Dark Moon Solstice

Usually I acknowledge the Winter Solstice by lighting a red candle at sunset that will burn through the night. Last night I needed to do something different because I also regularly acknowledge the Dark Moon and the two came together this year.

So instead of lighting a candle at sunset I waited until after midnight when the Solstice time had passed then turned off all lights and sat in the darkness for a long meditation on this dark time. Only after the time of the New Moon had also passed did I light a white candle and I waited until morning before lighting the red candle for the returning Sun.

I feel this is time for a new beginning and await guidance on where my path will take me and what the returning light will bring.

Solstice

I celebrated the feast day of Epona (18 December) for the first time this year and buried a rose hip in the ground for her.

Now for the Solstice I went to the woods and cut a sprig of holly with berries on it. Just after sunset I took one berry from the sprig and buried it for the sinking sun and this morning (22nd) I pushed the rest of the sprig of holly into the ground for the rising Sun.  When I came back into the house I lit a red candle and guarded it to burn while I was out for the day. I will light another when I go home this evening.

For the Sun to grow strong,

I am learning to live a life of symbolic acts to go with  living close to the natural world. Doing things like this gives me a magical focus. Before I just took it all in like a receiver. Now I’m sending out my own messages. Being a part of it and not just an observer.