To all my Chiffy friends who observe this day, and even to those who don’t 
…
Have a Merry Solstice!
May the day shed light, clarity, and balance in whatever areas of your life they are most needed!
Well, I guess I don’t observe it, really, but I can use the sentiment right now, so thanks, even if you didn’t mean me.
Have a great day.
Tom
Edited to include all…
Edited this to say: Wasn’t an intentional exclusion, Tom-- I hope that you are on the receiving end of all those sentiments, and that you and yours are well. Have a great day, too!!
Happy Solstice, Blessed be.
Sorry, I didn’t mean it to sound the way it came out. I don’t think anyone could call you “exclusionary” as your posts are kind to everyone at all times.
Thanks, Tom
On the down side, it means two more months of (meteorological) winter, on the bright side, it means THE DAYS ARE GETTING LONGER!!! (here in the northern hemisphere)
I don’t celebrate the solstice per se, but I despise the short days. Going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark just make me feel like I need to scrape the mushrooms off the back of my neck (can’t remember the comedian who said it, but I thought it was very perceptive).
That they are, aderyn_du. Happy holidays to you and yours as well!
Carol
The light at sunrise briefly illuminated the main burial chamber at Newgrange this morning. Few are let in each year to watch the event. It’s the place to be on this day though.
Very cool.
Thanks, Ad! and Happy Solstice to you too. That’s a great picture, Peter. Thanks for posting it.
Best,
Paul
I have to confess i’m more of an Equinox person.
May Santa bring you all nice gifts instead of lumps of coal, this year!
Peter, what a gorgeous photograph!! Very symbolic.
Tom and Carol, thank you…your kind sentiments are very much appreciated!!
It’s always on the news, if it’s a clear morning. I wasn’t there, just lifted the pic off the net . 
It is symbolic though, it’s the only day the light gets to the back of the chamber. The solstice around the milennium went out live on worldwide tv. :roll:
May each of you find an inner light in all whom you meet during this darkened week as we pass the northern apex of our anual spin 'round the sun. May you all be filled with the warmth of family, friends, fellowship, and music all these days.
A Joyful Solstice, Merry Christmas, and Happy and Prosperous New Year to us all! 
Newgrange. It’s amazing that the solar system is still right on after 5,000 years or more.
http://www.mythicalireland.com/ancientsites/newgrange/index.html
Not so amazing when you consider the Intellligent Designer who made it.
And a merry shortest period of daylight of the solar circuit to you as well!
May your days be as full of warmth as your wishes!!
I’ve considered that…more than you will ever know. Really. I won’t ask how you know.
It’s just too bad about those other stars, that’s all. They went all whacky. You know the ones. I assume you’re not waiting for the celestial tour. 
And a Happy Solstice to you as well!
Shannon and I and three fuzzy ferrets all send our love and our hopes for a better new year for us all.
Blessed Be! Hail to thee from our home in the mountains!
–James
I went xmas shopping this evening to counteract the shortest day, I guess. And I actually figured out some gift ideas that didn’t suck. In a few days, I shall have a Merry Christmas, I hope.
I am glad when the shortest day is past as evening walks are a favorite thing in the Weekender’s home area. Too dang dark now for it. But when I do hit the canyon at dusk, I think about how much more perceptible the day lengths changing have been to pre-citified folks. Each day has character in the immediate context (weather conditions, the landscape life cycles around etc) as well as the relative context (day shortening, lengthening etc). I like to at least feel that I am picking up on some of it, despite being inside most of the day. The older I get, the more I seem to understand the meaning of the solstice to the general life cycle.
As on the East Coast, we have a holiday Christmas Revels performance out here that emphasizes the meanings of the solstice from many cultures through dance, song and spectacle. Though I didn’t go this year, that celebration has made me more aware of the solstice, too.