Winter Solstice 2009
Twice in 2009 we planned to hold the Winter Solstice Ceremony - we postponed the 21 December, thwarted by the snowy, icy and downright treacherous travel conditions, to 28 December. But it was not to be. The weather stayed and we could not risk suggesting people came out. We had the outline in our hearts and minds, had trialled the fire with different coloured flames, and were eventually frustrated by Mother Nature.
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This was the gathering that was held in the etheric planes but not in the physical :
This year for our celebration of the solstice we will be combining tradition, myth and a bit of magic to symbolically represent the rebirth of light in the real world just as much as on the inner planes. We are witnessing a turning point of the sun in its great cycle, in our own countries and in our own lives.
Entrance to Sacred Space
A sacred space is a space which has been prepared to allow participants step out of the mundane world into the extraordinary. It is a space in which meaningful acts can be carried out to express things in a way in which each act is packed full of the power of intent.
We will be entering into a sacred space through an archway of Holly and Oak. These archetypal trees are both in their most extreme states of being. The Oak (summer king of the forest) seems dead while the Holly (Winter king of the forest) is resplendent with life and fruit. However this is the turning point for both where the Holly will relinquish its authority to the Oak and the Oak will start to accrue its powers for summer. An endless swirling dance repeated at summer solstice where the roles are reversed.
We will also be entering into our ritual space via candle light and Frankincense/Myrrh incense. Frankincense a sweet smelling fragrance representing the infant divinity within and the Myrrh, a bitter smelling resin reminds of the fact that life is often painful. And the candle light is a symbol of light, spirit and hope. People can take on this meaning to the level of understanding that suits them at the time.
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Directions
Once in sacred space we call in the directions. Our ancestors understood that by creating a microcosm of the macrocosm that they would be more in tune with creation. We do this today by calling in the directions whereby we become centered and mindful of the different energies in the world. For example, the South was associated with warmth as the hot sun is most obvious in the south, it is associated with abundance and peak performance, with passion, brightness and activity. And so calling in the directions is to be mindful of this type of energy in the participant. It is a recognition that the universe is within as much as without and we are part of it as much as it is part of us. It is an expression of the unity of all creation.
Yule log
It is a tradition that the new fire be seeded by a spark from the old so that there is a continuity of tradition. We will be burning last years Yule log and lighting a new one to mark the season. The Yule log is of course a symbol of life and emphasising life’s existence at this time of the year when Nature seems most barren. It is a symbol of hope.
Tara at Night with the Plough constellation over Navan
Gifts
This year we will be collecting a small hand sized inexpensive gift from each participant. The gift you bring to the group should have a large clear label on it with a single word such as Love, Peace, Joy, Hope, etc etc. {This is not a demonstration of richness, generosity, power or prestige, so please put thought into your offering so that it carries that energy}. Your token gift should be the embodiment of the sentiment on the label.
The idea is that you will bring the gift of “Joy” to the group and say
“I give the gift of “Joy” (or whatever) to the group” and put it in a Santa bag. Then a little later you will reach into the Santa bag and root out a gift saying
“ I accept the gift of “Joy” (or whatever), on behalf of the group”. Whatever you root out is yours to keep on behalf of the group.
Blessing
We will be performing a blessing on each other in accordance with the season and we will be passing around a bowl of warm water, heated by stones from the fire. You will be asked to give a short, meaningful heart felt blessing to the person next to you -with the water -something along the lines of wishing them a warm winter, peace, comfort joy etc.
Wassail
This will be followed by a traditional wassail to warm the insides and complement the warm water on the outsides. Participants will be offered a non alcoholic warm wassail drink which will be tipped in libation towards the earth and also drunk to warm the insides.
Open heart contributions
There is always a space for participants to make an open hearted contribution to the circle if desired. It has usually been a song, poem, music, shared insights, thoughts, and from our distance celebrators via e-mail we have read out their thoughts.
21 December 2009 Winter Solstice Sunrise
A chairde, beannachtaí geal sa bhlian nua.
Bright blessings for the new (pre)Celtic year. At Samhain we entered the dark winter season and now we are mid way through that part of our journey together. At Winter or Samhain Solstice the sun rises roughly in the same position for a week on the horizon looking like it is standing still -Sol-stice. However, after this pause, this death, the sun starts to move again in a northerly direction along the horizon and every day it reaches a little higher into the sky giving us more light and warmth. It is a cause for celebrating the re-emergence of the light both as a practical reality but also on an inner level where we can realise that all tides turn, all situations change and nothing oppressive lasts for ever, it has its season and moves on.
Just as at Newgrange where the sun enters the tiny aperture above the doorway at mid winter, we too can experience flashes of inspiration and sense the energies of this season. Huge blocks of stone which seem randomly placed may be likened to huge issues we have in our own lives, issues that always seem to be rooted and stand in the way.......however, given a certain time of year the huge stones subtly craft the beam of sunlight and refine it, mould it, sculpt it until it becomes a miracle to behold deep within the chamber of the cairn. It is only in the perspective of the morning sun that the genius of the ancestors becomes profoundly meaningful. Our own blocks are like this sculpting us to become more than we ever dreamed possible. It may be painful but there is always a greater purpose at work, always an opportunity to be exploited and a situation to be resolved.
Hundreds gather for the winter solstice sunrise at Newgrange in the hope of seeing the sun entering the roofbox
The alignment of the roof box with the vertical line on K1 and the stone in the field near the ditch and the four knocks passage grave 13 miles away is continued through the back of the mound of Newgrange through K52
The sun rose, of course it did, but not to the eyes of the watching humans - its visibility cloaked in a swathe of mist.
Mound of the Hostages viewed from the Rath of the Synods
from Beaut - the web muttJust my dog When I am wrong, he is delighted to forgive.
(extract from Gene Hill ) |
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The land may be barren and lifeless,
from On Midwinter's Day
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Robin hassles us for food at Newgrange during the winter solstice
Revolutionary pioneer and heritic Martin Brennan back in Ireland after 20 years thanks to Anthony Murphy of Mythical Ireland. Brennan found proof that Knowth Dowth Loughcrew and Tara as well as Newgrange were all astrologically aligned .
Martin Brennan- my hero!
Martin is author of several books including "The stars and the Stones" and "Boyne Valley Vision"
Some memories for 2008
(Note: photographs were not taken on Tara; Anne and Tom replicated the centre of the ceremony for these pictures the following day. The Hill is an archaeologically sensitive place and fires are never placed directly on the ground.) Red holly berries and white mistletoe decorate the Yule Log
Winter Solstice Sun rise at Newgrange 2007
Mound of the Hostages - 3rd December 2008 -
the cold days of winter reveal the yin / yang effect of sun and no sun on the land frost stayed all day on the northern face (showing white in the photograph) -
whilst on the southern side, warmed by the sun, frost and ice melted and the grass was green
Thanks to Liz Kirkham for the following photos and verse - The earth wheel of Arbor Low in the Peak District of England - it is said that ancient people from Tara lived here
=====WINTER FRIEND=======
Some call it 'poison ivy'
But it is a winter friend
And stays when red hot pokers fade
And tiger lilies end.
Constant and contented
On the garden wall it grows
Sheltering the birds
From every stormy wind that blows.
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Page last updated: 16th Apr 2010
