Happy Solstice - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

tecoyah · 12-21-2004, 12:50 PM

As many here know....I am Pagan . Thus the Celebration of the Holidays, for my family at least...is tonight. I wish you all a prosperous winter and a healthy transition to spring.

Heres a little stellar info....to bring in the darkness.

Winter Begins with Early Morning Planet Parade

As winter begins, the early morning sky is loaded with planets. Some are unmistakably bright, but a few will require some sleuthing.

The winter solstice occurs Dec. 21 at 7:42 a.m. ET. It is when the Sun is at its southernmost point in the sky, and marks the official beginning of winter. For those willing to brave the cold, there is much to see before the Sun comes up.

Mercury, Venus and Mars are all visible in the East just before sunrise. Mars is best found using a map under dark skies away from city lights, and Mercury requires an intense gaze at just the right time in the moments prior to sunrise. [Sky Map for Dec. 25 predawn]

Jupiter, second only to Venus in brightness among planets and stars right now, reigns high in the south-southeast during predawn hours, while Saturn is brighter than any star in the western sky.

All of these objects can be seen with the naked eye. But a small telescope will reveal the rings of Saturn and up to four of Jupiter's largest moons, which appear as pinpoints of light. A larger backyard telescope can bring out the cloud bands of Jupiter's atmosphere.

The planets are all in the morning sky at the same time because they all happen to be on the same side of the Sun right now, as viewed from above the solar system.

Trace an arc from Mercury to Saturn, passing near each of the other planets, and you can envision the main plane of the solar system through which all of the planets orbit the Sun. Astronomers call this the ecliptic.

Each morning, the arrangement is slightly different, because each planet travels around the Sun at its own distance and pace. Mercury is particularly difficult to spot because it is only moderately bright and very close to the Sun, as always; it rises just before the Sun does. An unobstructed view of the eastern horizon is needed to see this most elusive of the naked-eye planets.

Through this week, Mercury is climbing slightly higher each morning, while Venus is slowly sinking.

On Dec. 25, Mercury and Venus will be shoulder-to-shoulder, making Mercury easier to find than would otherwise be the case. Find Venus, the brightest object other than the Moon in the predawn sky (you might for a moment think it's an airplane coming in for a landing) and look just to its left to spot Mercury. One or two fingers on an outstretched arm will blot out both planets at once.

Mars is about 10 degrees above and to the right of Venus. Your fist at arm's-length covers about 10 degrees of sky. Mars is dim, but brighter than any star in its immediate vicinity. Pluto happens to be very near Venus and Mercury as seen from our terrestrial vantagepoint, but the tiny planet is too far and dim and close to the Sun to be spotted.

The Moon sets around 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 20, but it hangs around longer each morning. On Dec. 28, the Moon will hover directly above Saturn just before sunrise.

Any morning this month, look high in the northern sky for the Big Dipper, that most recognizable of all star patterns.

While the winter solstice is but one of many cold nights ahead for avid skywatchers, there is a bright side: It is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, so summer is, as always, around the corne

tecoyah · 12-21-2004, 12:57 PM

Have a great Yule as well:

You Call it Christmas, We Call it Yule
by Peg Aloi

Try though we might, it is not easy to escape the influence of Christmas in this country. It is easy to become jaded and cynical about it, wondering why it is not the magical time we all experienced as children, wondering how it ever got so commercial. For modern pagans who may still observe the holiday because their families do, it is a confusing time of year; how to celebrate this as a seasonal festival when so many of our associations with this holiday have to do with gifts, food and merrymaking?

