Hail the Winter Solstice

The winter solstice (December 21 and 22nd) is the shortest day of the year and the celebration of Alban Arthan/ Yule, which symbolize the renewal of light through the dark winter.

Alban Arthan is Welsh meaning *Light of Winter," or a poetic meaning, "Light of Arthur." It is a celebration of the return of the Divine Child, the Mabon, and the rebirth of the golden solstice Sun that will bring back the warmth, light, and life to the Earth again. This celebration is signified by the Yule log. Traditionally, logs are burned in a central fireplace, and the log must come from one's own land or be a gift, but not bought. It is ignited with a remaining piece of last year's Yule log, thus passing Light from one year to another. The log is burned slowly for 12 days in the fireplace before being extinguished and its ashes are stowed away til springtime then mixed with seeds and spread over the fields symbolizing the power of the Sun.

In Druid tradition, the Alban Arthan represents  the battle between the Oak King, or Divine Child (God of waxing Light) and the Holly King, or Dark Lord(God of waning Light), in which the Oak King wins and rules until he is defeated by the Holly King at the time of the summer solstice. Furthermore, the cauldron of Dagda, symbolizing the promise that nature will bear fruit and care for all living beings on Earth, and Brighid, the bearer of the flame of inspiration, that penetrates the mind and soul, like the Sun that gives rebirth to the light and penetrates the darkest time of the year, reign upon the winter solstice.

Yule decorations are that of mistletoe, holly and evergreens which are displayed upon houses symbolizing that new life will return in the spring. Rituals are performed with candles to symbolize the birth of the new Sun. This is also a time of celebration, feasting, and rejoicing in the promise of a new Sun and the coming of Summer.

To All Warm Blessings,

Wayne the Bard

Litha 2017

We hail to Midsummer, the Summer Solstice, also known as Litha or Alban Hefin. Where the sun reaches its zenith creating the longest day. A worship of the sun and all of its glory before the days become shorter on their journey toward the Winter Solstice.

Litha is a day of sun worship and the Sun God who's element is Fire, displayed in all its radiant colors of red, yellow, orange and gold. It's ruled by the Holly King who re-battles and slays his twin, the Oak King, and it's a time of celebrating the power of the sun and riches of the earth.

Litha should be enjoyed in the basking sun. A festival with nature and homage to life in general. No matter how you celebrate Litha, take the time to feel the power of the sun, its energy and the positive light it emits.Remember to pick your herbs today and create a bonfire or two.

Blessed Litha to All

Accolades

Every writer strives for perfection. A chance to be recognized for his/her work that they have toiled, rewritten, nit picked, edited, and sometimes stressed over.  Every writer is different in the way they handle both praise and rejection, and it doesn't make a difference whether  they are a novice or seasoned writer, so I can only speak for myself.

Recently, I submitted a short story on Hubpages, Elves-Faerys-Dwarves,Trolls,and the Thunder-Gods
I was later advised by the editorial team that my story has been elevated to one of Hubpages vertical sites, the Letter Pile, which only contains the best article, stories, etc. Of course, I was ecstatic and immediately spread the word in email and social media. I admit that I like to see my work in print (hard copy or digital) I get a feeling of accomplishment and happiness You would think after being a published writer that it would not be a big deal and I am sure for some it may not. But for me it's one of reasons that keeps me writing for with recognition come the comments of the readers which is the life blood of any writer. Knowing that you touched an emotion or reaction in somebody through your writing is in many ways beyond words.

So to those who read my story for the first time. I thank you and please comment in both the Letter Pile comment section and on this blog.

Enjoy the read.

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. A day to show love for those close to your heart.

Valentine's Day has it's legends since it's conception. Like a lot of our holidays, Valentine's Day started out as a pagan holiday, in this case it was the Roman festival of  fertility called Lupercalia which was held annually on February 15. Approximately around 496 Pope Gelsius I renamed to a Christian fest day called St. Valentine's Day ,named after one of the three Saint Valentines who were martyred  on February 14.

It was not until the 14th century that St. Valentine's Day became associated with love and it was Chaucer who linked this celebration with love. In 1381 Chaucer composed a poem in honor of the engagement between England's Richard I and Anne of Bohemia, in his poem The Parliament of Fowls, he linked the royal engagement, the mating of birds and St. Valentine's day together and thus love and St. Valentine's Day have been associated with each other ever since.

St. Valentine's Day evolved over the centuries and by the 18th century, gift-giving and exchanging hand made cards consisting of hearts, lace, ribbons and cupids were common in England and eventually spread to the American colonies. However, the widespread tradition of  Valentine's Day cards in the United States did not take place until 1850 when Esther A. Howland of Worcester, Mass. began mass-producing them.  Today, Valentine's Day is a big business, balloons, candy, flowers, and according to the Greeting Card Association, 25% of all cards sent each year are valentines.

And so for this celebration of love, here is a poem for the Lovely Lady D.

                  My heart has been taken by the Lovely Lady D        

                  Her voice is heard in sweet refrain
                  As she sings to me

                  Our love is one of purity
                  Cast in iron
                  And in flame

                  Our hearts entwined
                  Our love unbridled
                  Upon a fertile plane

                  Lovers forever
                 Shipmates on the sea
                 Wolves that roam together,

                My heart has been taken
                And she holds the key

               @Wayne Adam