn — the season of follow-through, discipline, rules work and routine. It’s the sign of getting shit done. Enjoy the celebration and be lazy where you can, but you are likely going to feel pulled to make lists, organize, clean and prepare for the new year. Just don’t let it make you cut short the Yule and Christmas celebrations. Yule lasts 12 days and nights so it’s okay to keep up those decorations after Christmas (which is so not Capricorn). Ha, you know this Sagittarius will be!
In honor of this Winter Solstice, I am offering a poem of hope as we close out 2023 and prepare to start 2024. Even though I would prefer if our calendars matched up with the Seasons, with the Wheel of the Year — so that Winter is our closing season and the New Year doesn’t really begin until Spring, when Nature wakes back up. But of course that would only work for the Northern Hemisphere. So, I suppose we had no choice but to come up with a planetary calendar that covered the whole globe. And here we are with each new year beginning in January!
It’s very significant as we end a numerical year and begin another. There is power and energy there, in the Numerology, the Astrology, the Archetypical and the Collective Consciousness. We all change our calendars together, turning a new page.
The Shrinking Night Brings the Light
Lighting the candle upon the altar of green and red
Spirit filling the air, gratitude rising up with incense smoke
Spices, oranges and cranberries to adorn as tea kettles screech
Vapors of Yule and Christmastime fill the air, a new season arrives
Slow, steady and measured as Winter brings her stillness
Moving through the days with the slant of the quickly descending Sun
Highlighting areas of Earth in ways I forget until Solstice arrives
Grateful for the chill, the reminder that we must surrender to
Shorter days and longer nights in order to receive the opposite in Spring
From Summer to Winter, the daylight gets shorter until it’s shortest day
Winter Solstice marks the threshold where darkness cannot reach any further
For the Light has come to stay, carrying us through the cold
A rebirth of the Sun, of the Gods and Goddesses of Light who shine upon our world
Welcome newborn baby of the Sun, the one who dawns upon the North
A spotlight in the darkness, a memory of bountiful times and hope
As we cling to loved ones and tend to our needs, planning and organizing
Reflecting on the past, looking toward the future
With optimism and a wish for positive change
The world within is the world without, As Above So Below
Let us move to greater awareness as we dance into the Season of Light
Seasons Greetings!! May your Winter Solstice, Yule, Christmas and New Year celebrations be heartfelt (and all other religions/traditions in December not mentioned) and may all your wishes come true.
Remember to see the inner child in all people, the innocence that used to be there but has been grizzled by the harshness of life. See beyond the packaging. Seek light and kindness in all situations. Acknowledge that we are all messed up, traumatized, trying to figure it out, healing, working toward something better, fallible, dense, creative, inventive, beautiful and enlightened beings of Spirit, all at once! We are Divine Beings of Light, each and every one of us on this planet — we are flawed and make terrible mistakes and can give ourselves over to darkness, but we are still all made the same, Divine. Let us create a new dawn on Earth, a new paradigm — one that is accepting and loving of all people, respecting of their differences and championing of authenticity and integrity. It starts with you and those around you — it’s not about changing the whole world, but your own world and the community around you. Through those small steps, we actually do change the whole world!
Love, peace and joy to you all, dear readers!
Holli
Images: Pixabay
Winter Solstice altar: Tracy Lundgren
Snowy sparkles: kristamonique
Winter Solstice garland: I wrote the words, image from Canva
Follow me on the socials: @holliseesyou @womaseesworld