The Winter Solstice, a Time for Reflection: Christmas
By looking at this picture, all that comes to mind, is the symbolic meeting of the planets at certain positions, according to Astrology in the Northern Hemisphere. And according to the times we are navigating through right now, that is the Winter Solstice on the 21st, follow on the 23rd with a new moon in Capricorn. Capricorn is an earth sign govern by Saturn, and it is the number ten sign.
We are still navigating through the energy of Sagittarius, that is govern by Jupiter. Sagittarius is the number nine sign, nine equal completion. The energy from Sagittarius is expansive and exploring. It is an energy that goes beyond all that we can handle. It is an energy that vibrate at the frequency of ten, that is a perfect number expressing incessant equilibrium, will power, and supremacy. Sagittarius is the third and last of the fire triplicity, and it rule law and religion. It rules justice; judgements, and truth. With all these being the facts, there is no doubt that Jupiter is a supreme leader in the universe.
Throughout the year, we go as if with a dance with the sun, and especially now during the Winter Solstice, that is a time where a sudden shift of energy occurs. And it has to do with the earth energy pulling in. This is a time of hibernation for the earth, where she would give+ and save all the seeds of creation during the Winter so they would burst around the Spring Equinox next year.
It is a time at this part of the world where everything is as in a stillness. A stillness where the sun and the gods+ the stars are begging us reflect on our passed actions, and as well reflecting on what we want creating for the New Year ahead. What they are really aiming is for us be the light while there is darkness in the world. Bring the light while the creative energy travels for three days from the 22nd to the 24th of December to the darkest place, separating the sheep from the goats. This is a tough time for spirit; a time of tormented anguish.
This is a time for manifesting the light within; the Christ light within. Time for expanding the Christ consciousness. Time for peace within. Time for praying+ and lighting candles as rituals for our Father Mother God, and all the gods that wish assisting us developing our highest potential. It is time for lighting our very own Christmas tree that is within our very own body. This is a time for initiation.
So this picture to me is symbolizing the female aspect of the moon, and or the female aspect of earth holding a new born baby as anticipating what is coming in Spring. Or it well could represents the birthday of the Sun symbolized as a Baby that according to Western astrology his birthday falls on the 25th of December every year.= Baby Jesus= the baby that can swim; the baby that shines like a Sun. And the males and females around her could symbolize planets Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, and Mercury making sure the plan goes as it is written. And I forgot mentioning the bull, this represent the sign of Taurus representing earth, monetary system, and family.= Spring= Easter,+ children+ family gathering+ gifts sharing. And the baby goats on the floor represents all those cells that could not make it into a human body this time. So this picture is focusing in two timelines at the same time. Interesting I must say. Regardless, at any time of the year when a baby is born, it is symbolic and factual bring gifts to the baby, the mother, and even family members, and even if it is a baby Sun, we do the same, too. And we do get gifts on birthdays, is it not?
The thing is that when the sun is in Scorpio and Sagittarius, that is when all the heavenly dignitaries starts cleaning up what no longer serve so they can make room for the new. And then in Capricorn hibernation starts, and then in Spring the creation renews again. However, you might be thinking, and what about Christmas celebration? Well, it seems that Christmas is something very personal. It is a journey actually. And it is a collective journey as well. It is something very profound that touches the hearts, souls, and minds of everyone during this time of the year. It is a time when we feel a sense of unity. A sense of unity with our family, friends, and as well with the infinite. It is a time when we feel sharing, and or giving, and or helping those that are in needs; and or spending time with those we respect and honor. And it is also a time for us lighting up green trees with colorful lights symbolizing, the Festival of Light within our hearts! And it is also a time when Santa= God Saturn, Or was it God Jupiter Jesus, inspired for an old man with a white beard and wearing a red suit, and with a huge bag on his back carrying gifts for everyone during a time when we all are going through a time of stillness, and uncertainty. Perhaps with this suggestion of giving and or sharing gifts, it would give us a more profound sense of unity, and enlightenment. Brilliant!
It is written that in ancient days, someone started celebrating Christmas the wrong way, where there people got drunk, and with fancy feast; and even did sacrifices to the gods. However, when someone offered sacrifices to the gods as that of animals and humans, the gods call upon stopping this immediately, and offer instead to the gods, flowers, candles, and or fire rituals with fragrances of flowers; incense, and or some cooked food as chickpeas, and or rice, etc. However, some very ignorant people did not paid attention.
