Of Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice at Newgrange

Cold and dark
the earth awaits new beginnings,
a world receptive and yielding
to the increasing light of day
as Mother Earth yearns
to fill her empty womb
with mistletoes’ fruitful seed.
A quickening in her belly reflects
the stirring of nature all around,
rebirth giving hope and joy.
We welcome and bless the cycle
of life to come……Josie Mamo

Image sourced from Laura Knight-Jadczyk, Winter Solstice: From Chaos to Creation

Newgrange, a magical megalithic site in Ireland estimated to be older by centuries than Stonehenge, older than the Egyptian pyramids, was built to receive a shaft of sunlight deep into its central chamber at dawn on winter solstice. The light illuminates a stone basin below intricate carvings — spirals, eye shapes, solar discs. Although very little is known about how Newgrange was used by its builders, marking the solstice was obviously of tremendous spiritual import to them. 

Shine on…!
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Paul C Burr
Follow @paulburr