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Post by Lee on Dec 20, 2005 15:25:50 GMT -1
after heading into town today to get train tickets home and other yule guff, i began to think how i might go about marking sunrise tomorrow (i know im a day early but its easier for me to di it early than at home with mum about and inevitable alcohol)
now, we could go for the mabon ap modron birth event - rebirth of the sun etc, but i cant help but feel thats just shoehorning the welsh/brythonic mythos into preconcieved and more modern ideas about the wheel of the year.
the mabon ap modron story is similar to the pryderi ap rhiannon story (born and kidnapped but released eventually), so looking to that more well know rendition of the same story but with more local names - it seems may eve is amore likely time fo birth, also there is teyrnons foals born then too.
soooo..... what am i to do? im thinking i might just welcome the sun back and the growing strnegth of the sun, without all the deity stuff clamped on. get up before dawn and light lots of candles then sit and watch the day brighten.
happy yule everyone
lee
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Post by Blackbird on Dec 20, 2005 17:01:08 GMT -1
And merry midwinter to you!  I'll be off up to Arbor Low to watch the sunset (hopefully) from Gib Hill. I'm taking some offerings of song and wine, so am hoping to be welcome there. I'm also optimistically taking my little harp along - though last year, I just ended up fighting the winds for the use of it. As for mythological stuff... yes, most of the miraculous births take place on May Eve (there is Taliesin too, of course). Personally, I'm still in the throes of Eponalia celebrations - while the official day (as far as we can tell, from the single, scant reference) was on the 18th, it does seem to be a general midwinter thing. Or you could pay honour to Mithras - an 'import', of course, but he would have been honoured here at Midwinter by some of our ancestors. But yes, no need to involve the gods if you don't want. I'm of the opinion that simply being there to witness the setting of the sun and/or the new dawn is enough. And of course, the benefits of watching the sunrise at Midwinter is that you don't have to get up so bloody early as when doing the same at Midsummer  |
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Post by jez on Dec 20, 2005 18:32:10 GMT -1
I shall honour Sunna, and Her association with the sun. And when the days start to grow longer, I shall give thanks that winter will end, and Ragnarok will not come this season...
Jez - who is meeting up with BBird at Arbor Low and singing and offering cakes and wine/mead on behalf of others and herself to the Lady who likes it, and the Guardian who cherishes it for Her.
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Post by tenar on Dec 20, 2005 19:43:40 GMT -1
I'll probably do something really simple-my only plan at the moment is to walk the pup early enough to see the sun come up. The only deities I currently associate with the sun are Sulis and Maponos, so I was thinking of doing something simple to honour them, though that's more out of a desire to widen my general practice than anything; worshipping just one god when you're a polytheist seems a bit like wasted opportunity |
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Post by Blackbird on Dec 22, 2005 12:21:33 GMT -1
Well, it was a good one, despite the weather It was warm, but very drizzly, with cloud obscuring the sky. Still, I always think the Peaks look especially wonderful when shrouded in mists... The Old Men of the mound were honoured, as was the Grey Mare. Toasts and song were offered to Sunna and Sulis - and also to Mithras, in a rousing chorus that even reached the ears of those down at Arbor Low Merry Midwinter to all ;D |
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Post by jez on Dec 22, 2005 12:25:26 GMT -1
Midwinter Moons
The longest nights are here - sit down, oh Sun!
Stretch out your white-noon arms in blue-gold haze,
Take off your red-gold crown and be at ease,
Your longest rest between these shortest days.
Your brother Moon rides high and proud he stands
His face reflecting all your hidden light
As you creep low, he leaps amongst the stars
His path opposed to yours on these bright nights.
But soon, as his swift steeds tread lightly on
He'll race you home, though doing so takes all,
And as his strength is used he wanes and fades
Until his path brings both to evening's hall.
He'll touch your hand, and as you sink and sit
His need for you makes all his striving worth
For three nights, while the skies hold only stars,
He welcomes you each golden eve with love.
Between these two bright moons the year is born,
As swift with Dawn and Evening Stars you ride
And rush to fog-filled dusk from frost-cut dawn -
The golden Sun, the Moon's most sacred bride.
It does not last - three nights each month are spent
Before he is not there when you come home
And you must rise and light the world again
While he lies still abed and all alone.
This winter, then, will pass - the light grows strong
And once again the Spring will come and show
That Ragnarok is not yet timed - not now...
Though each and every year it could be so.
© Jezreell Midwinter Eve 2005
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Post by Blackbird on Dec 22, 2005 19:41:30 GMT -1
*enthusiastic applause* That has worked into something wonderful, and is a marvellous offering for the Bright Queen of the Morning |
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Post by jez on Dec 24, 2005 19:08:10 GMT -1
Why thank you I held the pen... And finished it off. It was probably damaged in the process of passing through my brain:( Jez |
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