Ahhhhh, the Sun returns on this longest day. We lifted our eyes to the hills and we saw the Sun arrive in all her golden splendor. How reassuring to people’s of old that the Sun stopped its progress across the sky and started its return signaling that warmer days were ahead. Especially in the lands of the Rune Readers—where the Sun nearly disappeared in the deep Northern winter. People lighted their homes with candles, created blazing bonfires on the hills and in their hearths in acts of sympathetic magic to encourage the Sun to return. It really was a matter of successful crops, enough fodder for the herds, and literally life and death. Part of the feasting in the deep winter was practical—the animals that would not make it through the winter became the feast—leaving more grain/grass for the younger and stronger stock to survive the winter. Sowilo is the life giver; that which banishes the darkness, heals and nourished us. All that lives on Earth owe their existence to the Sun.
Our family practices a Pagan Advent, and we gather on the 4 Sundays before the Winter Solstice. I learned of this tradition from my dear friend Joanna Powell Colbert—who is the creator of the Gaian Tarot and hosts absolutely Fabulous Santa Lucia Parties every year. Every culture has a story about the return of the Sun—and our family gathers together to read several stories and light a candle for each week of advent. On Solstice we light all 4 candles of Advent and a middle candle for the Solstice Sun.
Tonight it is just my husband Michael and myself. We read the stories of Solntse and Grandmother Spider. We sang Santa Lucia and the lyrics that I rewrote to the tune of “Angels We Have Heard on High”. The second verse was inspired by the northern myths and features Sowilo. The third verse was inspired by the Japanese story of Amaturasu being lured out of hiding in her cave.
As the seasons turn around, darkness starts to lose it’s hold.
Longest night turns in to day, lighting up the sky with gold.
Mo-ther, Mo-ther, Mo-ther Sun
Bring your rays to warm us;
Mo-ther, Mo-ther, Mo-ther Sun
Bring your rays to warm us all.
Thaw the lands that She has stole,
Isa Queen of Frost and Snow.
As you have since days of old,
Ransom them with Rays of gold.
So-wi-lo, So-wi-lo, So-wi-lo
Bring your rays to warm us;
So-wi-lo, So-wi-lo, So-wi-lo
Bring your rays to warm us all.
Hidden deep within your cave,
Darkness reigns there is no day.
We laugh and dance with gaity,
You peek out, yourself to see.
A-ma-tur-a- su, A-ma-tur-a- su, A-ma-tur-a- su
Bring your rays to warm us;
A-ma-tur-a- su, A-ma-tur-a- su, A-ma-tur-a- su
Bring your rays to warm us all.
—and then we gave thanks for the promise of another year. Health, joy, mirth, rebirth. Welcome Yule! Welcome Yule! Welcome Yule!
