Dies Natalis Invicti Solis

Here Comes The Sun
(George Harrison)

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Little darlin' it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darlin' it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Little darlin' the smiles returning to their faces
Little darlin' it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes

Little darlin' I feel the ice is slowly meltin'
Little darlin' it seems like years since it's been clear
Here come the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Here come the sun, here comes the sun
It's all right, it's all right...

The precise moment of the 2006 solstice will be December 21, 2006 at 7:22 P.M. EST (Dec. 22, 00:22 UT).



Tomorrow is the shortest day of the year. Tomorrow we suffer the darkness to its fullest. And then miraculously, the next day the light returns. Not all at once. We only get seconds more of daylight each day. It will teach patience to those who have been waiting and watching the skies. It will go unnoticed by those who are too busy to watch sunsets every day. Eventually we will all notice it isn't dark anymore for our evening meal. Something then shifts and we begin to let our minds wander to the coming spring. Of rebirth, new beginnings, passionate trips to Home Depot to buy supplies for that outside project and pretty girls. Well okay, I think about pretty girls regardless...

They were right to celebrate Solstice. What a gift! Sunlight.

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

http://www.shambhala.org/arts/fest/unconquered.html
http://www.candlegrove.com/solstice.html
http://www.familyeducation.com/quiz/0,1399,22-4193,00.html

and from the archives of another life...



The precise moment of the 2005 solstice will be December 21, 2005 at 1:35 P.M. EST (18:35 UT).

It's Solstice mom. ...

As a child I had very little insight as to why my mother would
tearfully watch as the days grew shorter each fall As a child I looked
ahead to all things winter with my heart forever in the present. Her
words of excitement when the days started to get longer again I
dismissed as "silly mother stuff'. .

Looking now through the eyes of an adult I realize my mother most
likely suffered from SADD before there was such a thing. She loved
to have her hands in the soil. She was part of every plant she ever
planted. She made roses thrive and iris grow incredibly tall. She was
engaged in a silent dance of celebration with the earth. I have her to
thank for all those summer mornings I awoke to the sound of the
mower and the smell a fresh cut grass. I have her to thank for my
love of gardening and my craving for the smell of warm peat moss. I
have her to thank for the desire to dance a silent dance.

My mother was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in the spring of
'94. The first words out of her mouth were "I want to live to see
another spring". The Dr. kindly touched her shoulder and gave her
one more spring. I know that he didn't mean it. But he'll never
know the joy that brought to my mom. The joy of one more spring.
The joy of one more dance. And dance she did.

She bought me several flats of petunias that year and sat in a chair
and watched as I planted them. And we talked of the spring, of life,
of beauty. As summer waned she began to lose strength. Almost as
if her body was solar powered. Again she looked to Solstice and
called me that day to proclaim the return of daylight. Each day my
mother inched her way toward her spring defying Dr.s expectations
of her. We had another lovely spring and summer. Although the sun didn't seem to energize her body like it did before I could tell her soul still danced in the sunlight.

I lost her that year but only after the days started getting shorter. Her least favorite time of year. I fell into despair and darkness. Darkness of my soul and darkness of the season. Although I didn't realize it at the time I began yearning for the daylight. For warmth and renewal. For the dance. When the calendar revealed its darkest day my heart leaped with joy. The sun was returning! Life was returning! It was then I realized my mother had left behind as a gift to me her love of the sun and the steps to the dance.

I woke up this morning with a lighter heart and a secret excitement. I peeked outside at my sleeping garden. It would soon know what I knew. In quiet reflection I heard myself proclaim, "The sun is coming! It's Solstice again mom...it is time to dance"
~m~

A Blessing Spell for Winter Solstice

We ask a blessing on this house,
This happy Eve of Solstice time.
We sing and dance and make carouse
To celebrate deep Winter's clime.

For Herne is here, and Mistletoe.
The Holly and its berries bloom.
We dance a carol, round we go
The Ivy winds about the room.

With wine and cake we make a toast,
And bring a blessing to our host.
— Source: “Encyclopedia of White Magic, A Seasonal Guide,” Paddy Slade, 1990, p. 56.

Solstice Eve Chant

The geese fly high this Solstice morn,
The woods are bare, the snow is deep.
We wait for Herne to sound His horn
To wake His children up from sleep
To celebrate this happy night,
When Winter may be put to flight.
— Source: “Encyclopedia of White Magic, A Seasonal Guide,” Paddy Slade, 1990, p. 56.

Winiter Solstice Chant

Geese and standing stones and mist,
Baying hounds and hooting owl,
Sparkling stars, and snow is crisp
Herne is here. Bring forth the Bowl.
— Source: “Encyclopedia of White Magic, A Seasonal Guide,” Paddy Slade, 1990, p. 56.