shortest day

Winter Solstice

~ Ashley ~ 40 Comments

3 vivid cool - winter solstice

Photograph and hokku by Ashley

In the old Celtic world, the Cosmic wheel, the Wheel of Time, briefly stopped turning on this day.  The Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year is a time to look backwards in inner reflection and to look forwards to a new season of increasing daylight, growth and activity.  Whilst we might still have winter weather and winter difficulties to overcome, it is important to see this time as a rebirth within the continuous cycle of life.

Two trees associated with this time of year are birch and pine and I can now add these to my set of Tree Ogham sticks.

6 birch & pine winter solstice

The first tree in the Ogham is Silver Birch, BEITH. B (Betula pendula) a tree that quickly colonises new ground.  It drops so many leaves and twigs that they enrich the soil for other trees to follow.  A tree of life giving properties.

The sixteenth tree in the Ogham is a fir, the Scots Pine, AILM. A (Pinus sylvestris).  It has been honoured since ancient times in helping us to develop the perceptions and wisdom to see beyond the present.

Again, I give thanks to Glennie Kindred for allowing me to freely quote from her book Sacred Earth Celebrations which can be found on her website:

https://www.glenniekindred.co.uk/

Ashley

Winter Solstice

~ Ashley ~ 31 Comments 
The dim light of afternoon
Quickly fades;
The shortest day.
just after sunset

It’s the Winter Solstice today, the shortest day, and the longest night of the year.  From this day onwards the daylight begins a slow and initially almost imperceptible lengthening.  Whatever religion or culture one follows, surely this day is worth celebrating?

Up from the earth,
Down from the sky,
The circle of life surrounds us.

With the light increasing, there will be within us an awakening: the dark turning into the light; a notion that the hibernation of winter will end; the old year is dying and a new year is being born.

Stand in the circle,
Dance in the light,
Embrace our place in the cosmos.




Ashley