Winter Solstice celebrations

Whoah !!! where did this year go to. It seems like only yesterday that Tree and I were waiting all night for the sun over the heal stone at Stonehenge. After much debate, on whether we should celebrate sunrise or sunset, we chose to have a fire ceremony on solstice night. We were to, originally, have gone down to Avebury circle to perform our rite but Tree had a very bad back and it was the best she could do to go into the garden. We set up the fire pan and tripod and, after opening the quarters, we lit three candles and expressed our thanks for the year gone and hopes for the year ahead.Tree read a lovely poem by Brian Boothby.

Standing in the circle

Beneath the web of light

Dancing in the moonlight

On a cold new years night

and it seemed that we were lifted

flown across the years

power-circle shifted, by power-circle seers.

And the Goddess and John Barleycorn

will put flesh upon the bones

Fly ribbons round the barrows

plant foot prints round the stones

The Goddess and John Barleycorn

will keep the spirit strong

for those who remember

for those who sing the song.

So stand in the circle,weave the web of light

dance in the moonlight

bring fire to the night

release the past that made us

release the fire within

revel in the mystery

and embrace your sacred kin.

We then extinguished all three candles, casting us back into the darkness. A fire was lit and a Yule log burnt along with some Yew, Elm, Oak (of course) and Ash. We closed the quarters and watched the fire burn down whilst the smell of cloves and cinnamon filled our nostrils. It was lovely to welcome the new year with Tree beside me and look back on the old.

Happy Solstice to everyone we know and a Happy New Year.