December 21, 2002

Early in the morning, on the winter solstice, I built a new stone medicine wheel here at my oceanfront home in Depoe Bay, on the central Oregon coast. I moved here about two months ago, from my previous oceanfront home some miles north.

Feeling its energy, it was weak right after I built it, as it is in the beginning of a fire, or the source of a great river. Another example is how the sun will be stronger each day as it returns from its journey to the south.

If it is like the one I built last year on the winter solstice, it will seem to steadily increase in energy each day.

I don't think a stone medicine wheel needs to be built, or built necessarily on the winter solstice to be effective. And one may ask, effective at what? That is unknown, a mystery, as life itself is a mystery.

For me, the winter solstice is the start of the new year for our northern hemisphere, and so that is a good time for me to build one. Also, the plants are resting now, so it is a good time for laying stones on the ground here in Oregon. They will grow around where the stones are in the medicine wheel, perhaps even covering it, and that is fine.

Right after I finished it, a group of seagulls flew overhead and they were checking it out.

Then a lone raven was coming from the north. As he was approaching, I saw him do a really cool aerobatic maneuver that caught my eye. He suddenly tilted 90 degrees vertical, then did a "barrel roll", then flew horizontal, then skidded sideways in the air while right over the medicine wheel. At that moment, he made a very pleasant, low sound - aarrhh - and kept going. It seemed to be an acknowledgement from the raven.

Last night I went to a winter solstice gathering. Each year, we have a potluck, and afterwards, go outside in the blackness of night to experience the dark. Then we light candles, and celebrate the return of the light.

Happy Winter Solstice!

Steve