Happy Solstice! by RJS

Vue • Seasonal/Holiday • posted on Dec 20, 2011

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Description

These ancient stones still stand, reminding us of a time long ago when men and women believed in Magick and listened to the wind. They honoured the Earth Mother every day in their thoughts and deeds, and when they looked up at the sky they noted the daily changes in the sun and stars. When the time arrived for the longest night of the year, the Folk would gather at the sacred circle for an all night vigil. The elders would congregate in the center, before the three faces of the Goddess, while the People waited outside. All night they prayed and waited, and when the sun finally rose in the eastern sky, it confirmed the re-birth of the world and completed the circle of life. Oh, the Joy! This is all speculation, of course, based on what archaeologists and anthropologists have deduced from their studies. Yet it is a fact that (some of) the ancient stones remain, and to this day many still believe in the old ways. In my family, we have a tradition of holding an all night party on the last day of the year. It is a long-standing tradition that our ancestors apparently brought with them from the Old World, some 400 years ago. I believe that it is rooted in a far more ancient tradition, where solemn faces looked up at the great stones and the night sky, waiting for the sunrise that would signal the beginning of a new cycle of seasons. Whatever your beliefs and however you celebrate this time of year, I wish you happiness, health, and fulfilment on this day and throughout the coming year.

Comments (13)

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SidheRoseGraphics

6:19PM | Tue, 20 December 2011

This is wonderful, Robert! Love the piece you wrote to go along. It would seem there must have been a belief that the sun could and might 'break the pillars of the temple' (as told in the story of Samson) and escape its boundaries of the solstices...given such things as the sun tethering pillar at Machu Picchu and other places, as well as certain myths and stories. It really makes you wonder what all went on back then. The skies are quiet now compared to in the past, apparently. A bit hard in our time to imagine a world where there was such uncertainty about the rising and setting of the sun, moon, stars and seasons, but also very magical to 'time-travel' back in one's imagination to glimpse a moment of something like this. A very Blessed Solstice to you and yours, Robert. Enjoy your party and may you thrive and prosper in the new year! ~ Rayvn

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mgtcs

7:17PM | Tue, 20 December 2011

Enchanting and realistic creation my friend, the colors and atmosphere are fantastic, congratulations! Merry Christmas!

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odile

12:35AM | Wed, 21 December 2011

Happy solstice! Ma favorite place to be for the solstice is the Barnenez Cairn in Brittany, France (http://www.paleologos.com/cairn.htm). It's a very strong and peaceful place... Fine picture with a beautiful light.

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NewAllain

11:52AM | Wed, 21 December 2011

Whatever your belief, such a sacred place, build by men from an almost forgotten past, can't fail to impress! One can not help himself from thinking of all the worshippers that came to beg to the Earth Mother or to Father Sky for game, harvest, fertility, love, peace... This is a real nice work, Robert! Bravo! Happy holidays to you my friend!

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sandra46

4:36PM | Wed, 21 December 2011

VERY BEAUTIFUL

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flavia49

9:55AM | Thu, 22 December 2011

marvelous!! Happy Holidays!!

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adrie

3:26PM | Thu, 22 December 2011

Beautiful my friend, I wish you and yours also a Happy Holidays my friend.

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dragonmuse

4:48PM | Sat, 24 December 2011

Beautifully done friend. I hope you have a bright holiday season.

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brewgirlca

12:36AM | Wed, 28 December 2011

A great piece and a fine bit of thoughtful writing to go with it. Maybe one reason our skies our more quiet is that we just cannot see it like they were able to. Light pollution is wreaking our night visions. Getting out of the city and into the plains gives a small taste of what the skys would have been like. To clearly see the milky way with the naked eye and to be able to see structures like the rabbit and fox of the Inca cultures... wow... no wonder they were attached to the sky and seasons. I have stood in Stonehenge but was strangely unmoved. But when I stand in an Native American stone circle I am blown away by their spiritual power. I guess context and grounding have a lot to do with it.

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