Solstice to me is not so much a religious event, but more falls under the category of spiritual event which acknowledges the natural world. Religion is a man-made construct. The solstice happens whether we acknowledge it or not.
Jewitches of my ilk, work with the natural world so it is best to acknowledge major natural events.
Unlike Yule which for most Pagans is about bringing back the sun, the winter solstice is about imersing yourself into the stillness of winter. I attended a fully silent ritual this year which cast a circle in silence and then lit a cauldron which timed a group, silent meditation. When the cauldron went out, the ritual ended and we released the circle.
It’s the second year I’ve done this, and it will be my tradition from now on.
The sun will return in it’s time. For one moment we acknowledge the darkness of winter, before moving forward into the returning warmth.
