Thoughts on the Winter Solstice
   Honoring the Rebirth of the Sun

The day of the longest night, and the sun is shining brightly. The steep angle of the light deceives the eye and makes the day fold in on itself. It does not come from above this day, but only horizontal from the horizon as though high noon were either sunrise or sunset. The golden light comes at me like a lover, running across the fields and through the air to leap into my arms. It surrounds me from the side, circles me, then slips below the horizon again.

When the sun sets, the moon will rise opposite, as if tugged by a counter-weight. The full moon will ride on through the longest night, Her light changing from gold to silver as she climbs the ladder of stars. Moonlight, a reflection of the sun, will reflect off the snow, dancing back to rejoin the stars.

And as Earth passes the spinning apex of our annual orbit, it appears as though the sun pauses in it’s yearly migration through our heavens. This same slow, golden light will slant across us for the next several days. On the third day the Sun appears to move, as though rested and refreshed by the long night that renewed its strength for another year. He begins his mighty return voyage, waxing once again. Minute by minute, our days stretch longer as the sun rises higher on the horizon. The light spreads and expands like a butterfly stretching from the chrysalis, uncreasing tightly folded wings. The weight of the light surrounds the earth in a lovers caress, a father’s embrace, binding the earth and sun in an endless spiral dance through the Universe.

~Flame RavenHawk
   December 21, 2002