Winter Solstice and the New Year

Greetings! From heart to heart, in this moment we speak, I am KejRaj!

Ancient Europeans marked the turning of the year with a midwinter celebration that often lasted seven to ten days, beginning around December 20th, the Winter Solstice. This was the moment when the sun appeared to “rest,” rising at its lowest point on the horizon for roughly three days.

Communities closely observed the sky, recognizing this pause as a sacred threshold between the dying old year and the promise of renewal. Feasting, ritual fires, and communal gatherings honored the return of light and reaffirmed social bonds during the darkest time of the year.

After these three still days, the sun’s movement slowly changed. By December 25th, people could visibly notice the sun rising slightly higher on the horizon, a powerful sign that the light was returning. Each day grew incrementally longer, reinforcing hope and the belief in cosmic order.

Following a week or so of celebrations, the longer days were clear enough to symbolize a true rebirth of time, making this period a natural moment to mark a “new year”, which became January 1st, in reality the last day of the celebrations.

The month of January was named after the Roman god, Janus or Janis, a deity of beginnings, thresholds, and transitions.

As we have mentioned previously, other cultures waited until spring to celebrate the “new year”, around what later became Easter, when daylight overtakes darkness, observation of longer days and shorter nights, temperatures rise, and nature begins to bloom and crops grow again.

37 Replies to “Winter Solstice and the New Year”

    1. Diamond Lil

      Right, Ned? A refuge. Do have any particular favorites to share?

      Another favorite scribble was of two scenes-
      a sanitized tv show image of a hospital waiting room, well dressed people waiting in polite boredom…..

      And a realistic image of a hospital waiting room-
      screaming kids, comically drawn illnesses, spilled coffee while a mop and bucket sit unused, hassled overworked b*tchy staff…..😂🤣😂

      Reply
  1. CJ

    A some point way back a guy called Jesus came along and said, paraphrasing here, “there is but One God, Life Itself”. It seems idol worship of “the old ways”, worshiping the things that appear in Life, for example, the sun, moon, seasons, etc, were shown to be “the worshiping of the things produced by Life, God, not God Itself.
    The Jesus deal was to show “the masses” to Worship That which produces the appearance, for That is where True Power Is, not in worshiping the things of God.
    Kinda leaves one in a void, lol

    Reply
    1. John

      I think that’s precisely why we use the word ‘celebration’ to mean something different than ‘worship’.

      Reply
  2. Francis Bacon

    In “ancient Europe”, that is before Julius Caesar changed the calendar in 46 BC (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_calendar) the new year started in spring, by the end of the month we now call March. It would be very interesting if you would disclose from where you get your “knowledge” of the customs of the “ancient Europeans”, Kejraj. Do they come to you in the spirit world and explain to you, or what other sources indicate they started their new year at the 1st of January? The Christian religion took over the Midwinter or Solstice celebrations that the Germanic and Norse people celebrated here in Northern Europe.

    Reply
  3. Francis Bacon

    In “ancient Europe”, that is before Julius Caesar changed the calendar in 46 BC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_calendar) the new year started in spring, by the end of the month we now call March. It would be very interesting if you would disclose from where you get your “knowledge” of the customs of the “ancient Europeans”, Kejraj. Do they come to you in the spirit world and explain to you?

    Reply
  4. Diamond Lil

    Part of me feels like making a daily laugh column.

    Part of me says, what’s funny…ummmm…..everyday…..???

    What say all of you?

    It will be a New Year, very soon, after all 💎♥️

    What say all of you???

    Kejraj, I heard once that laughter is medicine, hmmm 🤔

    Kejraj had a humor column, back in the day, some of you may remember………

    I’m just wondering a thing or two 🤔

    Well, maybe not every day, but several times a week, would be pleasing!

    What say all of you??? What if a dozen or so of us, contributed???

    I think a great many silly things, in a day 🤭🤭🤭♥️💎
    …are these thoughts jokes? Or just funny thoughts?
    Does it matter, if, somebody laughs, anyhow ?

    I’d adore input, gang. They do say, laughter is the best medicine 🥰. That’s what they say!!!

    Reply
    1. Klaudia

      You’re doing so well, Lil💎❤️💎❤️💎❤️💎!

      BEING FOCUSED ON THE END/NEW BEGINNING is so important whilst I still am “going with the flow” of “HOW WE GOT THERE”!

      I still have no idea “WHY ME” was chosen for this task, but it must have to do with my very early FASCINATION FOR THE HUMAN BODY ITSELF!

      Even long before Divine Design made me study its spiritual books I remember NOT UNDERSTANDING how every body, or rather no body, felt the same about THAT MIRACLE WE ARE.

      And so I am very happy to have realized that after I had lost EVERYTHING (family, friends, identity…) the next ten years were about loosing even the rest, “WHY”?

      I guess MATCHING YOUR CORE FREQUENCY only works this way, and from sitting in this classroom long enough now I KNOW that WHAT LAUGHTER DOES physically (inside a body), only laughing is capable of.

