December New Moon

Today sees the birth of the Oak Moon in the sign of Sagittarius.
This moon completes the lunar cycle and to the Celts personified strength, stamina, life, death and rebirth, The oak was sacred to bothCeltic Druids, as many of their ceremonies were carried out in oak lined groves and also to the Roman God Jupiter.
The Oak moon wasan especially appropriate name for the December moon as the Winter Solstice was the time when the Oak King battled with the Holly King and defeated him, thus signifying the return of spring and summer.

Read more 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

Winter Solstice

Tomorrow (22nd) at 5.30am marks the point of the Winter Solstice. The word solstice actually means 'the standing still of the sun' and for a few days following this event the sun appears not to move. On or around the 25th December however it gradually begins to stay for a moment or two longer in the sky and once again begins its journey back to full strength in the Northern hemisphere.

This is the time according to legend that the Holly and the Oak king do battle for the second time in the year, but this time it is the Oak king who wins and leads us joyfully towards the summer.

May the solstice bring you many blessings.

Taken from 'MrsDarley's Pagan Whispers