Winter Solstice -  Yule 

Saturday, December 21, 2019, at 11:09 p.m.

The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year.  It was believed the Sun stood still in the sky and then, the next day continued on … , and so the days began, once again, to lengthen!

The word Solstice evolved to Middle English, from Old French from Latin solstitium, from Latin (combination of sol, the sun, and stitium, to stand still.)  

Self Portrait

(Acrylic)

“…and I knew
winter was in store for every leaf
on every tree on that road.
Was inescapable for each one we passed.
And for me.
It is winter
and the stars are hidden.”

“The Pomegranite”

Eavan Boland

October 31, 2019 

Samhain

            …when the veil between the two worlds is most pervious.

            This third and last of the three pagan Autumn harvest festivals acknowledges a time of cleansing and preparation for the darkness of Winter.  It is the most important of the four "greater Sabbats."  

            Observance begins at 5:39 p.m., sundown

Samhain Moon
(watercolor by CDI)  

“Be to her, Persephone,
All the things I might not be;
Take her head upon your knee.
She that was so proud and wild,
Flippant, arrogant and free,
She that had no need of me,
Is a little lonely child
Lost in Hell,—Persephone,
Take her head upon your knee;
Say to her, “My dear, my dear,
It is not so dreadful here.” 

~ Edna St. Vincent Millay ~ 

Mabon - the Autumnal Equinox

One of the four solar holidays; the second of the three pagan autumn harvest festivals

Monday, September 23, 2019 at 3:50  a.m.

Leaf Laundry

(Photo by CDI)

“And all at once, summer collapsed into fall.”
~ Oscar Wilde ~

Summer Solstice – Midsummer

Friday, June 21, 2019; 11:54 a.m.

Sunrise: 5:08 a.m.

Sunset: 8:24 p.m.

One of the four solar holidays; the turning point at which summer reaches its height and the sun shines longest.

Surf’s Up!

(Photo by CDI)

“Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood”

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~

VERNAL EQUINOX

Wednesday, March 20, 2019   5:58 p.m.

One of the four solar holidays marking the beginning of spring.  The rejoining of the Mother Goddess and her lover-consort-son, who spent the winter months in death; or the Goddess returning to her Maiden aspect (e.g., Persephone returning from the Underworld.)

Castle Island
(Photo by CDI)

Now every field is clothed with grass, and every tree with leaves;

now the woods put forth their blossoms,

and the year assumes its gay attire.

~Virgil ~