Even for those who celebrate this day as the birth of Christ, it must be difficult to stay focused on that significance, with the tinsel and shopping and office parties and the newest toys for kids clouding their vision. I for one find that cynicism abounds at this time of year, and that many adults dread the "holidays" because of family issues and stresses that seem to become more pronounced. The emphasis on having a picture-perfect "Martha Stewart" style celebration is a set-up for disappointment; and kids these days are so focused on getting presents that they hardly have time to enjoy the more sensual pleasures of the season (winter activities, traditional foods, music, decorations). Of course Christmas was not always this way; modern societies are far removed from our ancient connections to Nature; yet we still retain customs derived from the agricultural calendars of our ancestors. Perhaps there is something to be said for examining the modern traditions of Christmas in light of their ancient origins. It may be surprising to find that many of the customs still associated with Christmas today are, in fact, derived from ancient pagan traditions.

The seasonal observance of holidays such as Channukah and Kwaanza are tangentially influenced by the overwhelming emphasis on Christmas, and in the United States it has become common in recent years to give a more even representation of these holidays alongside the more popular one: Christmas. Yet the religious significance of the season seems remarkably absent much of the time. And of course the symbols of the season are very secular in nature: trees, mistletoe and holly, Santa Claus, reindeer...how do such symbols relate to the birth of Christ?

Christ's Birthday? or Winter Solstice?

To begin, let us look at the actual reason this holiday exists: for Yule and Christmas are not so very different, underneath it all; both celebrate the arrival of the sun/son; or, if you like, the light of the world...

Ronald Hutton, in his excellent book The Stations of the Sun, has this to say about the story of the Nativity: It "makes sense on a mythological level--an archetypal representation of the birth of a hero at the junction of many worlds, (who is) engendered partly of humans and partly of the divine, born in a location that is neither indoors nor in the open air, belonging partly to humans and partly to animals, and adored by those on the margins of society."

Most modern pagans acknowledge Yule as the rebirth of the light half of the year; some traditions perform the play of the Oak King and the Holly King, just as it is done at Midsummer, to mark the change of the seasons as one of them reigns over the other. It is also generally accepted that the date of Christmas is an arbitrary one; that it was chosen to coincide with the pagan solstice celebration, as a way of "converting" the "heathens" (or country folk, heath-dwellers) to the Christian way of life.

The first written record of the reason for this holiday's occurrence on December 25th was in 354 AD, in Rome, when one scholar wrote: "It was customary for pagans to celebrate the birth of the sun...when the doctors of the Church perceived that the Christians had a leaning to this festival, they took counsel and resolved that the true Nativity should be solemnized on that day."

However, the tradition of celebrating the solstice on this day is not much older, at least according to extant records: it was officially decreed in the year 274 by the emperor Aurelian. A century later, the archbishop of Constantinople observed that fixing the date of the "Nativity of the Sun of Righteousness" was necessary because "while the heathens were busied with their profane rites, the Christians might perform their holy ones without disturbance." Saint Augustine encouraged Christians to honor "He who made the sun, not the sun itself."

As an aside, the word "Yule" is believed to derive from a colloquial Scandinavian term meaning "wheel." There is also some speculation it is dervied from the Old English word for "jolly." But its exact etymology is still debated. The concept of the wheel makes more sense to me, since this date marks the definitive point in the Wheel of the Year, and for many cultures and calendars it is the start of the new year.

We know that the observance of the winter solstice was very significant in ancient times. Since this date represented the moment when the days would again become longer, when light would return to the land, the rural folk who faced lean times in winter had reason to be thankful. The use of candles as decorations and ritual objects, dating from ancient times, clearly indicates the importance of honoring the deities of light. The sun's return meant spring was on its way,and with it, the birth of new animals to the flock, and the softening of the soil tilled by our ancestors who lived as animal herders and farmers. Their celebration of this date as a holy day, when they worshiped and honored the sun as a deity, was an affirmation of their survival of the cold months of winter. They subsisted on the dried meats of the animals they slaughtered at Samhain, and what little produce they could preserve from the final harvest.

