Turning of the year

Today is a very special day in the astronomical year. It marks the turning of the year. I am of course talking about the solstice. Here in the southern hemisphere were are celebrating the end of short days and long dark nights and can look forward to longer, warmer days and of course shorter nights. But did you know that today was a day of both fear and celebration for our ancestors. They had harvested their crops as the sun dipped into autumn, stored them for the colder dormant months, and they waited for the sun to warm the earth so they could plant the next year’s crops. What they saw was day after day of less sun and more darkness. And on the darkest day of the year, they offered the gift of light in the hope that it would serve as a reminder to the sun to come back. This was the day the traditional Yule log was burned as an offering to the universe. Today we “celebrate” with plastic trees and artificial lights!! If you’ve ever wondered where the tradition came from, well now you know.

Today was the day our ancestors threw caution to the wind, and rather than fear the sun would not return to warm the earth, they celebrated, the feasted and they gave each other the gifts of attention (why do you think there are so many September babies (north) and (yes I’m one of them) and March babies in the South?). They shared love, laughter and with the burning of the Yule log, gave the gift of life to a dark world.

So why am I telling you about a pagan feast day?

Well it could be argued that every day is a special day if we choose to make it one. Today I am asking that you join the “pagan’s” of this world and celebrate the turning of the year. Whilst we live in artificial light and breathe artificial air most of the time, we can enjoy one day of candle light and no computers surely. And if you are fortunate to live in the southern hemisphere – given that the traditional northern yuletide celebration has been aligned with the the Julian Calendar and therefore the 25th - well "merry christmas" to you all.

And given that we in the southern hemisphere are about to start the astronomical new year, I wish for you a year of many completed projects and brand new opportunities to live the life you were truly meant to live.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you'd like to reproduce any of the material contained on this newsletter, please feel free to do so.I only ask that you ensure  the material is attributed to me, and you provide a link to my website, http://www.motivateme.info

We would like to thank you in advance for forwarding this issue onto family, friends and any other interested readers.  Please note all back issues of this newsletter are available from - http://www.motivateme.info/ezine-archive/

All contents Copyright (c) 2007 Motivateme.info except where indicated otherwise. All rights reserved worldwide. No Spamming or List Sharing - We do not share, nor give out, our subscription list to third parties.