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
