Posted in Rituals & Spirituality, Seasons & Cycles, tagged matariki, winter solstice on 19 June 2016| 2 Comments »
Today we celebrated the Winter Solstice, the time when the sun is furthest away. This time marks the beginning of a new year, signalled by the appearance in the sky of Matariki. the Pleiades.
Winter Solstice altar
The Solstice is the time to discard old ways and welcome the new into our lives. I look forward to new experiences and inspiration.
“The longest night and shortest day
is when we contemplate our way.”
Posted in Seasons & Cycles, tagged furthest point, matariki, seasons, weather, winter, winter solstice on 21 June 2015| 5 Comments »
Winter Solstice, which will occur early tomorrow morning, is the ‘dead’ of winter. The hiatus when the sun reaches its furthest point, then light slowly starts to increase, and life slowly starts to return to the earth. The coldest time is yet to come, and when it’s here increasing light reminds us that summer too will come.
This is time for seasonal rose pruning – leaving plants bare to prepare for summer growth. Autumn leaves have been raked away to become compost and mulch ( or in the case of my walnut tree, stowed in the green Council bin to be dealt with elsewhere). There’s a sense of preparation, of waiting. What will spring bring? For me, there’s the expectation of a visit from a distant daughter. What hopes are you nurturing for spring?
“Sun standing still provides the reason
to celebrate our Solstice season.”
Ruth's Reflections 