Happy Solstice!

[fullygoldy]

At last, the shortest day has passed!  Welcome, welcome, Ivy King! And welcome to you too, dear sun.  A few months more and you will have waxed powerful once again.
 
Technically, the solstice happened yesterday evening, but it is marked as today on my calendar.  What's that all about?  It's certainly not the typical WI winter solstice, with no snow, above freezing temps and a light fog in the air this morning, but it's very reminiscent of my childhood solstice weather in CA.  Actually, this morning, I am put more in mind of summer camp in the Santa Cruz mountains, amidst the conifers and eucalyptus.  Waking to the fog (although with a much brighter sun behind it) and breathing in the cool, damp earthiness as a precurser to a sparkling day.  So here's hoping that the rest of today and the whole holiday weekend lives up to that memory and sparkles with warmth for all of my friends and family.

Several years ago, while still in SC, we had a group of friends who marked the turning of the wheel with our own hand-crafted rituals.  They were based on our individual beliefs and practices, and as such, tended to be an eclectic mix of the traditional, silly and spiritual.  (My contributions tended to mostly concentrate on costuming & set decoration).  One year, DH dressed as the exiting Holly King, garbed in robes of white and green with a golden holly wreath on his head.  He was a delightful mix of reverent ritual leader and irrepressible Bacchus.  The kids (3 & 5 maybe?) were cherubic as "snow fairies" wearing large white felt snowflakes decorated with silver glitter around their shoulders (picture those white collars worn by church choirs).  The ritual was held in a circle of trees around a lively bonfire, and the gathering was warm and boisterous as befits a solstice celebration.  There is actually videotape of this evening, with commentary by the revelers, and special-indepth interviews of the Holly King and Snow Fairies.  Unfortunately, we were never able to procure a copy for ourselves.  If I ever get my hands on it, it's totally going up on YouTube ::g::

Just 2 or 3 years ago, here in WI, we had quite a lot of snow leading up to solstice, so I marked out a labyrinth in the yard facing the moonrise.  DH helped me stomp down the path, and then after dark, I walked the labyrinth in the moonlight, bundled against the cold, breathing out a cloud of steam that clung throughout my walk.  The labyrinth lasted about a week, and I tried it out at different times of day, but there's something about the crisp cold quiet of moonlight that encourages my introspective focus.  Alas, no snow labyrinth yet this season, but I'm sure there will be opportunities before the Ivy King has come to full strength.

Now, we have a new group of friends we celebrate the turnings with.  Far less ritual with this group - we focus on food and boisterousness - interests we all have in common :)  Traditionally for us, these celebrations have involved spending lots of money in search of gastronomical delights in local fine-dining establishments, but this past year, changes in circumstances have forced us to alter our "ritual."  Tonight, we're looking forward to yet another tapas-based meal, with each person contributing a small plate to the overall evening.  There will be just as much love, energy and fun flowing around the table as usual, just less cash flowing out of our pockets.  That just proves that we've achieved what we originally set out to do, which was to *make time* to gather face-to-face and reconnect each year.  So tonight is dedicated to my dear friends, barley52, bzdchris, busman1994, drstarbuck & mcbeth.  I love you all, and I'm looking forward to another year of celebrations.