Winter Solstice Options

Just wondered if anyone was celebrating the winter solstice (northern) in any way and what they are doing for it.

It came upon me so suddenly that I haven't prepared; if anyone has any last minute ideas, post them please (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

i don't really do anything special except a little "thank you"-ritual with a small sacrificial gift to them in order to show my gratitude to the beings and people that have aided me last year. also to show how gratefull i am for all the positive and negative things that occured and from which i learned a great deal.

last weekend i've been to a midwinter fest with a few friends which basically was my holiday heheh.

Our little occult group have also had our social event which I enjoyed very much, but I am wanting to do something of a solitary nature sometime before the new year arrives.

I am interested in architecture and I found this link talking about Newgrange, a place in Ireland where at dawn, a shaft of sunlight enters its central chamber at this time: http://www.candlegrove.com/solstice.html#architecture

Since it will be the celebration of the longest night, I might do something that gives thanks for all of the help I received when I felt things couldn't be darker for me emotionally and spiritually at various points throughout the year and remember how each time of challenges brought forth new enlightenment.

Just need to work out how to do that in a physical ritualistic way; I think it may be something that involves gradually lighting up the ritual area and maybe using the body in some kind of dance or movement from a curled or crouching position to standing with outspread arms to signify the greeting of the sun and new light and life.

Anyone any suggestions for music for this type of movement?

hmm interesting concept.

perhaps you could place candles on your altar and around you 4 smaller ones. 1 for each wind direction.

first lit the candles on your alter and express your gratitude towards the goddess/god or whatever 2 main entities in your life. then light 1 candle of the winddirections and do a little prayer/chant corresponding that candle. and work your way through all the candles. give each candle a color or place them on the winddirection which has a certain meaning for you and do something personal to express your feelings towards it.

you could replace the chanting with the dance. intuitional movements on celtic songs perhaps? music from india would be nice. persian style, very gracefull as well.

also place a mirror on your altar and try to catch the moonlight with it and reflect it into your area if possible.

just a thought on the spot.

This post has been edited by Sabazel: Dec 20 2005, 03:26 PM

Interesting idea about the four directions, I had only considered East for sunrise as the days will start to get longer again.

I like Indian music, so that is a really good idea (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

At each quarter of the year, I also change the colours I wear, so I will go from the autumn colours of browns, olives and tans to my winter wardrobe until the spring and have something new to wear as it is a new quarter.

the only limitation is your imagination.

you can create rituals as you see fit. so coming up with so many ways to symbolically represent certain events is so diverse. but it is also what makes it so fun and challenging to create powerfull and unique rituals.

i got 4 cloths for my altar as well. purple, green, blue and white. each season a new one. seeing i'm getting more active in group rituals during sabats i'm collecting specific clothes like a robe, staff etc. oh well...at times a ritual is almost a show at the same time. especially for my familiars hehe

I'm also doing a little thank you-thing, for the Sun that dies and is born again today. In a way it's also an appreciation of the cycle of life/death.

I see this time from today until the 31 December as a time of transition and preparation for the next calendrical year; it is a time of rest and recuperation as well as a time of re-evaluation and I highly value it.

My time of thanksgiving is around the time of the Autumn Equinox; the winter solstice has me looking forward, making plans and seeing what can be salvaged of the year ready to take into the new.

We have eaten a special meal this evening here and I am looking ahead with expectation to the forthcoming seasonal celebrations, meeting with much treasured old friends and going into the next cycle.

Tonight's the night! 15 minutes before midnight we will light the yule log (an everburn firelog from wal-mart), then, at midnight, we throw spices on the log then light our candles from the flames. Carrying our candles, we (attempting to remain dignified as it is freezing cold!) walk among the trees, winding in and out between them, in rememberance of the old year being caught up by the new, and the knowledge that the sun is halfway 'round again! Then we retreat to the warm house, still carrying the candles, we walk the perimeter of each room and bless it, then finally douse the candles in the kitchen just in time for hot cocoa!

This post has been edited by esoterica: Dec 22 2005, 08:55 AM

It was an absolute blast (athough terribly cold)! The house felt so peaceful once we said goodbye to our guests and went to bed. As this is our (us magickal folk anyway) new year now, I'd like it to be peaceful (wink). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/horse.gif) And, of course, I still look forward to celebrating 'their' new year on Dec. 31 - just another excuse to have a party! I think that this year I'd really like to learn the true magickal properties of cut and polished gemstones, a'la Anne Mcaffrey's Pern/Dragons, Runescape, etc.. They may be the same as their parent crystals, but then they may not...

Have fun, that's all that's left.

E.
Yule '05 (the Journey through the Underworld)
"All Things In Balance, Through The Right Use Of Will"

I used the time to start a diary kind of thing. To write down a lot of thoughts and reflect on the past year during a deep intense meditation which lasted 4 hours straight. After that a minor ritual with Mead as offering to my guides which had a lot of trouble containing me and I feel sorry they have to stick up with me at times. I don't know anyone else that goes through personal guides as fast as I do hehehe.

At work today someone asked what my plans were for x-mess and new years. Got a strange look when I explained that I already had my celibrations and that today was "my" 1st of january. I won't be celibrating much any more, will be pretty basic.

Happy New Celtic Year to you all (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yahoo.gif)