Happy New Year to all DU Pagans!!!!

[Double T]

Celebrate the Winter Solstice today!

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/517S53M6JSL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg

http://books.google.com/books?id=HvUY30nUBpEC&dq=winter+solstice+gif&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=oa1pRyYVnA&sig=VFwQwj82nreaJJS1W_Zp531wFDk&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result#PPP1,M1







http://www.newgrange.com/webcast_08.htm




WINTER SOLSTICE December 21st:
The celebration of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. It is the celebration rebirth of the Sun, which is the promise of spring and life even on this the darkest day. Therefore some consider this the new year. The burning of the log is to give the Sun strength. Mumming (plays) such as "St. George" is a Pagan survival , it represents the rebirth of the God. Wassailing or is also a Pagan custom. The Roman festival of the Solstice was Saturnalia, which lasted from December 17th to the 24th.

[alfredo]

1. thank you.

[MorningGlow]

2. Thank you kindly!

Blessed Be to all on this day of the return of the light! :hi:

[patriotvoice]

3. May your new year be filled with hopes honored and blessings bestowed.

:toast:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Wohlkum Jol!

Welcome the Yuletide!

[bertman]

5. Happy Winter Solstice to you, Double T. Newgrange is a spectacular place.

Would you please explain exactly what a pagan is? My understanding of the word has been defined by my Southern Baptist upbringing which considered non-believers to be pagans.

Thanks.

For those folks who are interested, the intro to the Zeitgeist movie (not the addendum--which I have not yet seen) has a historical explanation of the Winter Solstice, including astronomical background.

http://zeitgeistmovie.com/

[Double T]

9. What is a Pagan and what is Paganism? Great Question..........

Not so easy to answer.

Please start with:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/paganism.htm

and

http://www.outofthedark.com/

The following best describes my views as a Pagan:

What is Paganism?


A brief introduction

Paganism is a spiritual way of life which has its roots in the ancient nature religions of the world. It is principally rooted in the old religions of Europe, though some adherents also find great worth in the indigenous beliefs of other countries. Such belief in the sacredness of all things can be found world-wide. Pagans see this as their heritage, and retain the beliefs and values of their ancestors in forms adapted to suit modern life. We celebrate the sanctity of Nature, revering the Divine in all things; the vast, unknowable spirit that runs through the universe, both seen and unseen.

Pagans honour the Divine in all its aspects, whether male or female, as parts of the sacred whole. Every man and woman is, to a Pagan, a beautiful and unique being. Children are loved and honored and there is a strong sense of community. The woods and open spaces of the land, home to wild animals and birds, are cherished. Paganism stresses personal spiritual experience, and Pagans often find that experience through their relationship with the natural world that they love. We seek spiritual union with Divinity by attuning with the tides of Nature and by exploring our inner selves, seeing each reflected in the other. We believe that we should meet the Divine face to face, within our own experience, rather than through an intermediary. Although some paths do have leaders and teachers, these people act as facilitators, using their own wisdom and experience to help guide those in their care towards discovering their own sense and interpretation of the Divine. Our rites help us harmonize with the natural cycles, and so they are often held at the turning points of the seasons, at the phases of the moon and sun, and at times of transition in our lives.

There is a great variety of traditions within the broad spectrum of Paganism. This reflects the range of our spiritual experience, for we believe that everyone is unique, and so everyone's spirituality must be equally unique. Some Pagans follow multiple Gods and Goddesses, their names familiar to all from the pages of European folklore and mythology: others focus on a single Life Force of no specific gender; yet others devote themselves to a cosmic couple - Goddess and God, or Lord and Lady. We celebrate our diversity for we believe that each person should find their spirituality according to the dictates of the quiet, inner voice of their own soul. For this reason we respect all sincere religions, and do not proselytize or seek converts. From other faiths and from society generally, we ask only tolerance.

In these days of environmental concern and eco-awareness, Pagans are often at the forefront of Green awareness. Pagans of all paths respect the rights of every living soul, whether human, animal, plant or rock. We are ever mindful of the actions of cause and effect, whether by thought or deed, upon the creatures of the Earth. We encourage free thought, creative imagination and practical human resourcefulness, believing these to be fundamental to our spending our lives in harmony with the rhythms of the natural world. We rejoice that some of our personal beliefs should now be shared by so many other people. These beliefs are the heritage of all people from our distant and common ancestors - they are equally the concern of all our descendants.


Thank you bertman for asking, hope this provides some insight.

[JitterbugPerfume]

19. wow!

If I had a religion, that would be it!

