Winter Solstice: Recognition of the Cycle of Nature, Ancient Ways and a Resurgence of British Folklore.
Winter solstice, the shortest and darkest day of our year, from now on we begin to approach the oncoming welcomed light again, as days begin to lengthen, and nature begins its journey to blossom. Since the most ancient of times the winter solstice has been met with celebration, ceremony and the lighting of fire, old traditions, pagan ways, adopted by christians for Christmas, spruce and pine trees covered in electric lights. There is a deep subconscious connection to nature with the turning of the seasons and solstices, recognition of evolving acknowledgment dating from ancestors, whether we recognise such or not. In the darkest times people need to see hope lighting the way forward.
Humankind is presently facing a major existential crisis. These are challenging times. 2025 will be a year of ever-increasing technological change, of artificial intelligence, super quantum computing development, rising inequality, as those who own the most powerful algorithms take more of the wealth, power and influence across society and assign more people to a scrapheap without a livelihood. Both recent and 20th century history has taught us desperate people will cling to desperate extremes in desperate times. There is a direct correlation with the rise of extremism, populism and digital and social media communication. Having stoked riots by violent fascist thugs this last summer, Elon Musk is now openly prepared to fund the British far right to the tune of at least £100m at the next British election (double what all the political parties combined spent at the last UK election in 2024), this speaks more than ever for the need for proactive regulation for technology platforms, tougher enforceable rules for political donations and spending restrictions, and the calculated deception and electoral meddling by the dark arts of twisted agendas and foreign entities. Certainly, the UK Electoral Commission needs be more robust and fit for purpose. The world’s richest person, a foreign entity, should not be involved in the course of British democracy at all. In darkening days, we look for hope.
Whether subconsciously or more consciously, I feel the combined issues of relentless and saturated technology, a cost-of-living crisis, inequality and political instability are driving many people back to more ancient sources, to nature, tradition and beyond, for a reprieve. I see it in a rising industry based on folklore, ancient stones and stories of yore. Folklore ‘zine Weird Walk has grown in popularity since its first issue in the spring of 2019, it is now a booming brand selling branded water bottles and baseball caps online. Hellebore launched in autumn 2019 is seeing similar success. There is a growing movement of podcasts, a music soundtrack for these folklore themes and a rediscovered history of associated music and audio, across an eclectic divide from Ivor Cutler to pipe organ music to the doom metal of the excellent Electric Wizard. In recent years the popularity of modern witchcraft has risen, especially with a strong feminist trait at its core, a booming industry has emerged selling candles, books of spells and witching workshop weekends. Crystal shops, intense sticks and tarot seem to have never been so popular. Pagan, Wiccan and spiritual movements are booming online and in real life. While the themes have seldom left the independent sector, more mainstream TV and film has seen a resurgence starting with The Witch in 2015 and the 2018 film Suspiria funded by Amazon, the list goes on. Meanwhile there has been a re-blossoming for nature in the book world from the success of Raynor Winn’s The Salt Path, Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass, Thomas Halliday’s Otherlands. Books and maps featuring stone circles from Stonehenge and Avebury to the Callanish Standing Stone sites. Substack’s from people on landscape and rural life, such as The Villager subscribed by tens of thousands. Articles on nature, plants and living in backwaters photographing flowers, birds and sheep in grassland. The output across these themes grows. All connecting ancient wisdom and nature to the modern day. Whether Native American, Celtic, or English folklore, culture, ceremony, ancient ways, or if its natural plant based remedies that resonate, there is indeed something for everyone.
Essentially what this all means is that there is a reaction, a movement and a deeper subconscious yearning for a connection to our earthlier roots as a species, a reaction against our ever-demanding technology fuelled world of silicon, disinformation, global monoculture, constant mass marketing and consumerism. We do as organic beings with souls, creativity, and bodily substance, crave reconnection to nature and the arcane substance of ancient ways. This gives us reassurance, connection, and memorable experiences to cherish and enrich our lives. On a most basic level, it is scientifically proven that walking in nature every day improves mental health and wellbeing. For instance, a walk under the canopy of green trees serenaded by birdsong toward the seafront would I hope to brighten up your day. Let’s celebrate the return of the light into our seasons. Winter solstice means spring is closer as winter fires burn bright. Longer days and a new sense of hope has arrived. The sun returns to lighten up more of our day, and soon the blossom will arrive and the reawakening of nature. Take a moment to look up, to look around, and absorb it.
