The Winter Solstice

Today is the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year and the turning point toward longer days and more sunlight.

On December 12, 2014, I climbed a hill on a ranch in the Sonoran Desert of Sonora with Dr. Ed Krupp, director of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. There were no trails, so we bushwhacked our way up.

At the summit, Dr. Krupp studied the horizon, the sky, and the placement of stacked rocks. He confirmed we were standing on an ancient calendar site used by Indigenous peoples thousands of years ago to mark the arrival of the winter solstice.

At the same time, in the distance we could hear the rhythmic drums that accompanied indigenous dancers. They were at a shrine for the Virgen of Guadalupe, Mexico’s patron saint. Another event celebrated during the time of the winter solstice.

We descended in near darkness with no broken bones, no rattlesnake bites. Just a remarkable moment in time.