Solstice Flora

Digital
Dylan Gibson
San Rafael, California, United States
Digital animation

My animation portrays four important plants to many European pagan winter solstice traditions: evergreen trees, fly agaric mushroom, ivy, and holly. Evergreen trees are seen as symbols of life and balance, fly agaric was historically used in spiritual ceremony, ivy represents binding and protection, and holly represents the Holly King (a winter god whose power peaks at the solstice). As someone who celebrates solstices and equinoxes in the modern day, I find it important to represent them.