      A german comedienne said “jokingly” not long ago “Forget about the WHO AM I QUESTION” … “WHAT IS THE HUMAN BEING” is the masterquestion – she reminded me of you btw💎❤️❤️💎❤️

      Reply
      1. Diamond Lil

        Haha, I had a touch of New Year’s Eve syndrome-
        responding to old programming 🤭

        You know how loud that programming is on that day, “do something MORE with your life, deadbeat!”

        Or..

        “Be more creative! 🫤
        “Find yourself! Get rid of the old you!”😵‍💫
        “A new year, a new you!🎉” ….🥴

        So, I was trying to feel ambitious, and was loosened up after my second mimosas.😇🫣🫠
        (Not to worry, gang, my last drink was last Easter😇)

        Agreed K, now that I’m passed the thrall of New Year’s pressure, I’m content with natural and spontaneous joking around again.

        I saw on Awakening Cipher to demand, not hope, for golden opportunity …🤔

        I hope 2026 is the year of tangible results, but I’ve never been very good at that anyhow, so…idk.

        …I began this comment this morning, it may not be relevant by now, but I don’t feel like losing it to check fresh comments 🙂‍↔️🙂‍↔️🙂‍↔️

        Someday we’ll all be able to talk about our fulfilling life developments 🥰

        😁💎♥️

        Reply
      2. Diamond Lil

        PS, Tigerlily 😁….

        That German comedienne sounds like a lucky lady…

        Maybe!😂🤣😂

        I wouldn’t know if Mad Magazine was international enough to be familiar to you, K, but it’s where a lot of Chain Gang Members would have gone to, for some laughs, and a much needed break from reality, back “in the day.”

        I never should have let go of my 3 foot high stack of Mad’s, years ago☹️

        Written by the best cast of Idiots, ever😁♥️

        😁💎

        Surely someone else here must remember Mad!

        Reply
        1. Gwydyon

          „Don’t forget to secure your new bicycle, son“ „WHAT??? Why would I risk someone sawing through my beautiful lock when he tries to steal the lamppost?!?“

          We had a stack of Mad magazines when I was a kid, too — I would love to have it again as toilet pap… reading matter.

          Reply
          1. Diamond Lil

            😂😂😂LOL, right, G???

            The tiny scribbles at the edges, I love those.

            I still remember one scribble of a farmer walking happily through a poopy, muddy field…..GA-SHPLUCT‼️

            😋♥️💎

            …..is toilet paper difficult to come by for you, nowadays 😭😭😭?
            😂🤣😂

            Or are you MADD enough to use only the best?!

          2. Gwydyon

            I recall in the readers’ letters the magazine got likened to toilet paper on a regular basis. Certainly the editorial staff was no whit kinder to the readers. =)) I loved the crazy detailed nonsense inventions and movie cartoons.

          3. Diamond Lil

            Wow, G, I don’t remember any letters, I have forgotten them, wahhhhh😭😭😭

            Just imagine, some 12 year old kid actually writes a letter, only to have one of the usual Idiots answer him…

            With contempt! 🫢😳😲! Gasp!

            🤭What an honor!😂🤣🤧

            😁💎♥️

          4. Gwydyon

            Exactly, what an honor to ask Alfred E Newman an idiotic question and to get an even goofier answer. ))) It was always right in the beginning on the first pages, but maybe only in the German version.

          5. Diamond Lil

            G…..

            🫧 “I just asked Alfred E. Newman an idiotic question,
            and he gave me an Insulting AND Idiotic answer back! 😭😭😭”🫧

            🫧”Wow, that’s a lot of value, for the effort 👍👍👍” 🫧

            😂🤣😂

            Heh heh, I JUST made that up…💎🤭

            I’m getting back into the MAD mindset, with all the reminiscing.

            Klaudia’s right, it’s frighteningly good to be MAD!

        2. Klaudia

          You never mention anything without a VERY SPECIFIC reason, Lil, but this one seems almost dangerously specific to me.😬😬

          Reply
          1. Klaudia

            [Fyi💎❤️: I had a short refresher course on “I am Word” or rather a more in-depth study, presumably so that I am “AWARE ENOUGH”, but I still lack any REAL knowledge of what difference being AWARE OT NOT makes.🙄🙄]

          2. Diamond Lil

            I’ve been pondering MAD for a while now, Miss K💜
            I wouldn’t know why, though …

            If nothing else, it’s terrific to hear fond memories from the gang, about MAD 🥰💎

          1. Diamond Lil

            I think Klaudia used a Tiger emoji, or said something about tigers 🐯

            You’re a smart guy, Pep, so I don’t really have to say that I’m the Lilly half of that word🤭
            …but, for the sake of any slower brothers, I’ll put it out there 🤭
            …heavens knows, I’m usually in the slower brothers category, there’s no real shame in that!!!🤤🤭🤭

            This, of course, can mean only ONE thing-
            You flirted with a total stranger!🤯😂

            🫢💎♥️

          2. Peppered Beef

            I gave those compliments to you Diamond Lil I’ll still go on record with that. I’m still part of your fan club. Although this Klaudia (Special K?) girl is starting to grow on me too.

