Winter Soltice, Lunar Eclipse, Full Moon, and a plain good time

I'm back just a while ago from a great lunch and communion of friendship. A group of women got together to celebrate the Winter Solstice. If you don't know the history of this seasonal mile marker, read a short story here, or google it and read as much as you want. I'll tell you a bit about our own observation.

We were a diverse group in all ways ranging from retirees older than myself to women in their 40s; clinical therapists and artists, nurses and massage therapists, a psychic and an animal trainer; one woman was Wicca, another followed Celtic and Cherokee spirituality, a retired Christian minister. One thing we had in common was our desire to honor the Solstice by supporting each other in releasing that which is holding us down or back in the past year, letting it die and cease to take refuge inside us, then to claim the new beginning and affirm our purpose for growth and rebirth in the new year. What a wonderful, refreshing and non-threatening couple of hours!

In the last few days, it became evident to me that I have a lot of bottled emotions that I'm needing to release and relinquish, and this was the perfect time and place for that. It's been a rough year. It still is! But I feel more focused and free, having the opportunity to "lay it on the table," so to speak. Today was not a "gut spilling," at all. But I wrote down the events and emotions that have taken an uncomfortable hold on me, a way of acknowledging them and then owning them before making a conscious decision to release the ones that are holding me down. What a fabulous feeling to turn them loose!

It was rather emotional for several of us. When you live alone there is a tendency to store up emotional stuff. It is very different from having someone significant in your life, a spouse or full time mate, someone who knows you so well that you almost don't have to say "whatever" out loud. When you're a single, you feel you don't want to burden others with your junk. It's silly, but it is how it goes. So having a circle of friends like this gives me a refuge to say and do what I must about what is weighing me down. So wonderful!

We had a discussion about the Lunar Eclipse taking place tonight. I'm staying up to see it. Are you?  It's not often that the winder solstice and the full moon happen together, and to happen with a lunar eclipse, also, is really rare. The combination of Lunar Eclipse and Winter solstice occurring together last happened in 1638. We won't see this again, folks, so get out there tonight! If you want to know the time in your area, check here.

After our ceremony we had a wonderful potluck and spent time talking and just having a good time together. Lawdy, what good food! I took a wild rice and vegetable casserole that was drop dead delicious! Something I'd never made before, so I just started throwing this and that and something else in the bowl, and it turned out amazingly good! The trouble is .... I don't think I can replicate it, because I just went wild with spices and herbs! Oh, well!

Finally, a bit ago I looked out and saw a gorgeous sunset in the Southeast. Yes, I said sunSET in the southEAST. It is a refracted sunset, but still breathtaking. Look at this ....

Mmmmmm. A near perfect day.  :)