Sol Still
PIN A TALE ON THE DONKEY - PUT A FENCE AROUND THE GOAT…
Summer Solstice comes at the precise moment when the Sun’s power is at its peak. ‘Solstice’ (Latin: ‘solstitium’) means ‘sun-stopping’. The point on the horizon where the sun appears to rise & set, STOPS - & REVERSES direction after this day.
On the Solstice, our Sun does not rise precisely in the East, but a bit to the north of East - & sets to the north of West - making it visible in the sky for a longer period of time.
It’s also the time when the midday Sun passes the zenith of the horizon - the closest to being straight overhead - so our shadow becomes the closest to us - That’s right the shadow knows - the brightest light casts the deepest shadow.
The term “Midsummer’s Night” is left over from when the seasons were commonly defined as beginning & ending around the cross-quarter days.
But as we all know, what goes up, must come down, & so after ‘standing still’ for 3 days, the Sun begins to wane…& the journey into the harvest season begins. After the expansive outbreath we must begin the conscious in-breath – this is the celebration of St. Johns- Tide.
But before we ‘decrease’, as John the Baptist did, we can recall that ‘Midsummer’ has always been an important Solar event throughout the evolution of humankind. The axis of Stonehenge, & The Temple of the Sun in Mexico, are both oriented in the direction of the Midsummer sunrise.
Even our dear Shakespeare knew that Midsummer’s eve is a magical time, when we can see beyond the sense world to communicate with the faeiry spirits of the plant kingdom.
It is after all the time of the herb harvest - & all plants gathered especially on this the longest day, are considered exceptionally potent for healing & ritual purposes.
This is traditionally the time when the herb St. John’ wort builds potency - & since it is a solar herb, it is used as medicine to channel the power of the Sun - to lighten our mood of soul.
The wise women of old would place St. John’s Wort & other healing herbs around the home for protection as they dried - They threw the stalks into the Midsummer bonfire; & when the coals cooled down, the ashes were mixed with water & sprinkled on the fields, the 4 corners of the home & the on the head & feet of the children. Sounds a lot like biodynamics!
Royal fern seeds gathered at midnight were said to make you invisible. Brush the blossoms on your eyelids to see the wee folk which will also make you wealthy & wise - But be sure & carry a bit of rue in your pocket or you might be ‘pixie-led’. Can’t find the rue, then turn your clothes inside out & follow the old ‘Ley-Lines’, which will keep you from getting lost in faeiry land.
Divination on matters of love are especially powerful on Midsummer’s Eve; young women around the globe place yarrow (BD 502) or other herbs & flowers native to their part of the world peaking at this time, under their pillows, to dream of their future mates.
These folk tales are not a mere superstition, but a wise reminder that we can work with the elemental beings to influence our reality!
Elemental Plant Spirits, Faeiry Folk, thank you for sharing your gifts, continue to teach us how to live in harmony with the essence of your healing magic for the highest good for all.
The ancient Druids who were known to work the alchemy of herb magic, celebrated the Summer Solstice as the Wedding of Heaven & Earth. The Goddess manifests as Mother Earth & the God, as the Sun King.
This quarter day is also called St. John’s Eve by the church, celebrated on the fixed date of 24 June, for they knew that John the Baptist was born around the Summer Solstice, 6 months earlier than Jesus, who was born at Winter Solstice. More on JB to come.
This Summr Solstice/Litha poem came thru me years ago - Truly an encrypted cipher - Have at it if you will:
St. JOHN’S EVE in the tropic of cancer
WILD PAN THE BAPTIST
WITH WORT & RUE IN HIS POCKETS,
DREADED FORERUNNER
ANOINTING THE MISTLETOE
IN THE OAKGROVE…
HORNS OF LIGHT
DANCING IN FAERY RING CIRCLES…
TEST YOUR STRENGTH
IN THE CENTER OF THE STANDING STONES
ROLL THE BLAZING SUN WHEEL
& REKINDLE THE HEARTH FIRES
FROM THE BRAND OF MIDSUMMERS FLAME
LEAPING AS HIGH AS THE FLAX FIELDS…
THE GOD HAS GONE INTO THE GRAIN
THE SUN IS ON THE WATER
THE EDGE OF THE RIOTING ROSE
BEGINS TO MELT
ITS SCENT IS HEAVY ON THE HEAT
STEALING THE BREATH
FROM THE HOT MOUTH OF GOD…
HER INFERRED RUBY STEAMS
THE MAGNETIC STAINS OF LIGHT
TO GUIDE THE SUMMER-TIDE SOUL
INTO THE LABYRINTH
WHERE THE OAK KING CRESTS
& GIVES WAY
TO THE DARK HOLLY TWIN…
THE HISSING SERPENT
A ROUND WRITHING EGG
CHRISTENS THE HONEY MOON WITH MEAD…
AWAKEN THE GATE
MEDITATE THE LAUREL GRAIL
& ST.JOHN’S SPEAR
UNDER CANOPUS SQUARED
A PACKSADDLE BEAM
CAPPING AN ARCH
AS ARGO SAILS THE DIPPER FLOCK
FROM THE TOP OF SEVERITY
TO THE MOUNT OF THE MANGER…
PIN A TALE ON THE DONKEY
PUT A FENCE AROUND THE GOAT…
~hag
Find a collection of the many RECORDINGS of Presentations, Programs & Festivals HERE
Get into the Seasonal Swing with these live & recorded offerings:
Tune into A storytelling tale for St. John’s-Tide on the eve
Monday 23 June 2025 on zoom High Noon Central Time
St. John the Baptist & Uriel the Archangel of Summer
An Experiential Festival with Mysteria Mystica Americana (MA) Leading Thoughts & Images by ~hag as a member initiative for MA
“The Forerunner & the Archangel Uriel”
Musical Performances w/ Lucien Dante Lazar; Speech w/ Geoffrey Norris; Eurythmy w/ Elizabeth Carlson; Practicum w/ Lisa Dalton; Leading Thoughts by hag
Front Range Anthroposophical Café presents: Summer Solstice ‘RING of FIRE’ with Hazel Archer
All are Welcome to join us for a Farm to Table Brunch in support of Zinniker Farm - The oldest continuous Biodynamic Farm in the USA
Saturday 28 June 2025
11 am - 1:30 pm
at The Chicago Christian Community 2135 W Wilson Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
Menu includes food fresh from the farm:
Summer Frittata
Slow cooked Beef
Pork Sausage
Fresh Baked Pfeiffer Wheat Bread
La Bafana Corn Cake
Rhubarb Crumble
Garden Salad
More info. & RSVP to join us for brunch with Aidan & Alisyn and Mark & Petra. Can’t join us in person? You can always make a donation or become a paid subscriber with all contributions going directly to the farm…
If you want to support the Biodynamic Farming done on Zinniker Farm, you are invited to become a paid subscriber, with all donations going directly to the farm
I’m sorry.
You have triggered my memory
Who knows what lurks within the hearts of men?
Only the Shadow knows.
I love your posts.
Blessings
N
Love your poem 🌹.