solstice

Like the good pagan that I am, I met with the sisters of my coven and celebrated the solstice last night. My very dear friend Shelley Rose Lightstone planned the ritual as a passion play. It was the duty of all participants to cheer up the mother goddess so that she will shine her light upon us and warm the earth. We did this by making invocations by fire (throw in a pine cone and wish the world something good) and by hanging little light sticks on the tree. The play was conducted in 8-year-old fashion followed by much present opening. There are about 10 people who regularly attend the rituals now, so the gift giving is usually small. Not this year. Everyone really went overboard this year. I got a snow hat and mittens and a scarf and trinkets and things that light up. Oh, and the most wonderful mugs and bowls that are a perfect reflection of my soul: purple with blue spirals on the outside, bluesun on the inside. The first present that everyone opened was the snow hats. Laura Kroma Hope Aguas (also known by her indian name of "Up A Creek") and her partner Carol (aka "Without A Paddle") made the hats. Mine was orange with yellow daisies, in keeping with the flower child that I've always aspired to be. Maddy Dodge's hat was pink with purple leopard spots and was so her that the two of us together couldn't stop giggling. The evening was finished with voices lifted in song in the pagan-bastardized version of "God rest ye merry gentleman" followed by feasting. All-in-all it was quite a good night and there was much rejoicing.