Much of the folklore surrounding winter solstice rituals from various cultures has to do with very basic symbols of agriculture and animal husbandry; in other words, the dormancy of winter as a time of scarcity, and the return of the light as a harbinger of new growth. In Frazer's The Golden Bough it is observed that Bethlehem means "House of Bread,"and that this indicates an association of the birth of Christ with ancient rituals honoring a god of grain and vegetation. The Christian mass includes as its central climax the sharing of bread which represent Christ's body; such symbology dates from well before the dawn of Christianity. And the drinking of the fruit of the vine, in addition to honoring ancient harvest deities like Bacchus and Dionysus, was also believed to insure a bountiful grape harvest in the coming year.

In areas where other fruits were the important crop (like apples in England), many rituals developed around blessing the orchards at Yuletide. Called "saining," these rites blessed fruit trees and livestock so that they might bring abundant food in the seasons ahead. Many of the "wassail" songs reflect this in their lyrics, such as "And here is to Cherry and to his right eye; May Yule bring our mistress a good mincemeat pie." During these rites, Cherry, a common name for a roan-colored cow, might even have a cup of cider tossed in his face; the way his head turned in response was considered a way of divining the health of the herd in the months to come.

Full article here:
http://www.witchvox.com/holidays/yule/yulehistory.html

Bill O'Rights · 12-21-2004, 01:06 PM

Thanks for the insight.

Averett · 12-21-2004, 01:55 PM

Enjoy the holiday tecoyah!

maleficent · 12-21-2004, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tecoyah

Any morning this month, look high in the northern sky for the Big Dipper, that most recognizable of all star patterns.

Oh that's so cute, you're such a country boy..

You expect some of us city folk to actually be able to see stars? The only stars we see are when we fall off our bar stools.

Happy Winter Solstice to you and your family...

guthmund · 12-21-2004, 04:45 PM

Thanks, Tecoyah for the articles and the insight. Not just with this post, but the vast majority of your posts.

I know lots of folks who are practicing pagans. Most folks write them off as tree-hugging, nature worshiping/mystical wankers, but I've found that couldn't be further from the truth. I'm glad that you're doing so much to smash that stereotype with intelligent and thoughtful posts such as this one.

I've been meaning to compliment you sooner, but just had not gotten round to it yet. But what better way to applaud the efforts you make than in a public thread where everyone can see it?

Thanks again and blessed be

12-21-2004, 12:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
tecoyah Illusionary	Happy Solstice As many here know....I am Pagan . Thus the Celebration of the Holidays, for my family at least...is tonight. I wish you all a prosperous winter and a healthy transition to spring. Heres a little stellar info....to bring in the darkness. Winter Begins with Early Morning Planet Parade As winter begins, the early morning sky is loaded with planets. Some are unmistakably bright, but a few will require some sleuthing. The winter solstice occurs Dec. 21 at 7:42 a.m. ET. It is when the Sun is at its southernmost point in the sky, and marks the official beginning of winter. For those willing to brave the cold, there is much to see before the Sun comes up. Mercury, Venus and Mars are all visible in the East just before sunrise. Mars is best found using a map under dark skies away from city lights, and Mercury requires an intense gaze at just the right time in the moments prior to sunrise. [Sky Map for Dec. 25 predawn] Jupiter, second only to Venus in brightness among planets and stars right now, reigns high in the south-southeast during predawn hours, while Saturn is brighter than any star in the western sky. All of these objects can be seen with the naked eye. But a small telescope will reveal the rings of Saturn and up to four of Jupiter's largest moons, which appear as pinpoints of light. A larger backyard telescope can bring out the cloud bands of Jupiter's atmosphere. The planets are all in the morning sky at the same time because they all happen to be on the same side of the Sun right now, as viewed from above the solar system. Trace an arc from Mercury to Saturn, passing near each of the other planets, and you can envision the main plane of the solar system through which all of the planets orbit the Sun. Astronomers call this the ecliptic. Each morning, the arrangement is slightly different, because each planet travels around the Sun at its own distance and pace. Mercury is particularly difficult to spot because it is only moderately bright and very close to the Sun, as always; it rises just before the Sun does. An unobstructed view of the eastern horizon is needed to see this most elusive of the naked-eye planets. Through this week, Mercury is climbing slightly higher each morning, while Venus is slowly sinking. On Dec. 25, Mercury and Venus will be shoulder-to-shoulder, making Mercury easier to find than would otherwise be the case. Find Venus, the brightest object other than the Moon in the predawn sky (you might for a moment think it's an airplane coming in for a landing) and look just to its left to spot Mercury. One or two fingers on an outstretched arm will blot out both planets at once. Mars is about 10 degrees above and to the right of Venus. Your fist at arm's-length covers about 10 degrees of sky. Mars is dim, but brighter than any star in its immediate vicinity. Pluto happens to be very near Venus and Mercury as seen from our terrestrial vantagepoint, but the tiny planet is too far and dim and close to the Sun to be spotted. The Moon sets around 1:30 a.m. on Dec. 20, but it hangs around longer each morning. On Dec. 28, the Moon will hover directly above Saturn just before sunrise. Any morning this month, look high in the northern sky for the Big Dipper, that most recognizable of all star patterns. While the winter solstice is but one of many cold nights ahead for avid skywatchers, there is a bright side: It is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, so summer is, as always, around the corne __________________ Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - Buddha

