dragonsmeet

To complement my ‘other half’s’ posting earlier today – The Eight Corners of the Year – on his blog (http://simonhlilly.com). Here is an explanation of the energies during the solar cycle.

This diagram shows the energy flow around those 8 times in the year that are celebrated in many communities.

We are now at the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere (20th/21st December). This is one of two times in the year when the Sun ‘stands still’ in relation to the places where the Sun rises and sets, from the Earth’s viewpoint. Many sacred sites are linked into the solstice alignments – Stonehenge and Newgrange being the two most well-known. The summer solstice (northern hemisphere) is the 20th/21st June. As the name ‘sol’/’stice’ suggests, energy ‘stands still’ too, so represent times for consolidation, integration, reflection – any in many cultures – celebration! The solstices occur at the same dates in the southern hemisphere, but the seasons are reversed.

The two equinoxes – spring and autumn (again reversed in the southern hemisphere) – represent times of the year when energy is moving very fast. These times can be used to makes changes – if you can catch the moment – or simply experience the speed of events.

In the northern hemisphere, following the winter solstice – about 6 weeks after – we have Imbolc (2nd February), one of the 4 fire festivals marking the quarter-days of the Celtic calendar. 6 weeks after the spring equinox there is Beltane, following the summer solstice there is Lammas and after the autumn equinox there is Samhain/Hallows Eve.

These quarter days have energies linked to them that can be harnessed by us. the energy flow is not too fast and is not stationary. These quarterdays are therefore often linked to celebrations of achievement, the past or provide easy access to subtle energies.

Happy Solstice!