The Winter Solstice

The winter solstice occurs in in 2012 on Friday, December 21, at 3:12am PST (11:12 UT), when the Sun enters the sign of Capricorn. This is considered the shortest day of the year for those north of the equator. It's the time when the Sun appears at its southernmost point in its path around the sky. At this time the Sun has the least amount of distance to travel from horizon to horizon, hence the shorter the day.

Solstice means "Sun stands still." The Sun's path stops shifting far south in the winter and stands still readying itself to move northward (vice versa in summer).

The Sun and Moon at the Winter Solstice
[Image]

The Paths of the Sun and Moon

At the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere the Sun's annual path across the sky is at its lowest, or closest to the southern horizon, while the Moon's path is at its highest north. The Sun and Moon appear to reverse positions at the summer solstice with the Sun at its highest north and the Moon at it's lowest south. Image

Within each month the Moon has a northern and southern range of moonrise / set points. It is at its highest one day and two weeks later at its lowest. It takes the Sun one year to accomplish this range of movement. This occurs because the Moon makes a full orbit around the Earth each month and follows a similar path across the sky that takes the Sun a year to complete.

Note: The Moon swings its highest for the year near the winter solstice and its lowest for the year near the summer solstice. We experienced an extreme high and low 18.6–19 year cycle in 2005 and 2006 called a lunar standstill season. See Moon Swings ~ Highs and Lows to learn more.

Does the Sun always rise in the east?

This photo by Anthony Ayiomamitis shows the wide swing of the rising Sun. In Athens, Greece the sunrise from southeast to northeast varies by more than 65 degrees. The Sun rises due east only at the time of the spring and autumn equinox. Sun's Seasonal Path

Hmmm ... Why are there 8 shortest days?!?!

San Francisco Sun Data for December 2012 shows there are 8 shortest days, each with 9 hours and 33 minutes of daylight, between December 17–24!

This occurs because the declination of the Sun changes or varies only slightly during the solstices. The analemma, an unsymmetrical figure-8 shape of the Sun’s daily position at the same time, illustrates this concept with its flattening at both ends.

The length of daylight (as measured in minutes) is pretty much the same for several days or more, both at the winter and also the summer solstice. If you were to do the calculations down to the exact second of time, then the shortest amount of daylight would coincide with the time of the solstice. Thank-you James Davis and Joe Rao / SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist for these valued insights.

BTW: If the first days of December feel shorter than the days around the Solstice, it’s because the Sun sets earlier in the beginning of December. Most people gauge the length of a day by the time of the sunset. To find the total hours and minutes of daylight you must know when the Sun rises and sets.

Why isn't the earliest sunset on the shortest day?
This link is bound to expand your horizons.
Warning: You may not achieve full understanding.
Important Concept: The day as measured from true solar noon
to true solar noon exceeds 24 hours near the solstices.

Spiritual Significance of the Winter Solstice

2012's December Solstice Global Meditations
Planetary Rebirth ~ Cosmic Alignment

Birth 2012
Thursday-Saturday, December 20-22, 2012

For three days culminating with a planetary
Birth Day on December 22, millions will join
worldwide in major events, a global webcast,
acts of love, and unifying spiritual practices.
Broadcast Schedule ~ Take the Pledge
* * *
Additional Links of Interest
Uplift 2012
Official Australia Anchor for Birth 2012.
Join their Global Chant at the exact solstice time.
* * *
Temple of Sacred Sound
Visit the Toning Chamber of your choice to assist the
ascension of planetary vibrations occurring at this time.
* * *
Film: Shift of the Ages
The Mayan Council of Elders speaks to the world.
Free viewing online through 12/21/12.
* * *
2012: Re-Membering ~ As Above, So Below
Discover the relationship between 12/21/12,
the Milky Way's dark rift and our head's cave center.
* * *
What Should We Expect?
Patricia Cota-Robles offers
insights and I Am visualization.
View her evocative and invocative video now.
* * *
Recordings: Birth 2012 Activation Series
Receive potent wisdom from evolutionary leaders.
* * *
Push4Peace
Calling 1 BILLION PEOPLE to take 1 action for peace.
90 day movement: 9/21/12 to 12/21/12
* * *
1 Billion Oms
3 Minutes could change all of our lives!
Dec. 21, 10:30-10:33pm PST
06:30-06:33 UT 12/22/12
See Time Zones

2012 Cosmic Convergence ~
Planetary Solstice Event ~ Meditation
Sunset Thursday, 12/20 - Sunset Saturday 12/22
Exact: 3:12am PST (11:12 UT)

With the 2012 Solstice a 26,000-year cycle
comes to an end. Father Sun joins the most
sacred space of the Great Mother’s birth canal
and a great event of galactic significance occurs.
And, the Spiritual Hierarchy enters meditation in
preparation for the Wesak Festival in Taurus.
All are invited to participate in SouledOut's receptive
Cosmic Convergence~Solstice meditation, aligning
with this new cycle of potent spiritual rebirth.
Join in any time during this two day period.
Suggestion: use a candle or light in a window to
represent the Spirit being invoked. This is an
opportunity to become aware of the cosmic
energies that are influencing us now, and the
possibilities they offer for spiritual evolution .

Solstice Cosmic Meditation
Friday, December 21, 2012
Synchronized: 3:11:37am PST (11:11:37 UT)

After a 3-year preparation of
solstice / equinox meditations,
the time has come to join in the
cosmic meditation, the final Apotheosis and
grand Beginning. Move from the old fascination
of individuality to the dimension of connectedness
in the Grand Universal Web of Life.
Participate in a sacred celebration
of our renewed Oneness.
I Am One. I am a univerSoul.

Festival Week of the
New Group of World Servers
Friday-Friday, December 21-28, 2012

Every seven years unusually powerful spiritual
energies pour into humanity during this week.
These energies nourish and strengthen human
beings, in every area of life, who bring
wholeness, goodness, beauty and
truth into earthly expression.
During the week hold a moment of silence
at 5:00 PM local time, linking up with all
world servers and use this prayer / mantra.
* * *
Additional Links of Interest
New Group of World Servers
Description, Objectives, Meditations ...
* * *
2012 - World Servers Festival Week
An inspired and informative video

Current and Ongoing Global Meditations

I'd like to know your thoughts about The Night Sky and
if you'd like reminders to Look Up! ...
send me an email.
May your Night Sky traveling always be filled
with Celestial Delights and Treats!
Susan Sun

SouledOut.org Home