… from Shambala.
Solstice greetings…
Dearest Shambalista’s
Tis the shortest day and the longest night of the year, an auspicious day of great importance to many cultures worldwide. Just in case you’re interested, here’s a few facts to tickle your day: The Saami, indigenous people of Finland, Sweden and Norway, will be worshiping Beiwe, the sun-goddess of fertility and sanity.
If you lived in the seventh century Japan, you might be celebrating Amateras, the sun goddess of Japanese mythology, from her seclusion in a cave.
The Festival of the Sun, a religious ceremony of the Inca Empire in honour of the sun god takes place today, as does Makara Sankranti, a Hindu festival celebrated by taking dips in rivers and offering water to the Sun God to purify the self and bestow good karma. In other Indian states, families will be flying colourful kites from their roofs all day and into the night.
In Sweden and many surrounding parts of Europe, ancient tribes celebrate a Midvinterblot or the mid-winter-sacrifice, featuring both animal and human sacrifice (maybe not today!).
So on this day of the victory of light over darkness, we move into a long and joyous journey toward Summer and Shambala 2011, but in the meantime, Happy Christmas, New Year and may the force be with you….
Happy Winter Solstice to you all.
