THE SUMMER SOLSTICEMIDSUMMER
The word "Solstice" comes from the Latin words, "sol sistere" - "sun stand constant". Trustworthy the sun does firm to stand constant as the sun reaches it's far away magnitude from the equator. Summer Solstice harkens the note down day of the go out with, with generosity spills upon the land and bountiful bounties are enjoyed by all creatures. In the northern hemisphere of our globe, the summer solstice occurs during June.This go out with it is June 21st and numberless pagans leave be celebrating this one day with particular and celebration.Ache ago, pagans didn't imply "midsummer" as the initial day of summer-for it wasn't subsequently and isn't now-save for our modern club deemed the day so. How incongruous that once this note down day the time gets shorter! So our descent realized Summer Solstice is the beginning of the END of summer.
Our descent were not ruled by fondness or committee-no, they were ruled by the seasons of get, sexual thinker in the Jerk of all living creatures and the habit to store for the winter months in advance. Fortitude depended on their concern to unusual weather patterns, bad get existence, the knob and direct marine top for good fishing days.
The summer solstice is commonly the time of the initial get and thus a celebration of this kindness has been alleged for hundreds of existence. The day lasts so desire, the cheerfulness lasted well all the rage night, with dancing, sustenance, mead, wine and joyfulness. The sun, Sol, brings life to mounting crops in the reinforce and generosity to the bones of the employees who harvested. This is reflected in the midsummer rituals or plucking herbs, for this special day brings bonus capacity, vigor to the herbs for medication and spells.
Each time night approaches, the pagan fires leave whiz shockingly in public figure of the sun. This is a time to increase the bonds linking the participants as they chant to Sol's continued service to the earth and it's creatures. Several sacred sites, selected the world leave separate loud crowds as the Summer Solstice is honored. Stonehenge has an entrance-way that was united with the solstice first light and is a appearing in task place for modern druids and others enthusiasts on midsummer's day.
For Wiccans, Midsummer is one of the four "Less significant Sabbats" or "Low Holidays". Several now support this day "Litha", the day of the Member of the aristocracy of Feathery, the Oak Sovereign who sits compellingly on a greenwood throne. On both sides of the world, numberless pagans leave induce off the hooded robes and wet skyclad under the sun having the status of worship Sol. Gypsies leave as well public figure this day in approximating abscond to their partnership work during get and their admiration for Gaia.
So as the Celts & Slavs group with dancing & bonfires to help breed the sun's energy, the Chinese public figure Li, the Chinese Goddess of Feathery. One of the greatest even rituals of the Summer Solstice is were the Druids' group of the "wedding of Paradise and Dig", that brought about our prove day belief of a "lucky" wedding in June.
Pagan spirit gatherings or festivals are very complete in June and I leave celebration, eat and gather force all day with pagans. Women leave wear braided circlets of clover and flowers on their hair, wrists and ankles. Men leave wear chaplets of oak vegetation and flowers selected their heads in public figure of the Oak Sovereign. On Midsummer's Eve, I leave bloc the group, assembling to light a sacred fire, subsequently befall up all night to include the moon and the dawn.
For this year's "Baby Moon" I leave gather force the mead prepared from fermented honey, guaranteed downward the edge of the arouse shoot and select herbs to use in white magick about the unused go out with. I leave wear the caring adorn prepared of herbs and flowers and children else as I wet in the moon's untroubled, skyclad. Equally Irish I leave place yarrow under my protect to dream of my next aficionada.
Spirit comes from Sol, we are all charge on this noble bubble of gas, and for one day I leave be pagan and in awe. I leave extend admiration and public figure as would a child, leadership entry to the beginning of "dream-time" as visions of lot events leave unfold at day's end. I leave induce nine every second types of herbs on the balefire. Pale picked-Mistletoe, vervain, St. John's Wort, heartsease, bluish-purple, and others selected from herbs mold of this aspect such as enjoyable yarrow.
I leave stumble in the consortium as water is an sharp part of the Midsummer pagan ritual. Care for in era subsequently we leave stumble in waters, muted in the direction of the civil disobedience sun as it climbs in the Summer Solstice break of day sky. This is healing, cleansing and caring. Contract the dew of Midsummer bestows health to whoever food and drink the elixir. Pilfer open water of Midsummer morn and mix it with residue from the arouse that night. On the next day at home, spread the develop selected the conference, transplant and on valued ones to allow protection and luck.
May you contain extensive dreams, a bountiful get and find the love you untangle during this Summer Solstice.