Solstice

Today marked the solstice and a lunar eclipse. In Bristol the times of sunrise and maximum occlusion were separated by only four minutes. I've no idea what that means to a good pagan, especially since we could see nothing of the sky through the lowering clouds and mist.

As the roads are snowy and unsafe we reluctantly decided not to drive to Avebury but still felt that we had to celebrate the turning of the year in some way. So Moonface, Tom, Biggsy and I left our homes in the pre-dawn cold and walked up through the snowy streets to the highest point of the Downs, not far from Sea Walls. Biggsy had brought some tea-lights so we picked some small sprigs of holly and ivy, planted those in the snow and surrounded them by the seven lights. We lit them at sunrise, welcomed the return of the sun and the moon together then walked home via a cafe and bacon sandwiches.

All in all it was a lovely quiet start to the new year which gave us a real feeling of being able to look forwards to spring, in spite of the snow and frost with which we are still surrounded.

:o)