12-21-2004, 12:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
tecoyah Illusionary	Have a great Yule as well: You Call it Christmas, We Call it Yule by Peg Aloi Try though we might, it is not easy to escape the influence of Christmas in this country. It is easy to become jaded and cynical about it, wondering why it is not the magical time we all experienced as children, wondering how it ever got so commercial. For modern pagans who may still observe the holiday because their families do, it is a confusing time of year; how to celebrate this as a seasonal festival when so many of our associations with this holiday have to do with gifts, food and merrymaking? Even for those who celebrate this day as the birth of Christ, it must be difficult to stay focused on that significance, with the tinsel and shopping and office parties and the newest toys for kids clouding their vision. I for one find that cynicism abounds at this time of year, and that many adults dread the "holidays" because of family issues and stresses that seem to become more pronounced. The emphasis on having a picture-perfect "Martha Stewart" style celebration is a set-up for disappointment; and kids these days are so focused on getting presents that they hardly have time to enjoy the more sensual pleasures of the season (winter activities, traditional foods, music, decorations). Of course Christmas was not always this way; modern societies are far removed from our ancient connections to Nature; yet we still retain customs derived from the agricultural calendars of our ancestors. Perhaps there is something to be said for examining the modern traditions of Christmas in light of their ancient origins. It may be surprising to find that many of the customs still associated with Christmas today are, in fact, derived from ancient pagan traditions. The seasonal observance of holidays such as Channukah and Kwaanza are tangentially influenced by the overwhelming emphasis on Christmas, and in the United States it has become common in recent years to give a more even representation of these holidays alongside the more popular one: Christmas. Yet the religious significance of the season seems remarkably absent much of the time. And of course the symbols of the season are very secular in nature: trees, mistletoe and holly, Santa Claus, reindeer...how do such symbols relate to the birth of Christ? Christ's Birthday? or Winter Solstice? To begin, let us look at the actual reason this holiday exists: for Yule and Christmas are not so very different, underneath it all; both celebrate the arrival of the sun/son; or, if you like, the light of the world... Ronald Hutton, in his excellent book The Stations of the Sun, has this to say about the story of the Nativity: It "makes sense on a mythological level--an archetypal representation of the birth of a hero at the junction of many worlds, (who is) engendered partly of humans and partly of the divine, born in a location that is neither indoors nor in the open air, belonging partly to humans and partly to animals, and adored by those on the margins of society." Most modern pagans acknowledge Yule as the rebirth of the light half of the year; some traditions perform the play of the Oak King and the Holly King, just as it is done at Midsummer, to mark the change of the seasons as one of them reigns over the other. It is also generally accepted that the date of Christmas is an arbitrary one; that it was chosen to coincide with the pagan solstice celebration, as a way of "converting" the "heathens" (or country folk, heath-dwellers) to the Christian way of life. The first written record of the reason for this holiday's occurrence on December 25th was in 354 AD, in Rome, when one scholar wrote: "It was customary for pagans to celebrate the birth of the sun...when the doctors of the Church perceived that the Christians had a leaning to this festival, they took counsel and resolved that the true Nativity should be solemnized on that day." However, the tradition of celebrating the solstice on this day is not much older, at least according to extant records: it was officially decreed in the year 274 by the emperor Aurelian. A century later, the archbishop of Constantinople observed that fixing the date of the "Nativity of the Sun of Righteousness" was necessary because "while the heathens