WInter Solstice FRIDAY, December 21 at your WORLDS YOGA Union City! All day and night classes will be themed around this very special day that marks the start of more light after Darkness! If you are coming to class, bring something you would like to offer, be it a picture or object of SOMEONE or something you would like to offer for your practice*** Namaste♥!
This week marks the official start of winter, a day that isn’t always greeted with the same enthusiasm as the first day of summer is. But, I think it should be celebrated and I have even written about the Winter Solstice and ways to observe it.
Solstice comes from the Latin phrase for “sun stands still” and is the first official day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. It usually falls around December 21 and this year it does fall on the 21st. It is known as the “shortest” day of the year, because it has the shortest number of daylight hours, which means it also has the longest night of the year.
Why celebrate winter? What I usually hear is that most people can’t wait for it to be over. All that cold weather and darkness makes them wish for the long, warm days of summer. But, winter has been celebrated since ancient times as a season of light and a celebration of nature. Once the Solstice comes, the days begin to get brighter again, and eventually, the summer sunlight returns.
If you think about it, this means that the first day of winter (Winter Solstice), is literally a sign that brighter days are ahead. The shortest day is just that, the shortest day of the year. That means that each day after, starting with the first day after Winter Solstice, each day gets longer and longer, and brighter and brighter leading up to summer.
Considering that it brings us the season of light, here are some reasons that we should give winter the love and appreciation it deserves.
Celebrate your abundance. Since ancient times, stories have been passed down about how farmers would always take a rest on this day to enjoy their bountiful harvest. If you grow your own food, or even just want to appreciate the gift of fresh food, use the day to celebrate your own abundance or the abundance of those who grow your food.
Celebrate the optimism of the day. The Chinese concept of Yin and Yang, which represents balance and harmony in life is celebrated on the Winter Solstice. It is believed that on the Solstice, the yin qualities of darkness and cold are not only at their most powerful, but, also at the turning point to give way to the light and warmth of yang. That’s why the Chinese consider the day a time for optimism and joy.
Simply celebrate the changing of the seasons. Seasons change, that is how the natural world works, and the first day of winter and the Solstice celebrations are a part of nature. Celebrate the healing power of nature and its ability to help you de-stress and enjoy the season. If I enjoy celebrating the first day of spring or summer, then I need to give winter its proper due. I might not be out planting in the garden, or basking in the sun, but I can bring in parts of the outside world to observe the day and to reflect the natural world. Holly and wreaths, pine cones, and even poinsettias, help reconnect you to nature.
Because solstice means sun standing still, that makes the first day of winter the perfect day to rest, and to reflect on the year past. Try to just take some time to simply do nothing, to have complete unscheduled time to relax and rejuvenate.
Winter Solstice Celebration Day
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Edward May 17, 2013 at 05:05 pm
To add insult to injury, New Haven Unified just divided the community by re-naming a Middle School…Read More after two Phillipino labor leaders instead of an Early" Alto California", Mexican Governor after wich the Town of Alvarado was named. They created a WAR betwean comunities with flag waving and graphiti tagging damages even the police call a "Hate Crime". They should be naming a NEW High School after those two labor leaders and not just re-naming an existing historical Middle School. When push comes to shove, the New Haven Unified School Board will pay for a name change but not help pay for school supplies or keep good teachers with a good salery with benefits. They re-name a Middle School After labor leaders, but don't honor the Labor that had dedicated a lifetime to our children....Our Teachers.
Edward May 17, 2013 at 04:51 pm
Because new haven unified School District is so busy renaming or selling off Schools, they are…Read More neglecting the 29.1 million dollar grant they got to help provide moderization and supplies to teachers.
Instead of building a second High School, on the growing west side of union City, they sell off 15 acres and a relativly NEW, perfectly good school building just 3 blocks from a 70 year old Elementary School.
When James Logan High School was Built, Union City had only 23,000 residents. Today, Union City bosts 77,000+ residents and has a single High School pushing 5000 students. Instead of building a new High School (like Fremont, that has 5 High School, one for each of ther original districts and a ROP School), New Haven Unified only has one in the Decoto District and Alvardo district residents must commute to the Decoto District to get an education beyond middle School. A 50 year old "busing policy" (without the Buses) in the name of diversity. Both sides of Highway 880 are just as diverse yet they will not build the west side a High School.
Edward May 17, 2013 at 05:16 pm
To add insult to injury, New Haven Unified just divided the community by re-naming a Middle School…Read More after two Phillipino labor leaders instead of an Early" Alto California", Mexican Governor after which the Town of Alvarado was named. They created a WAR betwean comunities with flag waving, fist shaking and graphiti tagging damages even the police call a "Hate Crime". They should be naming a NEW High School on the West Side of Union City after those two labor leaders and not just re-naming an existing historical Middle School.
When push comes to shove, the New Haven Unified School Board will pay for a name change but not help pay for school supplies or keep good teachers with a good salery with benefits. They re-name a Middle School After labor leaders, but don't honor the Labor that had dedicated a lifetime to our children....Our Teachers.
Edward May 11, 2013 at 04:12 am
Here are some patch photos. you will notice the children marching with the" Filipino Advocates…Read More for justice" banner all the way up to the New Haven Unified School District office. Do you think these photos could have incited the Vandels and selected their target?
