Happy Winter Solstice

(23.5 degrees of tilt is the reason for the season)

The ancients understood that life literally depended on the sun. This is obvious to any farming culture, or anywhere where life is difficult in the winter months. Because the solstice marks the moment when the sun appears to stop moving lower in the sky from day to day, and begin to go higher again, and because there was no understanding of the mechanism behind this, ancient people would rejoice at this event. They saw this as a miracle and a gift from god.

Some pagan religions referred to this moment as "the birth of the sun of the gods", and it was a time of celebration. Many religions marked this day as the day their god was physically born on earth (often of a virgin). These gods include Osirus, Mithra, Adonis, Dionysus, Jesus, Baal, Zoroaster, and Mithras. The birth of Mithras was said to have been witnessed by three shepherds. Later, followers of "Jesus the Savior" adapted this story, and a great many people still believe it to this day.

Today people understand that the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, is the moment in time when the north pole, (which is currently tilted 23.5 degrees off the perpendicular to earth's orbital plane), leans furthest away from the sun. Because the direction of this tilt changes slightly over time, (about one degree every 71.6 years), the solstice happens at a slightly different place in our orbit around the sun. This causes the day of the solstice to change over time. Although the traditional date of the solstice was December 25th, today it actually happens on December 22nd.

Although we now understand the solstice as a natural, physical event, we Brights can still take this time to reflect on the symbolism of a new beginning, where Brightness starts to increase anew, to provide ever increasing illumination to the world.

Have a safe and happy holiday.