Hope, 2008-09

Why did our ancestors celebrate the beginning of winter? Why get so excited about the start of a season of cold and darkness?

Because after the longest night, the next one is shorter.

Yes, January will be colder, and February will be dreary, and March will be wild and raw. But when you look at the year as a slowly turning wheel, and the wobbly march of the Sun across the sky as a story, then you understand the ancients' perspective.

The Sun has been in decline since June, and night has had the edge over day ever since the Autumnal equinox in September. The season of growth began giving way to the season of harvest in August, and on Oct. 31 the harvest ended and the time of fading unto death began.

On Solstice Night, that death finally occurs.

So is the Solstice -- Yule --  a celebration of death?

Not quite.Things are dark, and things will get colder, but the tide has turned.

This buoys me. Human beings look at the longest, darkest, coldest night and everywhere on the planet, they throw a party. They aren't celebrating some payoff (harvest), or easy times (midsummer/Litha),  or life in its full erotic throb (Beltane/May Day). They're celebrating hope.

The pagan God, consort of the Goddess, is conceived by her in the still, cold darkness of Solstice Night. He's born at Ostara (Spring Equinox), reaches  potency at Beltane (May 1), begins his rule at Midsummer  and fades through the harvests of  Lammas, Mabon and Samhain. He passes through into the realm of darkness, a place between life and death, before finally expiring Solstice night. And at his death, his successor is conceived.

It's the myth at the heart of human civilization. At the moment when things look their worst, the seed of the next good thing is being planted.

I need to believe that. My country has been traumatized by years of misrule. Our economy will likely get worse before it gets better. Many of my friends and family members are struggling financially, and my buyout money runs out in March. I worry about things.

The Winter Solstice today reminds me it's always been this way. So merry Yule, everyone. Your ancestors look on you and smile.

Comments

[Pam]

Winter Solistice is one of my favorite days of the year - yes, we can all use some hope! Merry Yule to you and Janet.