One of the constant companions in my soul work throughout the year is my Moon Mná Diary Journal, created by Karen Ward and Bernie Sexton.
This beautifully designed Diary-Journal has 272 pages with lots to read – practical tips, inspiring women’s stories, Irish language proverbs, quotes and affirmations, as well as 12 mindful colouring-in pages. I was delighted when Karen asked me to contribute a short piece to the 2018 edition. As a graduate of Karen's Moon Mná Women's Celtic Circle facilitation program, I was honoured and, of course, contributed! The 2018 is now available to order and can be shipped worldwide! Click HERE to order your copy today!
|
This festive season is a time for Celebration: the end of the calendar year, with much to be grateful for. Even in difficult times, there is always something for which we are thankful: friendships, family, new possibilities, and more. It is a time to light candles, share gifts and tasty treats with friends and family, remind ourselves of the importance of Joy and celebrate our very existence and all that WE have birthed throughout our lifetime. What are YOU celebrating this year? Some of my pagan ancestors celebrated the Solstice with the dual aspects of the Oak King and the Holly King, dual aspects of the Horned God. At Yule (Winter Solstice), we welcome the rebirth of the Sun (the Oak King) and at Litha (Summer Solstice), the Holly King reigns supreme. But for many it was a celebration of the return of light, a successful harvest and the promises of a new year. And this was not a one day event. No, they celebrated for 12 days. No work was done during this time and eventually these days of celebration merged into many Christian traditions, such as the 12 Days of Christmas. In contemporary Christian tradition, these days of celebration often start on Christmas Eve (also known as Mother's Night), ending at Epiphany on January 6th, also celebrated in some parts of Ireland and Great Britain as Nollaig na mBan (Women's Little Christmas in Irish Gaelic). There is some evidence that each day of the twelve was marked with a special significance, beginning on the First Day of Solstice (also known as Mother's Night) and ending on Yule Night. You could use the 12 days quite simply, perhaps as a reflection of each of the previous twelve months or to look forward to the coming twelve months. |
![]() The Sunrise at Newgrange in Ireland on Winter Solstice.
|
The Winter and Summer Solstices mark turning points in the year and each contains the seed of the opposite Solstice, each the complementary Yin and Yang of Daghda, Father Sun. Both are celebrated with Fire. . . and perhaps a plea to the Sun to stay with us a little longer? At Yule, the Winter Solstice, we experience the shortest day and the longest night. Mama Earth in deep rest and stillness, the harvest complete. From that point, Father Sun is waxing, the days begin to lengthen, heralding the coming Spring and Summer. At Litha, Summer Solstice, we have the longest day and the shortest night. Glorious summer — the peak of energy, Mama Earth blooming and growing. And from that point, Father Sun begins his waning cycle, the days get slightly shorter and we know that the first harvests of Autumn are coming. “Light though thou be, thou leapest out of darkness; but I am darkness leaping out of light, leaping out of thee!”
— Herman Melville, Moby Dick
On Solstice, I reflect on my own light and my own darkness.
|
And there are many other ways to celebrate the New Moon, the new lunar journey. For instance, I start many new herbal medicines at the New Moon, to use La Luna's rising energy to extract as much as possible from the plant.
You could also:
|
What else can you do at the Full Moon?
Remember that the Full Moon energy is with us 2-3 days either side of the actual Full Moon, so there is plenty of time to fit in any of these activities. If you are a solitary practitioner:
|
The Sacred Circle, by Lisbeth Cheever-Gessaman
|