Editorial

Dear all,

As we wind down for the holidays and look forward to a well-earned break, we begin to realize just how busy we've been over the last few months. Many of you have experienced your first term of university life, whilst for others it has simply been 'back to the grindstone'. For most people I dare say the Autumn months have been challenging and difficult: yet we need to remember that nothing in life that is worth doing is easy!

The days have been shortening since before the beginning of term, and we are only a couple of weeks away from the Winter Solstice: when the sun is reborn once more. At the Winter Solstice the sun reaches its lowest point on the horizon, and we experience the shortest day, but after this it begins to get stronger again, the days longer and warmer. Many Pagans anthropomorphize this event by referring to the Sun as the God, who died at the Harvest time (usually either Lughnassad, Mabon, or Samhain) and descended into the Underworld during the depths of our Winter. At the Winter Solstice he is reborn from the Underworld, through the womb of the Earth Goddess in her aspect of Mother.

We can see this in other religions as well: in Christianity Jesus is born around the time of the Winter Solstice, and it is interesting to note that Jesus is seen by Christians as their saviour - their light of hope. Is he the Son of God, or the Sun of God? Whatever we say, it seems a universal archetype is being played out here, and that a rebirth of hope or light is common to most religions, including Paganism.

We can experience the Winter Solstice symbolically in our lives. During the darkness of the months preceding it, we can spend more time reflecting upon ourselves, examining who we are, where we want to be, and what is holding us back from achieving that. We can enter our own 'Underworld' just as the God does: since for many people a good, honest look at oneself is a confrontation of one's fears and darkest side. Who really enjoys finding out about their weaknesses and downfalls? Very few. But this 'Underworld' of our psyche needs to be examined and embraced just as much as the light side, the side of our personality that we don't mind showing to the outside world. Through a careful and accepting examination of one's 'dark side' one can come to a deeper understanding of one's self and life.

During the last few dark days of this year, take some time to think about who you really are: not the 'you' you show to others, but the 'you' that is hidden under layers of etiquette, manners, rules, and social fear. What side of you rarely gets 'let out'? Which parts of your self have you been ignoring of late? What is there you have wanted to do for so long, yet which has been buried under other concerns? In the Underworld, you are safe to let these out, to experience them, to embrace them, and prevent them from bursting out unexpectedly or becoming your neuroses. You may also like to think about what you want to do in the year ahead, and make ready your plans for a time when it is 'ripe', when the earth is soft and fertile and ready to accept seeds. Make ready your plans for when your life is open and fertile enough to accept new ideas.

I will leave you to the rest of the magazine now, but I will leave you with a blessing. Shuffling my Tarot deck (The Robin Wood deck of course!) I drew three cards:

9 of Cups, Queen of Swords, The Empress.

This is the blessing they have given:

"At this time of year may you be blessed with satisfaction in all things, good food, warmth, and friendship.
May your mind be sharp and your words clear,
And may the Goddess embrace you in her arms and aid you in your symbolic Solstice rebirth."

Enjoy the holidays and come back refreshed and happy! See you next term,

Blessings,

Kim Huggens
Pagan Society President.