THE SIGNAL from David Katznelson
"Behind every word a whole world is hidden that must be imagined. Actually, every word has a great burden of memories, not only just of one person but of all mankind."-Heinrich Böll
The sun arose beet-red this morn as it showed-off the beginning of its quickest career in the sky; the shortest day of the year is upon us. And based on texts and e-mails from friends, it seems like the longer days are bringing about a new hope, a coming-from-the-darkness story. Yes, we will have longer light of days ahead. No, we are not out of the darkness yet.
For all the awareness of this moment in our calendar, there has not been any modern traditions or rituals that have seemed to stick out as beckons for the day. All around the world there are practices that have held for centuries…the Scots gets bonus points for both the quantity and “imaginativity” of their winter solstice practices…but here in the US: we have a few 60’s folkies who do an annual thing, but that seems about it. The Pagans still rule world round, with practices that many religions have globbed onto over time, but nothing new….nothing for our pandemic ridden souls to find refreshness in.
Maybe a good house-saging. Maybe sipping Pu-reh tea at sunset, taking in the chill with Hermann Nitsch providing the dark dark vibe. Maybe we just raise our hands to the sky and flip 2020 the bird one more time, just to remind the setting sun that there might be beauty in its performance, but the darkness we are left with after is real.
The winter solstice, and how you can watch Monday's 'great conjunction'
Saturn and Jupiter are alright tonight as they continue to show brilliantly in the sky….but now together, close together in our view.
The Improbable Journey of Dorothy Parker’s Ashes
I missed this when it came out a few weeks ago, but the story of Dorothy Parker’s ashes is right up there with the tale of Gram Parsons’ body-stealing in the world of post-death body experiences.
Crispin Glover on painful prosthetics, “anti-corporate” cinema, and acting with his dad
It is always great to see new Crispin Glover acting opportunities.
It's Genieve Figgis and Her Imaginary Friends
The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper
And so the Shortest Day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive.
And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us—listen!
All the long echoes, sing the same delight,
This Shortest Day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, feast, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And now so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome, Yule!
