Winter Solstice

This morning there was a full moon and a lunar eclipse. The sun entered the astrological sign of Capricorn. This combination of events will not occur again in our lifetime! In fact, the last time I figure it happened was December 21, 1638, and it won't happen again until December 21, 2094! Haven't figured out yet when the last time these events occurred while Mercury was in retrograde. The holiday season is a little to busy for that kind of research!

Today is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It's winter in the Northern Hemisphere (or summer if you're in the Southern Hemisphere!)

Poets over the ages have proffered plenty of advice for the coming months. Poet Pietro Aretino, born in the 15th century, said, "Let us love winter, for it is the spring of genius." William Blake wrote, "In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy." There's a Japanese proverb that says, "One kind word can warm three winter months."

Emily Dickinson wrote, "There's a certain Slant of light, Winter Afternoons — That oppresses, like the Heft Of Cathedral Tunes." Existentialist Albert Camus wrote, "In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer." Victor Hugo once said, "Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart."

American writer Minna Antrim gave these instructions-in-verse:
"Brew me a cup for a winter's night.
For the wind howls loud and the furies fight;
Spice it with love and stir it with care,
And I'll toast our bright eyes, my sweetheart fair."

Were any of you lucky enough to glimpse the lunar eclipse with a delicious cup of tea held in your hands? No such luck here. As for most astrological events (it seems) it was cloudy. But I had the cup of tea in my hands ... I almost always do! For those of you who missed it here's a video of last night's lunar eclipse!
Grab a cup of awesome tea and enjoy!