were busied with their profane rites, the Christians might perform their holy ones without disturbance." Saint Augustine encouraged Christians to honor "He who made the sun, not the sun itself." As an aside, the word "Yule" is believed to derive from a colloquial Scandinavian term meaning "wheel." There is also some speculation it is dervied from the Old English word for "jolly." But its exact etymology is still debated. The concept of the wheel makes more sense to me, since this date marks the definitive point in the Wheel of the Year, and for many cultures and calendars it is the start of the new year. We know that the observance of the winter solstice was very significant in ancient times. Since this date represented the moment when the days would again become longer, when light would return to the land, the rural folk who faced lean times in winter had reason to be thankful. The use of candles as decorations and ritual objects, dating from ancient times, clearly indicates the importance of honoring the deities of light. The sun's return meant spring was on its way,and with it, the birth of new animals to the flock, and the softening of the soil tilled by our ancestors who lived as animal herders and farmers. Their celebration of this date as a holy day, when they worshiped and honored the sun as a deity, was an affirmation of their survival of the cold months of winter. They subsisted on the dried meats of the animals they slaughtered at Samhain, and what little produce they could preserve from the final harvest. Much of the folklore surrounding winter solstice rituals from various cultures has to do with very basic symbols of agriculture and animal husbandry; in other words, the dormancy of winter as a time of scarcity, and the return of the light as a harbinger of new growth. In Frazer's The Golden Bough it is observed that Bethlehem means "House of Bread,"and that this indicates an association of the birth of Christ with ancient rituals honoring a god of grain and vegetation. The Christian mass includes as its central climax the sharing of bread which represent Christ's body; such symbology dates from well before the dawn of Christianity. And the drinking of the fruit of the vine, in addition to honoring ancient harvest deities like Bacchus and Dionysus, was also believed to insure a bountiful grape harvest in the coming year. In areas where other fruits were the important crop (like apples in England), many rituals developed around blessing the orchards at Yuletide. Called "saining," these rites blessed fruit trees and livestock so that they might bring abundant food in the seasons ahead. Many of the "wassail" songs reflect this in their lyrics, such as "And here is to Cherry and to his right eye; May Yule bring our mistress a good mincemeat pie." During these rites, Cherry, a common name for a roan-colored cow, might even have a cup of cider tossed in his face; the way his head turned in response was considered a way of divining the health of the herd in the months to come. Full article here: http://www.witchvox.com/holidays/yule/yulehistory.html __________________ Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. - Buddha

12-21-2004, 01:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	Thanks for the insight. __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

12-21-2004, 01:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
Averett Is In Love Location: I'm workin' on it	Enjoy the holiday tecoyah! __________________ Absence is to love what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.

12-21-2004, 04:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
guthmund big damn hero	Thanks, Tecoyah for the articles and the insight. Not just with this post, but the vast majority of your posts. I know lots of folks who are practicing pagans. Most folks write them off as tree-hugging, nature worshiping/mystical wankers, but I've found that couldn't be further from the truth. I'm glad that you're doing so much to smash that stereotype with intelligent and thoughtful posts such as this one. I've been meaning to compliment you sooner, but just had not gotten round to it yet. But what better way to applaud the efforts you make than in a public thread where everyone can see it? Thanks again and blessed be __________________ No signature. None. Seriously.