And in Ancient civilizations there it was a festival call the Saturnalia Festival. And we read:
Saturnalia is an ancient Roman festival and holiday in honour of the god Saturn, held on 17 December of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through to 23 December. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn, in the Roman Forum, and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was permitted, and masters provided table service for their slaves as it was seen as a time of liberty for both slaves and freedmen alike.[1] A common custom was the election of a “King of the Saturnalia”, who gave orders to people, which were followed and presided over the merrymaking. The gifts exchanged were usually gag gifts or small figurines made of wax or pottery known as sigillaria. The poet Catullus called it “the best of days”.[2]
Saturnalia was the Roman equivalent to the earlier Greek holiday of Kronia, which was celebrated during the Attic month of Hekatombaion in late midsummer. It held theological importance for some Romans, who saw it as a restoration of the ancient Golden Age, when the world was ruled by Saturn. The Neoplatonistphilosopher Porphyry interpreted the freedom associated with Saturnalia as symbolizing the “freeing of souls into immortality”. Saturnalia may have influenced some of the customs associated with later celebrations in western Europe occurring in midwinter, particularly traditions associated with Christmas, the Feast of the Holy Innocents, and Epiphany. In particular, the historical western European Christmas custom of electing a “Lord of Misrule” may have its roots in Saturnalia celebrations.
In Roman mythology, Saturn was an agricultural deity who was said to have reigned over the world in the Golden Age, when humans enjoyed the spontaneous bounty of the earth without labour in a state of innocence. The revelries of Saturnalia were supposed to reflect the conditions of the lost mythical age. The Greek equivalent was the Kronia,[3]which was celebrated on the twelfth day of the month of Hekatombaion,[4][3] which occurred from around mid-July to mid-August on the Attic calendar.[3][4] The Greek writer Athenaeus also cites numerous other examples of similar festivals celebrated throughout the Greco-Roman world,[5] including the Cretan festival of Hermaia in honor of Hermes, an unnamed festival from Troezen in honor of Poseidon, the Thessalian festival of Peloria in honor of Zeus Pelorios, and an unnamed festival from Babylon.[5] He also mentions that the custom of masters dining with their slaves was associated with the Athenian festival of Anthesteria and the Spartan festival of Hyacinthia.[5] The Argive festival of Hybristica, though not directly related to the Saturnalia, involved a similar reversal of roles in which women would dress as men and men would dress as women.[5]
The ancient Roman historian Justinus credits Saturn with being a historical king of the pre-Roman inhabitants of Italy:
The first inhabitants of Italy were the Aborigines, whose king, Saturnus, is said to have been a man of such extraordinary justice, that no one was a slave in his reign, or had any private property, but all things were common to all, and undivided, as one estate for the use of every one; in memory of which way of life, it has been ordered that at the Saturnalia slaves should everywhere sit down with their masters at the entertainments, the rank of all being made equal.
Although probably the best-known Roman holiday, Saturnalia as a whole is not described from beginning to end in any single ancient source. Modern understanding of the festival is pieced together from several accounts dealing with various aspects.[7] The Saturnalia was the dramatic setting of the multivolume work of that name by Macrobius, a Latin writer from late antiquity who is the major source for information about the holiday. Macrobius describes the reign of Justinus’ “king Saturn” as “a time of great happiness, both on account of the universal plenty that prevailed and because as yet there was no division into bond and free – as one may gather from the complete license enjoyed by slaves at the Saturnalia.”[8] In Lucian‘s Saturnalia it is Chronos himself who proclaims a “festive season, when ’tis lawful to be drunken, and slaves have license to revile their lords”.[9]
In one of the interpretations in Macrobius’s work, Saturnalia is a festival of light leading to the winter solstice, with the abundant presence of candles symbolizing the quest for knowledge and truth.[10] The renewal of light and the coming of the new year was celebrated in the later Roman Empire at the Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, the “Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun”, on 25 December.[11]
The popularity of Saturnalia continued into the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, and as the Roman Empire came under Christian rule, many of its customs were recast into or at least influenced the seasonal celebrations surrounding Christmas and the New Year.
Happy Holidays Everyone.
Related:
http://www.freeport1953.com/wt1p/healthy-tips-for-people-with-serious-diseases/
http://www.freeport1953.com/wt1p/the-winter-solstice-a-time-for-reflection-christmas/ = This posting
~LFabre