[Background info about this series of posts found here]
The Winter Solstice arrives today at dawn, following the longest night of the year which started at sundown yesterday. The Sun has been reborn and the shortest day of the year commences! From today forward, sunlight will increase each day as darkness recedes. This Solstice was a moment of great significance and celebration to our ancestors, and to modern pagans honouring the Old Ways.
Night of long darkness.
Candles burn.
Songs call the light:
"Return, touch our hearts"
--Antonia Matthew
Today the centre candle is lit to conclude the 5-week-long ritual of waiting. My centre candle is a slim, hand-dipped beeswax taper which I made probably around 20 years ago at a witchy crafting circle. The beeswax had been gathered from a hollow forest tree which wild bees had turned into their hive. I never lit the candle until now because I knew it would not take long to be consumed. I was saving it for a special occasion, and I guess this is it!
Thank you for joining me over the past 5 weeks of conducting this ritual. I hope you found some meaning in it as well. The Winter Solstice marks the start of the pagan festival of Yule and so here are my Yuletide wishes for you all --
[Photos #1 and #2 © Debra She Who Seeks, 2025;
the memes are courtesy of the internet]
10 comments:
Oh, yipeee, the days are getting longer - time so runs!
...always let your light shine.
Happy solstice, everyone! The light will return, in more than one way.
Again, Merry Solstice! Time to play George Harrison's "Here Comes the Sun"...
Thanks for thinking of me ~
bobbie
I really like your wreath and ritual. I love beeswax candles, though I have never attempted to make them myself.
Now that the winter solstice has arrived Christmas isn't all Merry... from the remaining dark winter nights there's many creatures we must be aware of.
Merry Yule to you, Debra! And Happy Winter Solstice! Your beeswax candle is filled with significance, so lovely!
Happy Solstice to you! I love the significance of that center candle and that you no longer have to wait to use and enjoy it.
Like you, my wife and I celebrate the seasons. It doesn't require a god to give thanks to, or a community to celebrate. A walk in the woods, away from civilization, and we realize how fortunate we are, through chance or chaos, to be alive to appreciate the awesomeness of nature.
Happy Solstice to you.
the Ol'Buzzard
Todays the day that should be Jan 1st.
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