Wednesday, December 21, 2016

SOLSTICE BRINGS A NEW BEGINNING






My wife and I exchanged gifts today in celebration of the Winter Solstice. 

By all logical thinking today should be the beginning of the new year – the longest night of the old year followed by the renewing of sun and light.

Mankind, in the belief of his own divinity, has regulated time and calendars to reflect his convenience and superstitious beliefs.  

We tend to see the stars in the sky as markers place there for navigation; the moon to light our way at night; and the sun specifically to warm us and supply us power.  

Everything on this earth we view as placed here for our use and our exploitation.   We have even conceited to raise ourselves above Nature by conferring ourselves with everlasting life and devising gods in our own image.   We hate, we war, we punish people that are not like us and do not think like us.  

Yet, Nature continues unabated with its seasonal changes, winds continue to blow and climate shifts to nullify our destructive tendencies.   

The Wicca way, the Pagan was to view nature as the source of our life and to celebrate it as the source of our existence.  Just as man has added unnecessary layers to the Buddha’s teachings, Neo-Wiccans and Pagans have tried to embellish these celebrations of Seasonal Change with ceremonies and rituals to empower themselves.

True celebrants realize that the earth is not about them: that their short temporary existence is a gift from Nature – that life is for living, and in the end we are not eternal, and our death is the final obligation we owe to nature. 

We should try to celebrate the gift of this new year – a small continuation of our own existence – by putting away negative thoughts and allowing ourselves the small things that bring us pleasure. 

Celebrate this marker with us as a chance for a new beginning.  Accept the things you cannot change and change the things you must; but live this life to the fullest, because it is finite. 

My wife and I will drink to you and think of you as we enjoy a special meal on this special day. 




the Ol’Buzzard




3 comments:

COMMENT: Ben Franklin said, "I imagine a man must have a good deal of vanity who believes, and a good deal of boldness who affirms, that all doctrines he holds are true, and all he rejects are false."