Winter Solstice 2020
This morning I woke up early and decided to walk to the beach. I love marking the passing of time with the suns movements and decided that I’d like to watch the sunrise. As soon as I was dressed and ready to head out the door it started to rain. I had plenty of time so I waited for the squall to pass and then headed down my favorite beach path.
It was immediately obvious that it would be too cloudy to see the sun really peek up over the horizon. I walked the beach anyway and admired the clouds. I checked my clock and realized I needed to scoot back home and, I turned my back to the golden clouds and headed home. Sneaking one last peek over my shoulder I was surprised with some gorgeous sunbeams shooting straight up.
I stopped and took a few pics (obviously) and, as I turned back in the direction of home I was facing a woman who was running with both arms stretched as high and wide as she could get them straight towards the sunrise. I stopped and literally stared at her as she ran past me. I felt moved and I also just felt like I wasn’t doing enough to celebrate the sun. Here was this woman running down the beach with outstretched arms. I simply sat on a bench waiting for the clouds to get prettier.
While I had been thinking about the Solstice before I saw the running sun worshiper I was really thinking about it now.
Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and longest in the Southern. The declination of the sun when rising was 23.5 degrees South. If you were standing on the Tropic of Capricorn the sun would be directly over your head midday. Our ancestors had so much respect for the sky - they marked time, celebrated through the seasons and looked closely for new phenomena. They knew exactly where it would be even if they hadn’t named the Tropic of Capricorn yet.
This year Winter Solstice is joined by the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. I wonder what our ancestors would think about that. What would it symbolize? What decisions would be made because of its appearance? How would this event be retold in legend and lore?
I’ve always loved Winter Solstice for the simple reason that it means days are about to get longer again. While it’s true that it’s something to look forward to it’s just not the whole story. The whole story is that we need the dark to keep us balanced. A long day is hard to appreciate unless you’ve experienced a short day. If this year has taught me anything it’s that dark days make light days all the sweeter.
The Welsh Druids considered Winter Solstice a time of death and rebirth. They believed it was a time when nature was restored and our souls were renewed. Rebirth and new possibilities. I’m with the Druids - truly worth celebrating.
I think in these modern lives we lead we have forgotten what darkness is for. Sleep, story telling around fire places, cuddling, and in general simple togetherness. I know I speak for many when I say 2020 helped me slow down and reconnect with simplicity. I’ve been working on creating the Hygge I was desperately craving.
Light your fireplaces. Burn a candle. Snuggle up on the couch. Drink a hot cup of tea. Find a good read. Rest up.
The darkness is for resting up, so you can run with outstretched arms towards the sun, rebirth and new possibilities.
Enjoy this long night. Happy Winter Solstice.