With the winter solstice here in the southern hemisphere today, it is actually the time of Christmas now. The theme of Christ is actually a solar theme, where the winter solstice marked the day with the least amount of sunlight. The depth of winter could mean death for some in desperate times. The sun was everything to the people in the cold of winter in certain places, perhaps up far north.
So when the shortest day arrived, it also meant that the missing sun would be returning by having longer days again, one day at a time. And literally in three days time, after the 21st, the days start lengthening again apparently, after a three day pause. The symbol of the slain son, entombed for three days, and then risen from the dead, seems to echo that of the mid winter solstice solar experience, astronomically speaking.
The sun will rise earlier and earlier again from about the 25th so that is a natural celebration day. Older legends talk of a slain and reborn sun, like the Egyptian Osiris. It’s an ancient theme and our very existence revolves around it, pun intended. I mean our lives revolve around the sun, either literally in the solar system or figuratively, in the symbols of our religions, or in our farming cycles for food security, etc. And at the present it’s easy for me to feel like I’m in the dead part of the year, where it’s coldest and the days are shortest.
And when life revolves around power from a solar panel, then it brings the focus back to the dependency upon the power of the sun for survival. So today the power is rationed since it’s raining and overcast. There’s enough to survive, but nothing more. So respect for the sun kicks in instinctively. There is excess rain at present so at least some blessings are flowing. Rumours of drought next year, with the shift to El Nino, mean now is the time to store all the abundant flowing mercy from the heavens. I’m totally dependent on the elements here for my water, power and heat, though gas is helping. It’s off grid life in the forest as a digital nomad collecting wood. What a sense of sovereignty, especially thanks to the web3 and blockchain technology and cryptocurrency.
Anyway, today’s winter solstice in the south feels dark and foreboding, so a nice celebration would be good. Christmas comes but once a year, so let me light some fire and celebrate the return of the sun from the depths of the underworld. Long may we thaw out – but wait, we’re only half way there. Still another two months of winter to go as the days get slowly longer. It’s enough to make you want to pray to the sun for a speedy return. His mercy is all we’re made of.
With the sun at it’s furthest point from the earth now astronomically speaking, in the annual cycle, called aphelion, we are at an extreme point in the cycle and the pressure is on to hang in there through the worst of it. Cold weather does indeed add stress to the existence, wherever you are, especially if you are in a third world condition. Which is most of us. Fortunately we can tap in to first world technology and surf the waves just as easily as anyone – for now. We never know how long this internet will last or how stable our system is. Life here on the winter solstice feels fragile on many levels. Yet still I manage to post my captain’s blog for the blockchain database and posterity, using solar power and satellite.
(photo my own)