After commenting earlier, I remembered that I had a song that came from a Solstice experience. 1999, a full moon, which I was told was a once-in-a-century occurrence, riding on a train from Salzburg to Munich through the Alps. The song is "Solstice Moon" https://open.spotify.com/track/4xaaaHMeBENYMeZgIS0lkQ?si=afddfa7da92c4881
At 10:03 on Sunday morning, I was in my usual place at Quaker Meeting in a Meeting House that was built in 1732 in Clearbrook, Virginia. Before we began Meeting for Worship, the clerk announced that he would raise his hand at 10:03, which he did, so I was able to welcome the returning light with Friends gathered.
Later in the Meeting, I spoke, saying something like this:
The light is returning.
Darkness is receding, light is increasing.
We don't control this; the earth moves as it does.
We can celebrate, or ignore this. That is our choice.
Thank you for sending this, Jesse. Happy winter solstice to you and everyone. I'll light a candle and join in spirit the Elizabeth Street Gardens celebration of light over darkness. ✨✨✨🫶
Happy Solstice , every day a little more light and day from here on out. Appreciating the good that comes from the dark too where we rest and dream and recharge as we exist between in the balance.
This posting has awakened and inspired me. I am revisiting a poem I started years ago and could not finish. The title of my poem is "Naked Night Stare". I will use your prompt to see myself in the early morning light.
Happy Winter Solstice, Jesse! It's a cold and blustery Winter Solstice morning. Perfect for sitting by the woodstove with a cup of tea and watching the kitties snooze in their various beds, chairs, or in a small Chewy box with the crinkly brown papers still in it. I'll be suiting up soon to visit my wee donkey and take her a warm beet pulp mash for her lunch. She's bundled up in her heavy winter blanket to keep warm, it's been such a cold season this year. I'm going to bake more cookies this afternoon, the dough has been chilling in the fridge overnight. I've added 2 extra strings of lights to our Christmas tree this year to make things brighter, it is an extra beautiful tree!
Thank you Jesse. Winter solstice to me means the days will slowly lengthen and Spring is round the corner! Have a lovely celebration at the Elizabeth Street Garden. I couldn’t get into the livestream because apparently they have to verify my age and l don’t have the biometric details to give them. I have to admit l wouldn’t want to anyway, it rather reminds me of Big Brother. Much love from London 🙏
In Minnesota, winter cold, ice and snow are celebrated, my late sixties views winter as a curse of shoveling, and freezing cold, rising heating bills and bouts with flu.
The winter Solstice doesn’t hold a candle to the summer solstice… I’d prefer celebrating today’s event where you reside Jessie! Thanks for the reminder, the fire will be built after clearing 3 feet of snow off the fire pit, the drums will sound in a new beginning… enjoy your celebration, great post!
I’m off heading for SPRING^^
Thank you 🕯️✨
After commenting earlier, I remembered that I had a song that came from a Solstice experience. 1999, a full moon, which I was told was a once-in-a-century occurrence, riding on a train from Salzburg to Munich through the Alps. The song is "Solstice Moon" https://open.spotify.com/track/4xaaaHMeBENYMeZgIS0lkQ?si=afddfa7da92c4881
At 10:03 on Sunday morning, I was in my usual place at Quaker Meeting in a Meeting House that was built in 1732 in Clearbrook, Virginia. Before we began Meeting for Worship, the clerk announced that he would raise his hand at 10:03, which he did, so I was able to welcome the returning light with Friends gathered.
Later in the Meeting, I spoke, saying something like this:
The light is returning.
Darkness is receding, light is increasing.
We don't control this; the earth moves as it does.
We can celebrate, or ignore this. That is our choice.
The light inside us,
"That of God," as we say, that is just there.
We don't control that.
What we control is how we use that Light.
We can open our hearts to the Light
We can reflect the Light.
How wide can we open our hearts?
How well can we reflect the Light?
The light is returning.
Welcome light.
Candles in the window are lit, cedar boughs hang over the front door and the aroma of sage and
rosemary fill the cabin. "A quiet recalibration ... " a beautiful way to think of this Solstice.
Thank you, Jesse, for providing such thoughtful and illuminating posts.
Happy Solstice. The light and warmth will return, yet the dark days of winter offer a unique grace.
As nature recuperates - so could we.
Thank you for sending this, Jesse. Happy winter solstice to you and everyone. I'll light a candle and join in spirit the Elizabeth Street Gardens celebration of light over darkness. ✨✨✨🫶
Beauty like. Thanks, Jesse 💫💫✨🦋💫
So sad to hear of Rico’s passing on. May joyful memories help comfort and heal you, Jess. 🙏🏻
Happy Solstice , every day a little more light and day from here on out. Appreciating the good that comes from the dark too where we rest and dream and recharge as we exist between in the balance.
This posting has awakened and inspired me. I am revisiting a poem I started years ago and could not finish. The title of my poem is "Naked Night Stare". I will use your prompt to see myself in the early morning light.
Enjoy the Elizabeth Gardens this evening. I am jotting these prompts down and trying to unplug for the day. 🕯️🎄
Happy Winter Solstice, Jesse! It's a cold and blustery Winter Solstice morning. Perfect for sitting by the woodstove with a cup of tea and watching the kitties snooze in their various beds, chairs, or in a small Chewy box with the crinkly brown papers still in it. I'll be suiting up soon to visit my wee donkey and take her a warm beet pulp mash for her lunch. She's bundled up in her heavy winter blanket to keep warm, it's been such a cold season this year. I'm going to bake more cookies this afternoon, the dough has been chilling in the fridge overnight. I've added 2 extra strings of lights to our Christmas tree this year to make things brighter, it is an extra beautiful tree!
Thank you Jesse. Winter solstice to me means the days will slowly lengthen and Spring is round the corner! Have a lovely celebration at the Elizabeth Street Garden. I couldn’t get into the livestream because apparently they have to verify my age and l don’t have the biometric details to give them. I have to admit l wouldn’t want to anyway, it rather reminds me of Big Brother. Much love from London 🙏
Happy and an introspective Solstice Jesse. Three 🕯️ 🕯️ 🕯️ burning for the past, present and future days, minutes, moments and seconds.
Thank you for guiding us into this new season.
In Minnesota, winter cold, ice and snow are celebrated, my late sixties views winter as a curse of shoveling, and freezing cold, rising heating bills and bouts with flu.
The winter Solstice doesn’t hold a candle to the summer solstice… I’d prefer celebrating today’s event where you reside Jessie! Thanks for the reminder, the fire will be built after clearing 3 feet of snow off the fire pit, the drums will sound in a new beginning… enjoy your celebration, great post!
Thank you for this, Jesse. Happy winter solstice to all and wishing you a wonderful celebration at Elizabeth Street Garden this evening.