solstice time

SunOnIce.jpg

At [10:04 a.m. Pacific Time] on Sunday Dec. 21, 2008, the northern hemisphere begins its tilt back toward the sun, marking the winter solstice* in this part of the world and slowly leading to longer days.

This may be the first day of winter but winter’s been here for a while and hard: Old Man Winter hammers Canada, coast-to-coast*.

In much of this modern world of ours, we’ve lost our close connection to the earth and sun, to the movement of light and dark in that ever repeating cycle of the seasons, as well as the deep ancient fears and hopes tied to that. We’re reminded of that when we have power outages and have no heat in our homes. What will our future be like when we have permanent scarcities of oil and natural gas and electricity?

We remain cosy at home so far while it continues to snow here and we prepare for the arrival of family for Christmas. Our thoughts and wishes for safe journeys are with them and all travellers! Tonight we may light a fire and candles to mark the winter solstice. May all my readers be warm and looking forward to the holidays however you may celebrate them.

Related posts:
to light, 2007
the longest night, 2006, with Newgrange
happy winter solstice, 2005
and 2004

* expired link removed

December 21, 2008 in Canada and BC, Current Events, Home by Marja-Leena