Happy Solstice!

Have you thought about the true meaning of this time of year? It’s all about celebration and Ritual but a little deeper than our modern world encourages us to see it.

Celebration of the earth – which is traditionally why we take trees and holly into our house and decorate them (to say thank you to the earth and nature for providing us with a home and food etc).

Celebrating other people in our lives, which is why we give gifts (to say thank you for being part of my life).

Celebrate ourselves – looking back on the year and acknowledging our achievements and perhaps the people that have helped achieve.

It’s a time of introspection – a review of where we are …and of allowing seeds to percolate through our consciousness as to direction we might like to take next year (new years resolutions). Maybe a time to chop out some of the dead wood in our lives.

Father Christmas/Santa Claus tradition may have come from the Pagan/Shamic culture – it was said that the Shamans climbed into the upper worlds (through ritual and meditation) and returned with gifts of wisdom and prophecies.

The word Yule is an Anglo Saxon word for ‘Wheel’.

Part of the interpretation of the word Yoga in Sanscript means ‘Wheel’.

We live in within a ‘wheel’ of life – the cyclical patterns of the seasons, the sun and the moon. If you just take a minute to contemplate the wonder of it all, then this time of year it has a magic that is way beyond the twinkling lights.

Festive Cheer is an attitude of gratitude….so go spread the love !