My family and I celebrate a Pagan Xmas; a time of shamanic ritual. Winter solstice(the elevated position of the sun), December 21-22, is the day of the year with the shortest daytime and the longest nighttime…it nourishes hope… for the return of the Sun. “It breaks up the cloudy skies; and lightens up the cloudy darkness of the human mind. It yields her light to the other stars-shining, exceptional, seeing and hearing everything…(Pliny the Elder, Naturkunde II, 13).”
Without the Sun there would be no life. Consequently, on December 25 this light’ begins to grow…thus, the Rebirth of the Sun…
The most important source of information on sun rites from antiquity is the book About Isis and Osiris by the Greek philosopher Plutarch (circa 46-119 ce). Plutarch, a priest of Delphi, was intimately acquainted with the holy rites of Apollo and Helios and initiated into the mysteries of Isis and Osiris. Here, he writes about the original Egyptian ritual:
Around the time of the Winter Solstice, they carry a cow seven times around the sun temple, and this walk is called the visit to Osiris…One had to walk seven times around the temple, because the sun finishes its walk from the winter to summer solstice in the seventh month. Horus, the son of Isis, is supposed to have made a sacrifice to Helios on the fourth day of the month, as in the book called Birthday to Horus. To make an incense offering to Helios three times a day, offer resin at dusk, myrrh at midday, and so-called kyphi at dawn…These are believed to show favor to Helios and the serve him (Plutarch 1850, 93f).
The Hellenized word kyphi means “incense substance.” Incense was considered “the divine maker” in Egypt because it was supposed to sanctify the environment when burned. Kyphi was the “favorite dish” of the sun god. The Egyptian Papyrus Ebers, the oldest existing medical text (written around 1553-1550 bce), states:
Kyphi is used to make the house or clothes smell more pleasant: Dried myrrh, juniper berries,
incense, spruse, aloewood, sebet-resin, calmus from Thailand (in Asia), inekkun-corns, mastic,
and juice from the niiuben tree {styrax} are ground, combined, and put on the fire (Papyrus
Ebers, XCVIII).

This is the time of year for the element of earth, winter. It is the time of year when elements give the impression that they are dormant. However, through this visible dormancy inner growth is happening. It is during the winter when seeds lie congealed inside mother earth and take into themselves all of her vigor that enables them to thrive in the days that follow. It is during winter solstice that most of us look and feel compelled to take into ourselves the insight of the Consciousness we will use as we proceed with our experience with regards to the wheel.
Now is the time of decelerating, of evident limitation, when external functioning undeniably decreases. Here is the time of shadows,silence, and dreams. This is a point in time when individuals tend to recollect and from their recollections impart the wisdom they have acquired. It is a time of evaluating achievements and endeavors and of planning for the foremost giveaway of dying and of delivery. It is a moment in time when many individuals come to an awareness of their personal life, and acknowledgment of what they have or not achieved. It is time of tranquility, and a time of strength, a time of forgiveness and graciousness for all around you. It’s a time to end old practice, to submit to the slight transformations of body and mind in measure for the important shifts that will come.
This is also true in a person’s life. Our Consciousness, our energy levels goes to an environment that prepares us for the new start to come. The foremost principle is that of the giveaway..understanding that the greater we bestow the more we have attainable. It is a good time to take a look at our lives, to think about the paradoxes of life. It is a good opportunity to take into account inquiries of life and death and to look at your thoughts toward both. It is a time to understand tolerance. This is actually the position of physiological healing, where we come to give thanks for mending what has transpired and to request remedy that is essential for ourselves and for others.
May you be FULL of light…
CreoleMoon
References:
Pagan Christmas: The Plants, Spirits, and Rituals at the Orgins of Yuletide By Christian Ratsch and Claudia Muller-Ebeling