The Winter Solstice is again upon we denizens of the Northern Hemisphere. I find Nature’s eternal cycling inspiring, and always to be respected. As our days begin to lengthen, the chill outdoors contrast with our cozy indoor spaces here at The Black House in the Haunted Hudson Valley. During this holiday season, those of a more heathen bent might enjoy displaying a Yule Tree, as evergreens were used by European pagans to symbolize life’s endurance through the trials of the frigid months. And when ornamenting this vital conifer, one could include whatever brings personal delight. Our collection of decorative objects features gilded musical instruments, dinosaurs, Godzilla, Ancient Greek deities, vintage abstract shapes from the 1960s, characters, objects, and vessels from sci-fi we enjoy (Star Trek, Star Wars, Alien, Planet of the Apes), Krampus, and Satan—all mingling in a joyous panoply of visual variety and exotically harmonious archetypal resonance.
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was a superbly talented composer of symphonies, ballet scores, cantatas, and some remarkably powerful film scores. In 1934, for the film titled Lieutenant Kijé—about a fictitious army officer who got blame or credit to save the butts of those screwing things up—Prokofiev wrote for the cinema for the first time, and his abilities for that were abundantly clear. He extracted music from this film score to create a charming suite which has never ceased to be popular. Nothing sounds more like Winter to me than the Troika (Sleigh Ride) movement, and I ask you to follow this link to hear it performed by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro André Previn. Or follow the above link to hear the full suite by the same performers.
From our Victorian lair, Peggy and I bid a “Superlative Solstice!” to Satanists, fellow secularists, pagans and assorted infidels, as well as to those around the globe who share our reverence for the Earth and all of Nature’s glories. You might share my enjoyment in watching the night skies for the unique visitor 3I/ATLAS, a highly unusual interstellar traveller whose closest approach to Earth was but a couple of days ago, as it heads to Jupiter and then beyond into the starry deeps of the cosmos in its journey taking billions of years. It brings to my mind the true immensity of the universe. We might note that we are but ephemeral beings, yet we boldly celebrate our singularity, though we exist briefly in the infinite, indifferent vastness of time and space.
May joy be yours in abundance, and, as you can, do make merry—con brio!
—Magus Peter H. Gilmore