A happy winter solstice.

Subject: A happy winter solstice.
From: harvey andrews
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 04:09 PM

To the sixteen per cent of us who have no religious beliefs, a happy winter solstice. From now on the light of day lengthens and soon the earth will stir with the first hints of Spring life.

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 04:31 PM

I have spiritual belief, Harvey and I love Solstice. I celebrate it much more than any other winter holiday. Thanks for the wishes, may your new year be of great benefit.

kat

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: harvey andrews
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 04:37 PM

Hijacked immediately!!
Cheers Kat.

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: CapriUni
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 05:25 PM

Not necessarily "hijacked," Harvey Andrews... She said "spiritual" --not religious. ;-)

But the neat thing about the Solstices [remember, it's the summer solstice south of the equator] is that they do exist independantly of any and all religious beliefs. Regardless of whether you believe in religion, and even regardless of whether you're human or not, the Solstices are an undenyable event, that can, if we let it, be a strong stone in the foundation of our common experience.

But for those of us in the north, remember:

"As the days begin to lengthen, the cold begins to strengthen"

So gather with you're family and friends, bask in the warmth of each other's company, and be more forgiving of each other.... it could be a long, cold winter cooped up inside, otherwise.

So I'll add my wishes here that this season (in the literal sense) be a joyous one for you and yours.

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: harvey andrews
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 05:41 PM

dictionary..
Religion "human recognition of superhuman controlling power.

Spiritual proceeding from God, divine.

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 05:57 PM

Having a spiritous holiday!

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: Lurcio
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 06:02 PM

Irrespective of beliefs, may you have
Love of family
Joy of life
Peace of spirit

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: Mrrzy
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 06:07 PM

And a very merry Solsice to you too! This is our first year of not doing Christmas, and it was great. Today I also got to drive through an absolute blizzard which never hit the ground - thanks, Mother Nature!

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 06:23 PM

Fine trolling, too!*bg* So sorry, Harvey.

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 06:27 PM

Here's to becoming spirituated!
Some lovely words in the dictionary.

Kat may prefer the sense of this definition:
"Belief in the existence and influence of spiritual beings.
The sense of spiritualism in its wider acceptation, the general doctrine of spiritual beings, is here given to Animism." Tylor, 1871 OED).

For Harvey (and all of us), may genetic research lead to a less pugnacious human animal before too many more solstices are come and gone. Till then, may you be spirituel!

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 06:33 PM

sixteen per cent? I'd have thought it was a whole lot higher than that.

I'm all for wishing according to your beliefs and traditions. So a Happy Christmas from me, and a Happy Winter Solstice to them as go in for that, and so on and so forth.

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: harvey andrews
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 07:15 PM

"Animism" attributing souls to plants!!
Oh, spare that sprout!

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 07:44 PM

"...And Mr Mick not only became a vegetarian, but at length declared vegetarianism doomed ('shedding', as he called it finely, 'the green blood of the silent animals'), and predicted that men in a better age would live on nothing but salt. And then came the pamphlet from Oregon (where the thing was tried), the pamphlet called 'Why should Salt suffer?' and there was more trouble..."

(From The Napoleon of Notting Hill by Chesterton.

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: CapriUni
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 08:12 PM

Well, actually, "Spirit" comes from the Latin for "To breathe" (which is also the same root behind "respiration" -- and "inspiration").

So, technically, you can still be "spiritual" without believing in anything supernatural (i.e. outside of the natural), and certainly without having to attatch any importance to any particular religious doctrine. All you have to do to fit that definition is to believe that all things that breathe (and plants breathe, too) share a connection to one another.

And technically, Animism also attribute souls to rocks and other geological formations, too -- not just plants.

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: Homeless
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 08:15 PM

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

As well, please enjoy a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2003, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great, (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only "America" in the western hemisphere), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform, or sexual preference of the wishee.

By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 08:46 PM

Of course the rocks speak! Most of the history of the planet is within them.

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: JennyO
Date: 24 Dec 02 - 10:42 PM

Yes, everything has a soul. We are all connected.

But some don't understand!

"I talk to the trees,
That's why they put me away"
(Spike milligan)

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 25 Dec 02 - 12:00 AM

happy winter holiday to every body.john

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Dec 02 - 12:08 AM

What CapriUni and Homeless said! And, thanks Guest,Q for the definition!:-)

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 25 Dec 02 - 12:55 AM

Looking up Santa Clause (lawyers' spelling) I found this succinct statement in an old Chamber's Encyclopaedia: "The winter solstice was regarded as the birthday of the sun, and at Rome 25 Dec. was observed as a pagan festival of the nativity of sol invictus. The church, unable to stamp out this popular festival, spiritualized it as the feast of the Nativity of the Sun of Righteousness.--- When Christianity spread northwards, it encountered--- the great Yule-feast of the Norsemen. Once again, Christmas absorbed heathen customs."
Queen Charlotte introduced the Christmas tree, from Germany, to England.

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 25 Dec 02 - 05:19 AM

Harvey - Celebrate whatever you wish, for whichever reason, but I wish you an enjoyable day. May it be a special one!
Quack!!!!
Geoff the Duck!

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: *daylia*
Date: 25 Dec 02 - 05:26 AM

A happy solstice to you too Harvey! May your days be merry and bright...

daylia

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: harvey andrews
Date: 25 Dec 02 - 05:27 AM

Well, that was fun. In the words of John Lennon "A Happy Chrimble to you all"

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: Lanfranc
Date: 25 Dec 02 - 06:14 AM

There is every reason for us to need cheering up around the Winter Solstice, especially this year. Despite being one of the 16 per cent, may I, in the words of the Christian tradition, wish one and all..

"Peace on earth, goodwill to all men"

A vain hope, but heartfelt.

Now back to the single malt, my chosen water of life for this season.

Alan

Subject: RE: A happy winter solstice.
From: hesperis
Date: 25 Dec 02 - 08:04 AM

I was out of town over the solstice, but had a really beautiful one. Hope everyone else did, too.