Today is the Winter Solstice. We know it means "winter is here" but what does that mean? Let's take a look from several angles
The perspective of Space (Astronomy)
• The Earth travels around the sun on an elliptical orbit that forms a plane. This takes just slightly more than a year (365.2422 days). It also spins on an axis that is "tilted" (currently 23.5 degrees) relative to the orbital plane in about a day (actually, 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4 seconds).
• Interplay of the orbit and the tilt causes every day of the year to have a slightly different length
• The Spring and Autumn Equinoxes, the Summer Solstice and the one we celebrate today, the Winter Solstice.
○ So, for one day in the spring and fall, day and night are almost 12 hours each (this is exact only at certain latitudes). Equinox comes from the word meaning equal
○ The longest day/shortest night is the Summer Solstice
○ Today marks the shortest day/longest night of the year
The perspective of Time
• We measure time relative to these astronomical realities. A Day is one time around the Earth's Axis. A year is once around the Sun. (FYI-months are relative to the lunar cycle that isn't part of the dance we are discussing today.)
• Each of the Equinoxes and Solstices mark the change season. I like to call these days the 4 corners of the year because it marks a change or "turning a corner" Today is the end of Autumn and the beginning of Winter
The perspective of the Holiday season
I like to celebrate the Winter Solstice for several reasons
1. It seems to be the center of the bigger holiday season in the United States:
Thanksgiving (11/23), Black Friday(11/24), Small business Saturday (11/15), Cyber Monday (11/27), Chanukah (12/2-10), Last Shipping Days (Dec 14-22), Winter Solstice (12/21), Yule (12/21-1/1), Christmas (12/25), Boxing Day(12/26), Kwanzaa (12/26-1/1), New Year's(1/1), BCS Football Championship (1/8)
2. It seems to be the LEAST commercial of all the winter holidays
3. I celebrate all 4 "corners of the year". So much happens so fast these days that a year seems like a long time from any sort of planning perspective.
4. The New Age movement is celebrating 5 years in the Aquarian Age. What that means is a discussion for another day
Celebrate in your own way but I encourage you to focus on the "Heart Virtues" of gratitude, forgiveness, compassion, understanding, courage and humility.
Wishing you peace every day, not just this Holiday Season!