[bertman]

22. I haven't read the links yet, but your explanation sounds much like my way of thinking.

I don't believe in gods and godesses but I do believe in the primacy of nature and her power. If I had a religion that would be it.

Thanks for the references. Are you familiar with the book "Civilization One"?

[Odin2005]

26. "I do believe in the primacy of nature and her power" That's sums me up very well as well.

We are not separate of nature and it's workings, we are a part of it.

The notion that Man is above nature has it's roots with the dawn of civilization in the Middle East, where people were forced to gain control of nature via irrigation and flood control. such things were not needed by well-watered fields of Europe, or the monsoon-drenched fields of South and East Asia and West Africa, were knowledge about the cyclility of nature was more important.

[Odin2005]

25. My GF is a pagan and, although I'm an atheist in the strict sense, I am...

philosophically inclined towards many pagan beliefs. We go to the UU church here in Fargo and celebrated the Solstice there today.

[LWolf]

6. Happy New Year to you, too.

I'm THRILLED to welcome the sun back. These are hard days, leaving for work in the dark, getting home in the dark, trying to keep horses, sheep, and chickens fed and watered in the frozen ice and snow.

The days change quickly in the north. Another six weeks and there will be daylight for evening chores.

[Odin2005]

27. Sounds a lot like my sister's place about 30 miles west of Fargo, out by Hawley, MN

Except replace horses with cows, and add in ducks, geese, pheasants, and 2 (very ornery) peacocks!

[conscious evolution]

7. Thank you

I must say that last nights celebrations were pretty darned good.
The drumming started at sunset and went to sunrise.

[davsand]

8. Thank you! Here's hoping your upcoming year will be fruitful and happy!

I find I am so sluggish during the times of reduced sunlight! I am always happy to mark the day when the Sun begins to return and I'm happy to see others take note of it as well.

Well Met to any of the Pagans in this thread I don't already know!



Laura

[Patiod]

10. It was damn cold for a soltice party last night

Not pagan, but with a bunch of them last night, freezing my ass off.

Coldest. Winter Soltice Party. Ever. (well, in the 12 or so years we've been attending)

I still smell like a campfire.

I prefer Summer Soltice...

[progressoid]

11. Well, I'm not a Pagan but I did a fair amount of wasailing last night!

My head hurts. x(

[opihimoimoi]

12. What about us HEATHENS??? We need some loving too....LOL

:toast:

[Double T]

14. Everyone is loved EXCEPT.......

corporate and political corrupt criminals.

[opihimoimoi]

15. I would like to add the religious zealots who are intolerant of others

[Double T]

16. DONE! THEM too!

[roguevalley]

21. {{{HUGS, opihoimoi}}} Just for you. :-D I am glad the sun will come back.

we have about 20 damned hours of darkness up here right now. Sun comes up late and goes down early. TEARS!!!

Happy Solstice to one and all!

[slackmaster]

13. I'm not a pagan (I'm Agnostic), but the winter solstice has always been my true new year's day

:hi:

[Maeve]

17. Well, for the Celts you're about seven weeks late, but a Cool Yule to yourself as well!

Old Celtic New Year was Samhain, back the first of November, but no matter what festival of light you celebrate, may it be bright, warm and welcome!

[Marrah_G]

33. I was trying to figure out how to point out the error politely

But you beat me too it.

MM and a Blessed Yule to you.

[AnnieBW]

18. Blessed Yule to you, too!

And all of my Pagan friends!

[roody]

20. Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice,
Return of the light.
Tomorrow, the days grow longer.
Tomorrow, the cold grows stronger.
Tonight........the looooooonnnnnngggest night.

[Odin2005]

23. This Atheist wishes everyone a happy Yuletide!!!

:beer: :hi: :party:

Stay warm and don't get yourselves stuck in any huge snowdrifts while everyone celebrates the return of the Sun.

[sarcasmo]

24. A Winter Solstice blizzard, have a wonderful day.

[LibertyLover]

28. Many thanks and bright blessings

to you and yours. And as one of my covenmates expressed it this afternoon in circle - "Cool Yule y'all."

[Heathen57]

29. And a blessed Yule to you and all!!

The longest night signals the return of the sun in the East. While the North still holds our mother within a blanket of cleansing white, we can now look forward when the warmth of spring comes from the South and once again clothes our mother in all the colors of spring.

[meow mix]

30. book starts with how to make a anti-troll potion

how useful

[Manifestor_of_Light]

31. Where's the TOGA PARTY?????!!!?????

Inquiring minds who own togas want to know!!!

I took Latin in high school, but we did not have a Saturnalia party, dangit!

[Laelth]

32. Happy solstice!

:hi:

:dem:

-Laelth