It is the longest night of the year. The Winter Solstice or as the Druids named it "The Light of Arthur" the time of death and rebirth. At one point in his life King Arthur pulled the sword out of the stone and Camelot was born. Later, he stuck it back in and we've been waiting on Camelot ever since.
The sun, and the light in our lives, seems to be going away. The Druid prayer is "Cast away, O man and woman, whatever impedes the appearance of light." In the darkness, they believe that light will come again. A candle is lit symbolizing this belief ... Things will get better. It can't stay this bad.
Jews light Hanukkah candles.
Christians light Christmas Trees to chase the darkness away.
It's funny, Jesus was born in the Spring but the early Church knew that the Druids were onto something so ... to symbolize the "Light of the World" entering the Darkness and lighting our lives ... they moved his birthday to the Winter Solstice time.
All of that to say, I am sitting at the Breakfast Club with my friend Whitley sipping coffee. He looks at me and, "Tomorrow the days start getting longer."
I stop reading the Savannah Morning News and stare at him.
Politically, Whitley is far right of Attila the Hun and Ronald Reagan immediately assented to heaven prior to his death. That is normally what Whitely talks about. I ignore him most of the time (unless we're on our bicycles together ... then it is a different story).
Seeing my confused, questioning face, he says, "Today is Winter Solstice."
Who knew Whitley is a Druid?
For a lot of people I know, this year has sucked.
The economy remained in an Outhouse. Political leadership (an oxymoron!) got worse! Relationships went to hell. Jobs were lost. Everyone who had a certain amount set aside for retirement lost 40% of what they had. The rich got richer. The poor got poorer.
We talk about it we all so want better days ahead.
So ... Happy Winter Solstice. This is the end of the worse of it all. Arthur returns to the stone and pulls it out again. Camelot returns. The days grow longer and in the words of one of the greatest Hymns of all time ... "Here Comes the Sun."
The Druids did the funniest thing to express their convictions in believing that better days are upon us. On the darkest, longest and coldest night of the year ... they entered the woods, took off their clothes ... and danced.
Just like lighting the candle ... they showed what they believed in spite of the realities of what is around them.
I love the Druids.
Just like the Jews.
Just like the Christians.
And in my house, Goddess and I have the lit tree, lighted candles, and ... we dance.
