Winter Solstice: time to light a candle for Peace, Hope and Love

[Shine]

So, it’s that time again: the death of the year, and the rebirth of the new one. It’s a time for taking stock, for seeing what worked for us in the past year and what didn’t, what we want to keep and what is ready to be surrendered, which processes are complete, and which ones just beginning.

At this time of the year, when the flickering flame of the new cycle of the year is kindled, we can set our intentions for the coming year and allow our deepest dreams to show themselves to us in the long winter nights.

The new flame brings with it renewed hope, just as the birth of a baby brings renewed hope into the heart of the family. The collective family dreams this renewed hope in the symbol of Jesus, the child of our humanity and bringer of lessons about love and open-hearted relationship between all people. (Before him, the sacred baby was Mithras and Dionysus.) Whatever way we depict this child, it is the rebirth of our own consciousness that we celebrate, and the renewed life cycle of our world. In this darkest period of the year the new seed of the new year is born.

Blessings to all,
Shine
:grouphug:

[In_The_Wind]

1. Blessed Be

[Shine]

2. To you, as well, sister.

May the warmth of a happy heart be yours this season...
:hug:

[In_The_Wind]

3. Thank you Shine.

May you Walk in Light always.

[Shine]

4. ...

:loveya:
back atya.

[Ivan Sputnik]

5. Here's to new beginnings

Cheers

[Shine]

8. New beginnings, indeed.

Blessed be, WillRobinson. May the warmth of a happy heart be yours this season... :toast:
Great image, btw!

[Arugula Latte]

6. Finally! A REAL holiday!

:woohoo:

[Shine]

9. Winter Solstice is the most ancient of all of them.

Bright blessings to you!
:toast:

[Arugula Latte]

21. And to you, too!

:toast:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. Your eloquence touches me deeply, my dear Shine.....

Thank you for helping me bring into sharper focus the tasks I have before me.....

Blessings unto you, as well......

Your words bring calm to my troubled soul today......


:grouphug:

[Shine]

10. Thanks, sweetheart.

BTW, the Solstice is exact for us here on the west coast at 10:35am. Light a candle and send out your best intentions for the new year. O8)

May the warmth of a happy and peaceful heart be yours this holiday season...
:loveya:

Thanks for all the Love and Light YOU bring to the lounge, Peggy.

Shine

[tigereye]

11. nice! Here is one of my favorite solstice.nature/Christmas songs

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Saviour
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall;
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir

The holly and the ivy
Now both are full well grown,
Of all the trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown.
O the rising of the sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ
Sweet singing of the choir


The version of the Holly and the Ivy that we are familiar with today was first published by Cecil Sharp. The Holly and the Ivy is thought to have Pagan origins and could therefore date back over 1000 years. It is most unusual for a carol like the Holly and the Ivy to have survived over the years especially during the stern protestant period of the 17th century. The Holly and the Ivy have always been taken indoors during the winter the hope being that the occupants would survive difficult conditions just like the hardy Holly and the Ivy. The colours of the Holly and Ivy, green and red are traditionally associated with Christmas. The author and
composer of the Holly and the Ivy are unknown.

I saw a wonderful holiday program where the holly and the ivy would battle each other as part of the solstice celebration.

Have a great holiday Shine.

[Shine]

13. Nice. Now, where do you suppose the lines of this carol came from?

The rising of the sun
And the running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.

There is a whole series of medieval English carols on the subject of the rivalry between the holly and the ivy. In many of them, the holly and ivy symbolized male and female, and the songs narrated their often rowdy vying for mastery in the forest or in the house.

Solstice is the most ancient of all the celebrated holidays and it's the one with the most interesting history.

Blessed be, tigereye! :hug:

[Rising Phoenix]

12. May peace and happiness be all of yours this upcoming year!

:grouphug:

[Shine]

29. Thanks, darlin'! Bright solstice blessings to you, this special day...

:toast:

[tigereye]

14. here is another holly and ivy image

and a bit more info, which seems so fitting for this day and season.

http://www.novareinna.com/festive/holly.html

[Shine]

15. Very cool!

:thumbsup:
thanks for the link! I prefer to view Holly and Ivy as unity between the dual halves of divinity, as opposed to a battle between the sexes.

