The 23rd solar term in the Chinese lunar calendar marks the coldest period of the year and deepest winter. It begins when the Sun reaches the 285° longitude and ends when it reaches the longitude of 300°. It more often refers in particular to the day when the Sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of Read more about Xiǎo Hán Slight Cold[…]

Catkins dingle-dangle, mosses glow green & small birds fluff up against the cold but the light steals back as bright winter aconites & snowdrops emerge. 1st New Years Day 3rd Full Wolf Moon in Cancer The January full moon is also known as the Old Moon and the Ice Moon in some European regions. In the Read more about January Almanac[…]

Winter solstice – Jan 21st / end of lunation Suspended energies going in both directions light is rising but temperature dropping Drop out of bottom of out breath Low energy – Quiescence – Be still – Rest Deep sleep know that stuff is happening  Work is going on – Trust let yourself be worked on by unseen Read more about Capricorn Season Midnight – 2am[…]

Tim Dee Dusk on the winter solstice: the shortest day and longest night of the year. I was cold and alone on a track on the Somerset Levels, looking towards the dying light in the west. Moving across the sky in front of me, like the breath of the earth, were thousands of birds – Read more about Winter solstice Murmuration[…]

In Persian culture, the winter solstice is called Yaldā (meaning: birth) and it has been celebrated for thousands of years. It is referred to as the eve of the birth of Mithra, who symbolised light, goodness and strength on earth. LIZ LOCHHEAD In the Mid-Midwinter ‘Tis the year’s midnight, and it is the day’s – from John Donne’s ‘A Nocturnal Read more about Winter solstice – the Hibernal solstice[…]

Dark moon at Capricorn time of year ( as Sagittarius moon is on Sagittarius/gemini axis & there is much mental – its dreamy imaginative thinking but still ) at Capricorn moon step back from active thinking, active planning & just feel our way into what is arriving (& Capricorn tap root is feeling it’s way) Read more about Dark Midwinter moon in Capricorn[…]

Sagittarius Sun 20/11 – 21/12 But the constellation is actually in the sky from Mid December – Mid January Cauldron of Dreams The liminal space in which the length of day & night stands still for the briefest of moments. The pause at the end of the exhalation of the year. The turning from the Read more about Deep Dark Sagittarius Moon[…]

“Great Snow” (Dàxuě – 大雪) from 7th December to winter solstice The 21st Chinese solar season, marking the start of midwinter when temperatures drop significantly and heavy snowfall becomes common. This is the time of deep winter cold and a time for observing natural hibernation.

Moment to moment  A deer meets me on the path  and leads me into the forest To join its herd We enter the circle they hold And I sit, the deer beside me, quiet and calm  The moon full and bright, shines down  Illuminating the moment, the year. I let go  And the Black sludge Read more about Gemini Full moon – Cold mourning moon[…]