Winter Solstice: A Fresh New Year in the Deadest of Seasons

Greetings, Gifted Reader!

A lot of you are probably celebrating Christmas today, but for those like me it’s just a part of the Winter Solstice season. This is a time when the earth tilts in rotation so that we are farthest from the Sun. Therefore, pretty things like flowers cease to grow and trees lose their beautiful leaves. This is a time of death.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice

http://www.crystalinks.com/wintersolstice.html

It’s been said that in the old days, humans grew fearful during Winter Solstice as each day became shorter and darkness enveloped them for longer periods of time. Plunged into colder, sunless days, they were terrified the world was coming to an end. Huddled together in hibernation, they would emerge once they realized the days were growing longer and the sun shone brightly again. That’s when they celebrated with feasts and festivities.

Besides observing religious beliefs at this time of year, many cultures around the world also acknowledge the Winter Solstice with social events. And, the tales of the Sun’s return are many. For one, the Japanese tell a story about Amaterasu, the sun goddess, who hid in a cave until she was tricked into emerging and bringing the warm light back with her.

Another interesting phenomenon this time of the year is the celebration of New Year’s during the bleakest, darkest period on earth. Because of powerful men in high places, we live by a calendar that doesn’t always sync with Nature. Obviously, the beginning of life starts in spring, and in Astrology the New Year begins with the sign Aries.

The Sun in Capricorn (December 21-January 20) is a weird time to be celebrating a New Year since its Saturn ruler is harsh and restrictive. Do you recall that Saturn ate his own children? Not exactly a bright and sunny disposition--that one. Again, death.

Among Chinese and other Asian ethnicities, the New Year is calculated by the position of the Moon. The upcoming Lunar New Year of the Rabbit (or Cat in Japan) will be celebrated on February 3. 

Gypsy Stars is at work now creating a new line of t-shirts for you.

 Regardless of your personal beliefs, it’s safe to say that Nature always gets her way. Please be respectful and don’t eat Her animals.

Due to an unbelievably hectic schedule, Gypsy Stars is now moving to a once mid-month posting. Look for our return on January 15.

Until next year, leaving you with good luck, light and love.

Gypsy Stars

Animal Spirits: Do Dogs Dream?

Greetings, Gifted Reader!

How do you feel about animals? Do you believe they have to ability to think? And, if so, do you believe they dream like humans do? Have you ever watched your pet sleeping when s/he suddenly began twitching or whimpering? Did it make you wonder if s/he was having a nightmare about being chased, or upset about not getting his or her favorite treat?

I consider myself to be a true animal lover—I don’t eat them, or wear them, nor do I hold them prisoner in my home and call them pets.

At least, I don’t anymore.

But once upon a time, I was the owner of a gentle feline named RastaFari. That’s him in the photo above and, no, that is not a spike going through his cheek, but just him leaning against the porch railing and yawning. When Rasta was still a tiny kitten, he was run over by a van (that drove off without stopping) and was forever scarred—having lost one testicle, some intestines, and the use of his right front paw (see how he holds it in the pix?). Still, the boy had spirit. Not only did Rasta refuse to allow a paralyzed paw keep him from fighting raccoons in the backyard, but he wouldn’t back down from any other animal—cat or dog--either. The only thing Rasta couldn’t do was climb trees or my kitchen countertops, which I thought was a good thing. Being a tommish boy, Rasta loved nothing more than running around in the woods chasing something, but whenever he came home he was contemplative and sweet. I even taught him to sit and shake hands! And, Rasta never once scratched me. Sometimes, when I was feeling especially down, he’d sit in front of me and stare as if he could read my mind. During cold winters, he would lie in front of the portable heater for hours. Sometimes, when I touched his thick fur, it would feel like it was on fire. Yes, RastaFari was special and we had a deep connection that transcended animal/human relationships. I’d had other pets before, both dogs and cats, but none of them formed that exceptional bond with me that Rasta and I had. Unfortunately, I had to move away and was unable to bring Rasta into my new life, but I think of him often and wonder if he ever misses me.

In medieval European folklore, animals that were thought to assist Wiccans and magicians were called “familiars”. The image of a witch riding a broomstick with a cat is, pardon the pun, a familiar depiction from that period.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Familiar_spirit

Of course, lots of other cultures also have stories of animals that assist humans, especially when that human is in peril. In Japan, a raccoon dog named Tanuki, with gigantic testicles that he sometimes throws over his shoulders, is often portrayed as a Shinto priest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanuki

In other parts of the world, animals are always significant to shamans. Native Hawai’ians teach that their ancestors or ‘aumakua are sharks. Interestingly, it’s been reported that no Native Hawai’ian has ever been bitten by one.

http://tribes.tribe.net/hooponopono/thread/c7d805c2-acff-4e48-870c-1157e1b8ea54

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aumakua

And, of course, many American Indigenous carved animal totems.

So, who is your familiar? Drop a line to gypsystars@me.com and let us know.

Thank you, author George Patton, for another wonderful blog idea. That’s George’s familiar, Midnight, pictured sideways. She is after all magical and her master, George, knows all about magicians—having penned Black Jack, a novel about his great uncle Herman (see below).

Hey, readers. Don’t forget you can connect with Gypsy Stars on Facebook and join The Urban Goddess where we promote your metaphysical business.

And, we have T-zing t-shirts for you.

Until next time, leaving you with good luck, light and love.

Gypsy Stars