After reading Picidae's post, I had a look at the sunrise/sunset times for my area. Technically, our 'shortest days' were/are between 18th and 24th December when the hours between sunrise and sunset were/are exactly 7 hours. 8.43 am and 15.43 pm on the 18th, and 8.46 am and 15.46pm on the 24th. The 17th has an extra minute at sunrise, and the 25th has an extra minute at sunset. I suppose we tend to think it's one day only that's different, with the day before and after having extra daylight time. A whole extra minute - woo hoo!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Astronomy and mathematics are not my strong points I just enjoy the simple pleasures of seeing things that are easy for a layperson to see in the sky etc.:) And a full moon though lovely maybe not so good for viewing meteors as too bright?
I only saw glimpses of the moon here and there too due to rain and cloudiness. And the meteors too, never mind, though I do like to count how many wishing stars I see and lots of opportunity to make wishes when there are.
I wave to the space station too, thanks to the NASA Spot the station location site Valley Gardener that must be a nice sight if it is bright.
I've had this in my drafts for 3 years because I keep deciding that people won't like it. But I think it's beautiful so I'm going to post it.
_______________________________
Blessing for the Longest Night
All throughout these months as the shadows have lengthened, this blessing has been gathering itself, making ready, preparing for this night.
It has practiced walking in the dark, traveling with its eyes closed, feeling its way by memory by touch by the pull of the moon even as it wanes.
So believe me when I tell you this blessing will reach you even if you have not light enough to read it; it will find you even though you cannot see it coming.
You will know the moment of its arriving by your release of the breath you have held so long; a loosening of the clenching in your hands, of the clutch around your heart; a thinning of the darkness that had drawn itself around you.
This blessing does not mean to take the night away but it knows its hidden roads, knows the resting spots along the path, knows what it means to travel in the company of a friend.
So when this blessing comes, take its hand. Get up. Set out on the road you cannot see.
This is the night when you can trust that any direction you go, you will be walking toward the dawn.
My daughter is camped out in a shepherds hut at this moment,right near Stonehenge😊rather her than me, and yes shes Pagan. @LG_ I would like to send that to her,its beautiful.
The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
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Technically, our 'shortest days' were/are between 18th and 24th December when the hours between sunrise and sunset were/are exactly 7 hours. 8.43 am and 15.43 pm on the 18th, and 8.46 am and 15.46pm on the 24th.
The 17th has an extra minute at sunrise, and the 25th has an extra minute at sunset.
I suppose we tend to think it's one day only that's different, with the day before and after having extra daylight time.
A whole extra minute - woo hoo!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
And a full moon though lovely maybe not so good for viewing meteors as too bright?
I only saw glimpses of the moon here and there too due to rain and cloudiness.
And the meteors too, never mind, though I do like to count how many wishing stars I see and lots of opportunity to make wishes when there are.
I wave to the space station too, thanks to the NASA Spot the station location site
Valley Gardener that must be a nice sight if it is bright.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30549149
I'll get me coat...
I've had this in my drafts for 3 years because I keep deciding that people won't like it. But I think it's beautiful so I'm going to post it.
_______________________________
Blessing for the Longest Night
All throughout these months
as the shadows
have lengthened,
this blessing has been
gathering itself,
making ready,
preparing for
this night.
It has practiced
walking in the dark,
traveling with
its eyes closed,
feeling its way
by memory
by touch
by the pull of the moon
even as it wanes.
So believe me
when I tell you
this blessing will
reach you
even if you
have not light enough
to read it;
it will find you
even though you cannot
see it coming.
You will know
the moment of its
arriving
by your release
of the breath
you have held
so long;
a loosening
of the clenching
in your hands,
of the clutch
around your heart;
a thinning
of the darkness
that had drawn itself
around you.
This blessing
does not mean
to take the night away
but it knows
its hidden roads,
knows the resting spots
along the path,
knows what it means
to travel
in the company
of a friend.
So when
this blessing comes,
take its hand.
Get up.
Set out on the road
you cannot see.
This is the night
when you can trust
that any direction
you go,
you will be walking
toward the dawn.
© Jan Richardson
@LG_ I would like to send that to her,its beautiful.
https://youtu.be/XUzRoSwVjEE