#modranicht

Winter Solstice/Yule 2023

Mōdraniht / Modranicht / Mother’s Night is tonight, the night before solstice, the longest night of the year kicking off Yule in various widespread Germanic influenced traditions. What little that is known about this obscured holy-day celebration in writing was recorded in the 8th century by early medieval English historian Bede in De Temporum Ratione documenting Anglo Saxon pagan vestiges under the expanding Roman Catholic empire. The contents of this text indicate that the Northern Europeans of the time who kept these indigenous practices going were likely not jumping at any opportunities to indulge the privileged literate in the details of such celebrations with rightful suspicions toward the Romanized ruling class. Although Bede recorded his observations in Brittania, modern scholars most popularly theorize the mothers of Mother’s Night itself could most commonly have been the feminine Norse spirits of the Disir or the Norns based on artifacts evidencing a triplicate emphasis on Modranicht. I am sharing my portrait of a decidedly British goddess, specifically of the Isle of Éire, Brighid whose name itself is revealed through anthropologist study as more of a title than formal name which denotes a triplicate aspect. She is associated most notedly with Spring however she also embodies general seasonal change as well making her appropriate to invoke on all sabbats of the year. The longest night of solstice and the return of the light on Christmas Day are part of the greater year, part of not just their own season of winter (as experienced in the northern hemisphere) but also part of the spring to come.

Wise Mothers of years long past, we honor your death and remember you. Bless you for your powerful gift of creation, for without you we would not be. I honor the Mothers of Blood, those who branch prolifically in our family trees. I honor the Mothers of Spirit, those who inspire us through connection of the heart. I honor the Mothers of Bones, those native peoples who walked this land before me. I pray for your guidance. Mothers I know, and Mothers I do not, help me remember your lessons. Help me know when to fight, and when to walk away. Mothers' hands, Mothers' hearts, Mothers' voice, may you hold me safe against your bosom. May I do you justice in remembering you. Tonight, and always, may it be so.

Source:https://dunbrython.wordpress.com/2016/12/13/midwinter-traditions/

The Winter Solstice, New Man Dawning.