Winter Solstice 2011

December is an action packed month so I just wanted to share some significant events that will be taking place.  First, Mercury will be going retrograde on December 10th until the 30th.  Just a reminder to back up your computer and think before you speak.  When Mercury is retrograde we tend to have problems with all forms of communication, verbal, written, electronic, postal and even our mental clarity becomes clouded.  The second week of Mercury retrograde is the most challenging but also provides a great opportunity for clarity to come.  Remember make no assumptions and take nothing personally as communication can be difficult and people are more sensitive than usual. Be prepared for confusion regarding appointments and of course have patience if traveling as Mercury always impacts travel and delays can be expected.

As the cosmic wheel turns and we complete 2010 and welcome 2011 on the night of the Winter Solstice which is Tuesday, December 21st, I wish to thank all of you who help to weave the web of light across our magnificent planet with your focused intention of peace and love. On this day, the sun stands still in the sky, and everyone on earth knows that change is coming. Because this is a festival of fire and light, it is a time to perform ritual with lots of candles and lights, solar symbols, bright colors, or even a bonfire Many cultures around the world have winter festivals that are celebrations of light. The Pagan holiday called Yule takes place on the day of the winter solstice. The earth’s axis tilts away from the sun in the Northern Hemisphere, and the sun reaches its greatest distance from the equatorial plane. As a festival of the Sun, the most important part of any Yule celebration is light – – candles, bonfires, and more. Four thousand years ago, the Ancient Egyptians were  celebrating  the rebirth of Horus – the god of the Sun. As their culture flourished and spread throughout Mesopotamia, other civilizations also began to celebrate the sun returning. Each year, this cycle of birth, death and rebirth took place, and they began to realize that every year after a period of cold and darkness, the Sun did indeed return.

The Winter Solstice is a turning point on the great cosmic wheel.  A time to reflect on the experiences of the past year.  A time to give thanks and gratitude and a time to honor even the most difficult of times and painful lessons that have assisted us in our growth. The Winter Solstice is the true New Year’s Eve, the passing of one year into the next. This date was changed to the 31st of December intentionally to break the foundation of faith of the ancient people and to stop their practice of following the cycles of nature and the honoring of the Earth Mother. With the turning of the cosmic wheel we say goodbye to the year of the Phoenix Rising from the Ashes and Prepare for 2011, the Year of the Rainbow Serpent and the year we dream a new dream.  This is an incredibly powerful night as we also experience the final Full Moon of the year creating an opportune time to empower the seeds of dreams and desires we planted at the time of the last New Moon.  As we prepare for 2011, the Goddess presence is fully empowered and fertile with creative potential to give birth to our dreams and wishes. Many traditions of our current Christmas celebration have their origin with the Pagan tradition of Yule. Decorating trees, caroling, presents, Yule logs, and mistletoe have their origin several thousand years before the birth of Jesus. It is the birthday of the new Sun King. On this darkest of nights, the Goddess becomes the Great Mother and once again gives birth.

On the longest night of winter, from “the dark night of our souls”, there springs a new spark of hope, the Sacred Fire, and the Light of the World. In the ancient times bringing in the Yule log, wishing on it, and lighting it from the remains of last year’s log celebrated the season. Magick and rituals were practiced, Along with the evergreen; the holly, ivy and mistletoe were important plants of the season, all symbolizing fertility and everlasting life. This is a night to decorate your altars with evergreens.  Holly and ivy are significant for this night as they represent the union of the male (holly) with the female (ivy) to ensure the birth of new beginnings with the coming year. (For those of you who live in the Southern hemisphere, this is the summer solstice and can be celebrated with the greenery that is from your area) Prepare an altar with a red, green, white  and one golden or yellow candle.  Red symbolizes the blood of the Goddess and green symbolizes the new life that will come when spring returns. The gold or yellow candle represents the sun. Cover your table or altar with candles. Use as many as you like; they don’t have to match. In the center, place the sun candle and elevate it so it rises above the other candles. Before you light the candles turn off all the other lights, and face your altar.   Sit in stillness and ask for any guidance on this most powerful night.  Light it with the intention to bring light into our world as well as to illuminate your personal path to move forward.

For those of you who followed the ritual of the last Full Moon, the Mourning Full Moon in November,  from my 2010  Ritual Book, you will want to remove the cup from the freezer and allow the water to dissolve.  Let the paper that contains the challenges and fears you froze on the full moon dry out.  On the night of this Full Moon burn the paper and release the ashes to the four winds.  The universe has been actively rearranging itself to bring you a positive outcome to the all that you asked assistance for.

To add to the power of this night,  we will also experience a total lunar eclipse.   Eclipses illuminate areas in our life we need to change. Human beings are progressive by nature, and although we might stay in situations that are making us miserable for longer than we should, deep down inside we know that change is necessary for growth.  The lunar eclipse on this powerful night can create an opportunity to receive necessary guidance by sitting in the darkness where our dreams begin to form.

I will be sending out information on the Year of the Rainbow Serpent and some of the journeys, retreats and seminars I will be sharing throughout the year.  For me 2011 is far more significant than 2012.  A tremendous year of spiritual awakening for the planet and for personal growth as  it will be up to us to be the change we desire to see in our world.

Wishing you all a wondrous holiday and a Happy Winter Solstice as we embark on the amazing journey 2011 promises to bring.

Love and rainbows, Robbyne

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As the holidays approach please remember our four legged friends who need your love and support.

Those of you who know Dehx, an amazing make-up artist and a good friend, she has taken this thought one step further and created a wonderful heartfelt project to assist our furry allies at the animal shelters.  For more information on how to help please click here.

As I am about to embark on a personal  journey at the end of January leaving the country, I am still looking  for loving homes for my dear animal allies.  I am not able to take my animals with me as I will be traveling in  New Zealand, Australia, Bali,  Easter Island, Bolivia and Switzerland for most of the year.  If you know of anyone who would like to open their hearts and their homes please let us know.  For more information please click here.

If you are looking for a unique and special holiday gift I do have beautiful gift certificates available for private sessions, workshops, and journeys.  They come wrapped in a beautiful box and make excellent Christmas, birthday or special occasion gifts.  Please contact us.

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