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June 25, 2010
Summer Solstice
Just had to respond to some of Marzena's queries about the Solstice. May day or Beltane is the first day of summer when the animals were taken up to the shielings or summer pastures and general fertility and friskiness is celebrated all over the rural parts of British Isles in May day processions and fairs still so the Solstice is mid-summer. At the celebrations of both Solstices, which I celebrate, the beginning of the new journey of the Sun is part of the celebration. So at the Winter Solstice we think about the coming light. It does feel odd when it is so dark and likewise in the Summer to think about the darkness when most of us haven't had our holidays yet.
For me though, this year especially, to hold the outward extravagant outrageous Summer energy together with the beginning of the Sun's waning journey towards the shortest day and darkest time in those few days of stillness when the Sun is still before the turn was incredible. At the still point both the dark and the light are held. I was telling this to a friend who said that St Ignatius said the same - when in consolation do not forget your desolation and when in desolation do not forget your consolation. This is so true in my experience. I also love it that stillness is written into the patterns of nature. The sun standing still (Sol-stice) before the turn, so do the tides before they turn.
Like Marzena and like some other folks I've spoken to, whatever is going on in our lives the sun around 21/22 seemed to bring about unlooked for moments of joy and happiness which I welcome along with a bit more stillness!!
Posted by Tess at June 25, 2010 03:20 PM