Today is the shortest day of the year and marks the official beginning of winter. The winter solstice is the moment when the sun shines at its southernmost point, precisely at 5.11pm. Today we have had the fewest hours of sunlight of the year (7 hours and 49 minutes), and rather rainy weather to accompany it. From now on, the hours of daylight will gradually get longer.
The rebirth of the sun has long been celebrated as a major pagan festival at sites such as Stonehenge. We celebrated by lighting all our candles in Shibumi Studios and remembered, with loving affection, our family, students and friends, sending them love, light and health, wherever they be.