Weekly Weird: Happy Winter Solstice! (Also, are Way Walkers a solar cult?)

We’ve been asked before about Way Walker holidays, and outside of the Children’s individual special events and feast days, most of the shared holidays celebrated by Tar’citadel and eleven Nations tend to fall on the Solstices and Equinoxes. These days mark the sun’s changing relationship to the planet in its yearly cycle around the sun.

So, what’s up with that? Are Way Walkers a solar-worshiping cult?

If you see some Montage Walker’s art, you might very well think that they worship the sun! They are fond of golden starbursts, representing either Spirit itself or the union of the Ways under Montage, the Way of all Ways. But these are not actually meant to represent the sun or encourage solar worship.

The reason the Ways celebrate major holidays on the Solstices and the Equinoxes is two-fold.

First, is that the solar cycle is a good metaphor for the cycles of life – season to season, year to year (and even decade to decade as people age). It’s believed that by acknowledging this seasonal pattern of life every year, average people can balance their spiritual growth with everyday life. (everyday life being filled with a lot more farmers and agriculturally minded citizens than our current society also adds to the reasoning)

And this brings us to the second reason for these quarterly celebrations– it finds a reason to celebrate in every season! Way Walkers love holidays, and observing the Solstices and Equinoxes ensure that there are at least four good parties spaced throughout the year. This is not a joke! Holidays are deeply important in the Way Walker world. All of the Ways all encourage joy, in their own way. (Even the Red. Even the most puritanical Anganite).

Joy is a path to Spirit so universal it belongs to no single Way… Joy belongs to every Way.

So as we (J and Mac) celebrate our own holidays with our own families this December, we wish you – our Way Walker family – could feel how much you matter to us. Thank you, for being so supportive and interested in our crazy world. Truly– we wish you ALL the best of the season. We know we have readers of many faiths, atheists, and agnostics alike – we hope *all* feel welcome here.

May you find Joy, no matter your Way!