Warriors of the Winter Solstice

Photo by Toni Josephson

In astronomy, the seasons move in celestial cycles. As the earth rotates around the sun, it also spins on its own axis, which tilts towards the plane of its rotation (about 23.5 degrees). The northern hemisphere receives less direct sunlight. Days of less and less light, moving towards the rebirth of winter and a new year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, unmoving on the horizon (solstice translates from Latin sol “sun” & stice “standing still”). The northern hemisphere experiences its annual winter solstice. This marks the shortest day. It is also the longest night. Then, the sun will again ascend in the northern sky as the days begin to grow longer.

It is the Earth returning to light.

During the longest night of the year it is a time for illumination. Turn on a lamp, light candles, build fires…create sparks to ignite the human spirit. There is something to look forward to after all the darkness. The sun, from its lowest point, will follow night and make its way back up into the northern sky. The long, dark hours have passed. There will be a little more light every day.

The martial artist prepares for the challenges of the darkness. The Evolving Martial Artist also primes for battle — but understands that from the depths of the blackness (like the longest day of the year) we are moving closer to the light of spring.

The Winter Solstice arrives 12:47 PM EST on December 21, 2009

Toni Josephson