Solstice is both an astronomical and spiritual annual event. From the Christian Science Monitor…

At 5:47 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time (that’s 12:47 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) Monday, the Northern Hemisphere marked the mid-point of another year, as measured by the sun’s highest position each day above the horizon. It marked the day with the fewest hours of sunlight this year.

The wheel of the year turns slowly, and we won’t be able to count increasing minutes of daylight until after the New Year, but this date marks the longest night and the beginning of Winter. The coldest days are ahead, but we are moving toward Spring.

I’ll let Hecate, who is a practicing witch, (I’m too lazy to practice), share a few improving thoughts for Solstice 2009.