YESTERDAY was officially the shortest day of the year, with the sun rising at 7am and setting at 4:54pm.
The day was 9 hours and 53 minutes long, compared to the 14-odd hours of daylight we can expect on the longest day, in December.
The shortest day and longest night of the year is known as winter solstice, and occurs when the sun is at its lowest arc in the sky. During this time, there is also a full moon.
Winter solstice is observed a number of different ways throughout the world, however since ancient times, it has been regarded as a period of seasonal renewal, marking the beginning of an emergence from winter.
Kurrajong-based Monique Batterham and her partner observe the solstice with a fire ceremony. They are shamans, which means they practise an ancient healing tradition.
“Medicine men and women are shamans. We are taught to heal - but we deal mainly with energy,” Ms Batterham told the Gazette.
“On all full and new moons we do the ceremony. We call in our lineage, our ancestors. We give thanks and give back to Mother Earth. Then we ask for the fire to cleanse us.
“We start by preparing the room, making it clean and tidy. Lighting incense, lighting the open wood fire, playing music. Then we open sacred space and make our offerings to the fire.
‘We then take turns sitting with the fire, doing our cleansing ritual and just sitting quietly.”
Angelina Ginis, who owns Hawkesbury Natural Therapies Centre in Richmond, will observe the solstice with an event in-store.
“The idea of having this event at the winter solstice is to bring awareness of the changing of amount of daylight and darkness to the earth. The shortest day,” she told the Gazette.
“There are many reasons for this event spiritually, historically and scientifically but personally, it signifies ‘hump day’ in the year and the joy that I see and feel that daylight on earth is growing and the days will be warmer once again.
“Traditionally this time is for the strengthening of family bonds and to community, and attuning family to nature, a deepening understanding of spiritual renewal and love and having fun.”
The Centre is located at Level 1/187 Windsor Street, Richmond, and the event will take place on Wednesday, June 22 from 7pm.
Activities will include a fire pit in the garden courtyard, a light supper of soup, plus tea and coffee, mulled wine and mince pies. A drumming group will provide some music, and a lead a short word of ‘thanks’ for Mother Earth and her daily gifts.
Special guest, Grose Vale clairvoyant, Suzi Samuel, will be signing copies of her recently-released memoir called The Unintentional Medium.