Stop
& Turn
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 coming on the 24th of June.
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, Newgrange … are oriented in the direction of the Midsummer sunrise.
AND the Summer Solstice aligns with THE GALACTIC EDGE of our known world - it is a time when we can tune into information ‘from a galaxy far, far away’… Could this Edge be the source of new ideas for changing the game of life on Earth…?
Even our dear Shakespeare knew that Midsummer is a magical time, when we can see beyond the sense world to communicate with the faeiry spirits behind Nature.
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 at Midsummer - 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!
Elementals, 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 special time is also called St. John’s-Tide - celebrated on the fixed date of 24 June, for John the Baptist was born after the Summer Solstice, 6 months earlier than Jesus, who was born after the Winter Solstice. (More on the Baptist to come)
for now - we can STOP - with the Sun - & open the galatic door to an expanded consciousness…
Does anyone else hear this strange music?
Come - walk thru the Sun-door with me…
~hag
Find a collection of the many RECORDINGS of Presentations, Programs & Festivals HERE
Get into the Seasonal Swing with these Seasonal offerings:
Tune into a storytelling tale for St. John’s-Tide
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
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