Violating the "Brown Act", the School Board created this problem by not putting the name change before the Voters before making this decision ahead of public comments and input. The outcome, of changing the name, and what the name would be, was already decided before they even put it on the agenda, behind closed doors. The clinched Fists, in the Top photo, did not help either. Remember, these are Patch Photos, that are public, and even more are out there in social media.
http://storify.com/UnionCityPatch/a-collection-of-photos-and-reactions-to-alvarado-m/embed
Edward May 11, 2013 at 01:35 am
Dear Mr. Day:
It is NOT the names of Larry itliong or Phlip Veracruz that have been at issue,
it…Read More has been the removal of an "existing" name, on an "existing" school, that
already has Heritage Everyone agrees, that, if this was a new school, it would
be good.
We need a new High School on the west side of Union City because the existing
School is pushing 5,000 students and is just to large and to far away. The
School District is just playing politics with a "name" and not giving the
Students what they realy need. They are selling off Real Estate with an
existing School on the West Side, of Union City, to private developers, instead of
giving us a new High School.
People are fustrated with the School District and the Phillipino Comunity that
pushed the name change and this is why they targetted the "Political Office" of
the "Phillipino Community". This was not a random location...It was a "Shot
Across the Bow". No amount of smooth talk or Guest Speakers will fix this.
Only putting the name change "On the Ballot" will fix this. It must be resolved
by everyone before we can "GO ON".
S T April 18, 2013 at 07:39 pm
"lost revenue from large industries that have ceased business or left the service area,…Read More including NUMMI, Solyndra"
What about gained revenue from Tesla and Seagate?
"Labor costs are also increasing, especially the cost of health care benefits"
Yeah, with average salary at $89,110 in 2011: http://fremont.patch.com/articles/how-much-employees-in-the-union-sanitary-district-earn
John April 18, 2013 at 01:14 pm
lost revenue from large industries that have ceased business or left the service area, including…Read More NUMMI, Solyndra, Borden Chemical, and SF Newspaper Group, historically some of the District’s largest customers.
yet they make no mention that Solyndra will now be occupied by seagate soon, and nummi has Telsa....etc...
Union City pays more than most cities in water/garbage/sewer/school parcels/sales tax yet its schools are floundering, water taste awful, you have pay to recycle
John April 18, 2013 at 01:11 pm
Spot on and to pay for their entitlements as using public vehicle to go on long trips...
Joanna Nelson March 12, 2013 at 03:07 pm
The passes will offer a $57 (90) minute session down from the introductory price of $74! Thanks so…Read More much!
Lori Suydam January 26, 2013 at 02:50 pm
I am a teacher at Park Elementary School and I love what you did for our school. My students and…Read More parents were so happy to see that our walls were bright and our desks were sparkling clean. Thank you very much!!
Edward May 14, 2013 at 04:00 pm
May 14,2013 Union City, California.
Police said the first suspect pushed both homewoners down to…Read More the floor and "forcefully removed the elderly female's jewelry."
The second suspect found a young adult male locked in a bedroom, struck him in the head with the gun, ransacked the bedroom and took more property, police said.
Both suspects fled on foot to a waiting vehicle, described as a newer model silver Audi sedan or BMW with chrome rims and tinted black windows.
The vehicle was last seen being driven past Kitiyama Elementary School onto Medallion Drive, according to a Union City Police press release.
Now this is about rich Black kids, with guns and driving BMWs, Attacking Elderly Whites in Union City. A little "political Vandelism" did not do this. This is a true "hate crime" against Whites yet it is reported as a "home invasion Robbery". They followed the Elderly White guy home from the store and pushed there way into the house and hurt everybody as they robbed them. Pre-selected an Elderly White Guy, because of hate" thencommited a crime against him and his family. The Political painting on a Political office was not a hate crime but a "political Statement". Get it Strait.
Edward May 11, 2013 at 04:00 am
Here are some patch photos. you will notice the children marching with the" Filipino Advocates…Read More for justice" banner all the way up to the New Haven Unified School District office. Do you think these photos could have incited the Vandels and selected their target? Just a thought.
http://storify.com/UnionCityPatch/a-collection-of-photos-and-reactions-to-alvarado-m/embed
Union City Resident May 9, 2013 at 09:44 pm
you could be on to a super idea! Online education. No ecological impacts. Everyone works at their…Read More own speed and capability. They get the best teacher every time because we can choose the lesson. Do anytime before midnight the same day if there is homework just like in college for those who sleep late and are always truant in regular school, no computer or too young and nobody at home, can go to computer centers. LOL You can name your own computer instead of school names. We can afford it better, cheaper for parents than school taxes, no administrators everywhere you look. Okay, I was just kidding...I think it's one issue at a time. School naming, school board, violating the Brown Act, address issues of recall, new elections, listening to the public, elected officials not following district policy, School Superintendent who knew or should have known it was a Brown Act violation, should be fired or not?, put issue on ballot by referendum or not?, let other elected officials write to editor instead of meeting with their voters?, Nobody trying to correct the errors made?, then discuss new high school. I agree with other letter - students being abused in school for maybe years now, bad test scores and they all say they know why but as educators they haven't fixed the problem yet, budget is non existent but we can afford all new band and athletic uniforms for the school with the new name LOL Taxpaying without representation