Polarities of their nature
bespeak irony. And so it is with our
seasonal celebrations. At the “High
Noon” of summer light as we extol the virtues of the maximum hours of daylight,
shamanically speaking, we turn the corner into the void and begin the process
of contraction. From Winter Solstice
to Summer Solstice we are in a phase of expansion, seeding and growing our
hopes and dreams. From June 21st
until December 21st we begin to draw our energies within, ever so
slowly to celebrate harvests and then release.
Both our sun and moon
express four distinct phases, which parallel one another nicely. While the moon completes each phase in 29+
days, the sun’s phases are more protracted taking our calendar year to
complete. In shamanic or earth-based
traditions throughout the world, sun and moon celebrations served as calendars
or markers for the passage of time.
June 21st
decrees the shamanic celebration of the North (the polar opposite of the South
that we are experiencing). Significant
here are the two equinoxes, Spring and Fall, which denote the passing of the
gauntlet from East (masculine) to West (feminine). While the equinox’ represent balance, the
solstices symbolize extreme. Of further
note is that the solstices are more “tonal” in nature (tonal being ordinary
reality); the equinox’ are more “Nagual” (extraordinary with the availability
of magic). The summer solstice then is a
time of excessive immersion into the material world (tonal).
Given the extremes and the
irony of our celebration of the North in summer and the South in winter, both
celebrations are about light; more of it and less of it. As we acknowledge the longest day of the year
with the highest point of the sun, let us remember to take advantage of all
that is revealed in the blazing light.
Summer solstice in ancient
times was a daylong celebration and observation in northern most climes with 24
hours of light and a 12-hour celebration in the lower latitudes. In total light a circle was set with many
burning candles lit. A large bonfire was
constructed nearby. Singing, dancing,
chanting and/or drumming began.
Vigilance was kept throughout the night until dawn, when the candles and
fires were extinguished. The sacred four
and fourteen were honored to help with release from the grip of ego. Animal totems were easily invoked to
enlighten the heart and celebrate love in its many dimensions. Marriages were celebrated within and without
to memorialize the height of the physical and sensual bodies.
The summer solstice may
then be a time to give oneself permission to totally immerse into the masculine
principal yet acknowledging the winter solstice conception that led to this
luxurious fertility. Set your ceremonial
circle with objects of light and representation of the golden, orange, red
colors of the sun’s brilliance.
Acknowledge fire for its power of transformation. Strew the altar with seasonal flowers and
ripening berries. Feast and surrender to
the fire within. Engage in fire
ceremonies. Trance dance. Tone.
Make joyful noises with percussion and flute. Invoke Archangel Michael or the Celtic god
Lugh (pronounced Looch), god of light, warmth and inspiration. Sing the praises of the sun in all its
representations including the sunship of the Christ energies. And slowly but surely, put out each candle in
tribute to the returning darkness and the great mystery of the void. Honor this phase of growth, trust and love
and “Coming into Being.”
"Green was the silence, wet was the light, the month of June trembled like a butterfly." Pablo Neruda
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