Suppose we have been within the White Mountains of Arizona for this shot of Mesa on his throne.
Sure, I do know, not fairly. Gentle remedy lamps are best when used at eye degree or above. Therefore the jury rig with my stool for step-ups. Additionally meant for use very first thing within the morning whereas one is sipping a big mug of inexperienced tea and a smaller certainly one of espresso.
I’m going via intervals of winter blues once in a while. Fortunately, by no means SAD. Good grief. Anyway, I bought a Verilux HappyLight, 10,000 lux. Find it irresistible. Don’t know if it really works on winter blues however that in-your-face brilliant gentle within the morning certain is a constructive jolt for the day. It’s a keeper.
As you recognize, the winter solstice is my favourite day of the 12 months, the earth’s new 12 months. It’s pure, easy, significant. Been celebrated for a very long time.
Right here’s some historic textual content.
“People could have noticed the winter solstice as early as Neolithic interval—the final a part of the Stone Age, starting about 10,200 BC.
Neolithic monuments, comparable to Newgrange in Eire and Maeshowe in Scotland, are aligned with dawn on the winter solstice. Some archaeologists have theorized that these tomb-like constructions served a non secular objective by which Stone Age folks held rituals to seize the solar on the 12 months’s shortest day.
Stonehenge, which is oriented towards the winter solstice sundown, may have been a spot of December rituals for Stone Age folks.
“The traditional Norsemen of Scandinavia celebrated Xmas from the winter solstice via January.
In recognition of the return of the solar, fathers and sons would convey dwelling massive logs, which grew to become often known as Xmas logs. They might set one finish of those logs on fireplace. The folks would feast till the log burned out, which might take as many as 12 days.
“The Inca Empire payed homage to the solar god Inti at a winter solstice celebration known as Inti Raymi (Quechua for “solar competition”). In Peru, like the remainder of the Southern Hemisphere, the winter solstice takes place in June.
The Incas fasted for 3 days earlier than the solstice. Earlier than daybreak on the day of solstice, they went to a ceremonial plaza and waited for the dawn. When it appeared, they crouched down earlier than it, providing golden cups of chicha (a sacred beer made out of fermented corn). Animals—together with llamas—have been sacrificed throughout the ceremony, and the Incas used a mirror to focus the solar’s rays and kindle a fireplace.
“The Chinese language celebration of the winter solstice, Dong Zhi (which suggests “Winter Arrives”) welcomes the return of longer days and the corresponding enhance in constructive vitality within the 12 months to come back.
“In Japan, the winter solstice is much less a competition than a standard follow centered on beginning the brand new 12 months with well being and good luck. It’s a very sacred time of the 12 months for farmers, who welcome the return of a solar that can nurture their crops after the lengthy, chilly winter.
After which there’s the Native Individuals
For the Zuni, one of many Native American Pueblo peoples in western New Mexico, the winter solstice signifies the start of the 12 months. It’s marked with a ceremonial dance known as Shalako.
After fasting, prayer and observing the rising and setting of the solar for a number of days earlier than the solstice, the Pekwin, or “Solar Priest” historically broadcasts the precise second of itiwanna, the rebirth of the solar, with an extended, mournful name.
With that sign, the rejoicing and dancing start, as 12 kachina clowns in elaborate masks dance together with the Shalako themselves—12-foot-high effigies with fowl heads, seen as messengers from the gods. After 4 days of dancing, new dancers are chosen for the next 12 months, and the yearly cycle begins once more.
Just like the Zuni, the Hopi in Northern Arizona have fun the winter solstice with the same ritual. Within the Hopi solstice celebration of Soyal, the Solar Chief takes on the duties of the Zuni Pekwin, saying the setting of the solar on the solstice. An all-night ceremony then begins, together with kindling fires, dancing and generally gift-giving.
Historically, the Hopi sun-watcher was not solely essential to the winter solstice custom, as his commentary of the solar additionally ruled the planting of crops and the observance of Hopi ceremonies and rituals all 12 months lengthy.”
Recall that I talked a bit about these three tribes on the January 2012 web page, solstice and silver jewellery of the southwest Indians.
I’ve at all times loved the film ‘Footloose,’ in addition to the re-make. Not too long ago I watched the top dances from each films on YouTube and clicked on a hyperlink to “’Footloose’ – Dancing In The Motion pictures.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rLhJZTHYo4
A six minute video of unique, brief dancing clips from broadway reveals and flicks, largely outdated, black and white, 50’s and 60’s synced to the music of Footloose. Ginger Rogers & Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Danny Kaye, I believe Shirley Temple, Charlie Chaplin, Ann Margret, Patrick Swayze (Soiled Dancing) and plenty of extra. Properly carried out.
Undoubtedly a morning choose me up.
Are you sufficiently old to recollect calling a good friend and having to ask for her?
Or, the satisfaction of being chosen to go exterior to mud the erasers?
The ball is in your court docket. Choose it up.
November sixty minutes sixty years1810 minutes
November Triple 18higher:1800; core: 1900; legs: 1800
compassionating, idle, unitary…each out and in of the sport
and watching and questioning at all of it.”
Walt Whitman