Very nice image, indeed. Thanks!
:hug:

[tigereye]

16. as someone who loves Jung and his complexity

I really like those images! I also have some holly on my dining room table and some (albeit fake) ivy on my front door.

:hi:

Solstice Greetings!

[Shine]

18. Jung. Good stuff!!

a kindred spirit, you are. I can tell.
:pals:

[texanwitch]

17. Blessed be Shine and to all on DU on this Winter Solstice.

May all of you find Peace today, I am lighting my candle.

I am feeling blessed because I get to hold two weddings tonight, this will be a special Solstice for me.

[Shine]

19. Wow, TWO weddings on this magical day??!? How special, indeed.

that's some seriously good ju ju.... :thumbsup:

Blessed be, texanwitch! May the warmth of a happy heart be yours in these holy days...
:hug:

[Baclava]

20. The solstices as seen in Athens Greece...

Peace and love are fine and dandy - but, people that write checks in the express lane should be shot.

[Shine]

22. Great pix, baclava!!

thanks for sharing them.

...and LOL on your sentiments about express lane check writers! :rofl: heheh.

[swag]

23. 10:35 a.m. Pacific. This is the exact moment.

Happy Fucking Solstice.

On edit, whoops, I missed it by two minutes, according to DU time.

[Shine]

24. LOL!!

I was busy lighting my candles and making wishes...
:)

[DinahMoeHum]

25. Ring Out, Solstice Bells. . .

Now is the solstice of the year.
winter is the glad song that you hear.
Seven maids move in seven time.
Have the lads up ready in a line.

Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.

Join together ‘neath the mistletoe,
by the holy oak whereon it grows.
Seven druids dance in seven time.
Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.

Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.

Praise be to the distant sister sun,
joyful as the silver planets run.
Seven maids move in seven time.
Sing the song the bells call, loudly chiming.

Ring out these bells.
Ring out, ring solstice bells.
Ring solstice bells.
Ring on, ring out.
Ring on, ring out.

- Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)


:toast:

[Shine]

27. Very nice.

Solstice blessings to you!
:toast:

[redqueen]

26. Blessed be, Shine.

Thanks for the lovely words... :hi:

[Shine]

28. Back at ya, babe.

:pals:
Bright blessings to you!

[crispini]

30. Namaste.

Here's to hope! :toast:

[Shine]

31. Indeed.

Here's hoping the Dems conquer in 2006....
:toast:

[LostinVA]

32. Happy Yule!

[Shine]

34. I've got lots of candles burning...

bright blessings to you!
:toast:

[Nomad559]

33. Solstice Time

Solstice Time

Wed., Dec. 21, 2005, marks the solstice—the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere

http://www.factmonster.com/spot/wintersolstice1.html

http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/WinterSolstice.html

:)

[Shine]

35. We've got major rains happening now on the west coast, so it's

perfect for staying cozy inside, with a fire and lots of lighted candles.
Happy Solstice to you!
:toast:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

36. Lovely thought...

I think I will light a candle. :hug:

Peace to you and yours...

[Shine]

37. Traditionally, on this night, a fire was kept burning all night long,

the symbolize the rebirth of the Light. Candles work fine for this, too. :)
May the warmth of a happy heart be yours this holiday season, Goddess.
Bright blessings to you!
:toast:

[northofdenali]

38. Solstice is celebrated in a big way here -

Winter has the previous 3 weekends given over to a street fair downtown; summer is (with nearly 24 hours daylight) just totally manic.

I send my best to all this day! (My candle's lit - we only had 3 hours or so of daylight today!)

Fairbanks winter solstice:



Peace, light and joy to my DU sisters and brothers.

NoD

[Shine]

40. Wow, great pix! Thanks!

only THREE hours of daylight?? Amazing.

Solstice blessings to you!
:toast:

[bonito]

39. Thats a beautiful thought

I will light a candle, I am always reminded thoughts become things, and so it is . Peace

[Shine]

41. Thanks, bonito. Bright Solstice Blessings to you!

:toast:
and you're right about the powerful, creative nature of our thoughts.

Light a candle for Peace. We need all the Light we can get these days....

:hug:

[bonito]

42. If we only could realise and find

that light is within us all, we need not search any more. Thanks for reminding me. Peace

[Shine]

43. Blessed be, my friend.

it's all about Remembering what we already know.....

:hug: and Peace to you,
Shine