          3. Diamond Lil

            Haha, Pep♥️, Special Agent K,
            Vitamin K also pops into my silly mind🤭

            ☝️You’re in luck Pep, we’re not jealous or possessive Lightie ladies, and will share your attention 🤭🥰😁

            Well, I’m not, let’s see what Klaudia says about this matter🤭

            (BUT,
            if you know what’s good for you, you dump that Tigerlily impostor, and tell her that it’s…….😤 Over!!!)
            ☝️Be sure to insist, it’s not about her,
            it’s all about you😂🤭😋

            …These energies have been a real roller coaster ride lately, btw.
            I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to comment again, whoa.

            I mean- What, me worry? 🤓

            💎♥️

          4. Klaudia

            Thanks 💎&Pepp💘 – you guys put me thru a “NICE SWIRL” yesterday🤪🤪 – first I thought I’d only looked at “THAT _MAD_ THING” a bit too deeply BUT THEN I REALIZED “Special K❤️” was no joke either👏👏👍.

            Personally though, I have very little to do with it, because I was simply created to, in short, bring home the work of ppl like “Special Agent K”🤭McKenna:

            “The syntactical nature of reality, the real secret of magic, is that the world is made of words. And if you know the words that the world is made of, you can make of it whatever you wish.”
            Terence McKenna

            Meanwhile, it’s clearer than clear💎💎💎 to me Lil🤓 WHY I already experienced/began to experience ~10 years ago what is basically only happening now – “because what begins must also always end, because every beginning starts at its end.”🤷‍♀️

            And that’s why your allusion to jealousy and possessiveness REALLY REALLY amuses me🤭… it’s almost unbearable how cleverly you still wrap (still) encrypted messages in silly sounding words.

            And so “WITH THAT SAID”, let’s see what today has in store.

            🪄

          5. Gwydyon

            Who is an impostor?
            Is Diamond woman a genius? I just thought she witty.
            A bit MAD I get reading all these. Words’ enigmatic meanings. Witches
            being witchy — but what, me not worry!

          6. Diamond Lil

            K💜😁

            I enjoyed your comment from
            2:43 a.m., 1-5-26, and had all kinds of replies in mind.
            I had to dash, and now my reply thoughts feel…old, or something. Off.

            So, I’m glad you enjoyed the laughs, courtesy of some fondly remembered rolls of toilet paper- –

            Um! I mean MAD magazine 🤭😂🤣

            10 years early, K…. that’s a long time to be uncomfortable ☹️
            I completely understand😭

            The process has been good for my betterment, so far😅
            But so much more road to go….

            I guess that’s it for the moment; now I think I’ll visit Gwydyon and tell him that, I am a genius🤭💎♥️

          7. Klaudia

            “I enjoyed your comment from
            2:43 a.m., 1-5-26, and had all kinds of replies in mind.
            I had to dash, and now my reply thoughts feel…old, or something. Off.”

            Thanks Lil👏💎👏, that is telling me much, too much to go into detail to be precise, because that’s exactly what happens to me 50% of the time after reading your comments.

            In – The Collective: Up to the Next Level
            Posted on 12/15/2025 – there was this quote:

            “Because you’re all growing into this new place where the mind works differently!” –> and it was all said in such a CHEERFUL manner, yet,

            “WHERE THE MIND WORKS DIFFERENTLY!” – I mean what do THEY THINKKK???? that takes!!!!

            (It made me really sad, because I can’t imagine there’s a less uncomfortable way to get there than mine, after looking at this for days.)

            “But so much more road to go….” that’s a funny one FROM “I AM the road”S POV😁😍.

    2. Pastafarian

      I think that is a wonderful proposition for one to have to themselves, but not so much to share with others.

      The joy of laughter lies in the re-acknowledgement of something true, but it’s a completely different art to see what is true for everyone or particular groups of individuals.

      I learned that not everyone sees humor in the same things; but as long as you’re not expecting/compromised with laughter, simply sharing a lighter perspective often has a humorous effect.

      Reply
      1. Klaudia

        “I think that is a wonderful proposition for one to have to themselves, but not so much to share with others.” –> I would ask “_WHICH_ ONE”🤭 but:

        It doesn’t matter anyway – “THE BOSS IS THE BOSS AND WHAT THE BOSS SAYS IS WRITTEN”😘

        Reply
      2. Diamond Lil

        Well, Pasta♥️…

        I think you said, in essence, that humor is in the
        Eye of the Beholder…not to be defined or regulated.

        Yes, agreed! I should have addressed my Klaudia comment to you both😁

        Happy New Year 🎊

        Reply
  5. Diamond Lil

    Happy New Year, Chain Gang🥰….

    …always connected, never imprisoned😁

    I’m thankful for this community, and all the new and unexpected things it has revealed to me, about myself.

    And about each other 🥰💎

    Reply

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