Happy Solstice TE!

[Trek420]

Now this is a holiday we all love

Today is the shortest day of the year therefore .... days are getting longer. Every day now there's more time to ride.

[Bad JuJu]

Right--we can all celebrate the imminent return of the sun!

[makbike]

Celebrate my grandmother's birthday as well. Gusie Mae Lostutter would have been 107 years young on December 21. She was of short statue and often joked she was so short simply because she was born on the shortest day of the year.

[DebW]

Now this is a holiday we all love

Today is the shortest day of the year therefore .... days are getting longer. Every day now there's more time to ride.

Hmmm... Then why do we have to work today? Isn't this a holiday everyone can celebrate regardless of religion? Maybe we need a letter-writing campaign to the US Congress.

[Sheesh]

It seems like I'm the only one working today (almost everyone else took the day off), so it FEELS like the longest day of the year.

[Popoki_Nui]

Yeah! I'll take every extra minute of daylight I can get. Been a GREAT storm season so far, but in all honesty I really am looking forward to the sun and drier wx.

[Tri Girl]

Yay! Winter is on it's way outta here!! Hip, hip, hooray!

[Geonz]

Yay! Winter is on it's way outta here!! Hip, hip, hooray!

Ironic to say that on the first day of winter

but yea! longer days, longer days...

I'm working but sneaking away early. (Okay, not sneaking.) The sneaking part is the shoppng to do before anybody expects me back.

[RoadRaven]

Well.... I just celebrated Lammas (Summer Solstice) here! Looooongest day... and guess what... its raining and there is snow on the mountain ranges nearby...

And for you non-NZers... in Hawkes Bay where I am, it usually drizzles on Christmas Day (not solid rain for days), and during the hot, dry week before Christmas - including Solstice - we usually head down to the river every afternoon for relief from the heat.

As for snow here? Its usually all melted from the Kawekas (name of the mountain range) by October at the latest!

So Solstice blessings, safe wishes for you over your Christmas break, and I trust more daylight will soon be upon you so you can clock up those hours on the road.

[Kitsune06]

Woo! The longest night of the year, the heralding of Spring - soon enough, anyway!
From my favorite Yule ritual:
"The old solar year has run its course and completed its
cycle. So too have some of our habits or traits completed their
cycles and outlived their usefulness. This is a time for shedding that which is no longer needed."
"As the old year dies away
so, too, will these old ways will fade into memory."

[mary9761]

One of my Absolute FAVORITE songs for Yule/Solstice by Gypsy off the Enchantress CD

Bring Back the Light

Spin Merry Meet, Merry Meet in Good Measure.
Follow along as we join in the dance.
Sing Merry Meet, Merry Meet in the Circle.
Come on along, you can join in the song.

Bring back the Light,
Light neverending.
Through dark of night,
This call we are sending.
With all our might
Bring back the Light.

Bring back the Light.
Our hearts are open.
This Solstice night
We are invoking
The Lord of Life
Bring back the Light, the Light...

Queen of the Stars, Queen of the Moon, Queen of the Horns and Queen of Fire.
Lord of Life, Seed of Light, Flame that warms the coldest night...
Queen of the Stars, Queen of the Moon, Queen of the Horns and Queen of Fire.
Lord of Life, Seed of Light, Flame that warms the coldest night...
Queen of the Stars, Queen of the Moon, Queen of the Horns and Queen of Fire.
Lord of Life, Seed of Light, Flame that warms the coldest night...
Queen of the Stars, Queen of the Moon, Queen of the Horns and Queen of Fire.
Lord of Life, Seed of Light, Flame that warms the coldest night...
Queen of the Stars, Queen of the Moon, Queen of the Horns and Queen of Fire.
Lord of Life, Seed of Light, Flame that warms the coldest night...
Queen of the Stars, Queen of the Moon, Queen of the Horns and Queen of Fire.
Lord of Life, Seed of Light, Flame that warms the coldest night...
Queen of the Stars, Queen of the Moon, Queen of the Horns and Queen of Fire.
Lord of Life, Seed of Light, Flame that warms the coldest night...
Queen of the Stars, Queen of the Moon, Queen of the Horns and Queen of Fire.
Harken to this Witches Rune, work our will as we desire
Lord of Life, Seed of Light, Flame that warms the coldest night.
Bring to us the Waxing Light, be with us on Solstice Night..

Bring back the Light
Light is descending
To Earth tonight
Light neverending
To Earth tonight
Bring back the Light
(Spin Merry Meet, Merry Meet in Good Measure.....)
(Earth, Water, Fire and Air make this year a blessing...)
The Light the Light, the Light, the Light, the Light

I've seen this used (and participated) as all but one candle is used and as the chant builds as needed as each lights a candle to each other around the circle until the at the time of crescendo all in the circle have their candles lit as symbolically the light is brought back to the Earth. It gave me goosebumps and was one of the most incredible thing I've ever experienced.

[Bikingmomof3]

I am still waiting for winter. It is in the 50s and raining. I do however look forward to more sunlight.

[tygab]

woot for more sunlight. Yeah, no winter here to speak of either at the end of Dec. I know if I were less of a temperature wuss I could be out riding as many of the other NE TE women are. Ok, really I could be riding my shockless mtb anyway just for fun, but I haven't.

However, I am very much in favor of longer days. I am getting psyched just thinking about it meaning we have really only say 7 more weeks of tough weather potential/darkishness to get thru. Sure it may snow and get cold in March, but the temps warm quickly with the increased sunlight and snow doesn't tend to stay. So, yes, I was realllllly happy on winter solstice day.

[Bikingmomof3]

Woo! The longest night of the year, the heralding of Spring - soon enough, anyway!
From my favorite Yule ritual:
"The old solar year has run its course and completed its
cycle. So too have some of our habits or traits completed their
cycles and outlived their usefulness. This is a time for shedding that which is no longer needed."
"As the old year dies away
so, too, will these old ways will fade into memory."

Very cool. I like this!!!