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Subscribe to this list via RSS Blog posts tagged in Summer Solstice

Posted by on in Culture Blogs
Here Comes the Sun

Ah, the common quandary. What to do when it’s rain, rain, and more rain forecasted on the longest day of sunlight of the year? Well for starters, it wasn’t raining when I woke up to greet the sunrise with some yoga sun salutation poses, facing east. My partner and I are determined to continue with our plans to go camping at one of our favorite spots later today. Hopefully, it’s not too wet to build a fire at some point. Right now, nothing seems too heavy, and we’ve certainly camped in intermittent drizzle before. Even if the sun is hidden temporarily, I can still feel its energy there, and the chirping birds certainly felt it, singing it up this morning around 5:13 a.m. (CST.)

Midday Ritual

I also plan to light an orange votive candle at noon and follow the ritual suggested by James Kambos in Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook for 2024. Kambos recommends lighting the candle and staring into the flame, then writing the name or names of the positive people in your life that re-energize you on a brightly colored piece of paper. After each name, add a note about how they boost you up, then tuck it away for an uplifting pick-me-up when you need it most. I liked these ideas of honoring and recognizing the different phases of the sun throughout the day (morning, midday, and ending with a quiet reflection at sunset). As the sun keeps optimism alive, we too can take comfort in knowing that it will shine brightly again for us in all of its glory, at its earliest convenience. You really can’t keep the sun down or out of sight for long.

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Serpents and Mirrors: Minoan Summer Celebrations

Summer Solstice blessings to you all! This year (2024) the moment of Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere occurs today, June 20, at 4:51 p.m. US Eastern Time (9:51 p.m. GMT).

The first Full Moon after Summer Solstice occurs tomorrow, June 21, at 9:08 p.m. US Eastern Time ( or just over the line into the next day, 2:08 a.m. GMT, June 22, and so on further east). So there's very little time between Solstice and the next Full Moon.

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Posted by on in Paths Blogs
Summer Weaving: A Sacred Season

Since Ariadne's Tribe is a living spiritual tradition, it has taken us a number of years to complete our sacred calendar. This post and the next one will be the last additions for the foreseeable future. This has been a long-term community effort in the Tribe, and I'm grateful to everyone who has participated in this process.

So where are we in the calendar right now? We've just passed the Blessing of the Ships and are now in the season that leads up to Summer Solstice.

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Posted by on in Culture Blogs
Let the Sunshine In

So why is camping so important to do on the Summer Solstice, AKA, Litha? For one thing, it puts you directly in touch with nature and the four elements in sensory surround sound! It also forces you to slow down and get simple with it, something we could all sorely use some more of, to be sure. Plus, it allows for some necessary sun worship. One of my favorite activities to partake in when camping at this time, is to greet the day with some good old-fashioned sun salutations. Going barefoot in the grass with the birds chirp/cheering you on as you move through the positions is definitely a bonus. You can enjoy camping in a large group like the Pagan Spirit Gathering (PSG), or go solo and brew some sun tea while you’re at it, during the day. Most of us in the Midwest are in dire need for some Vitamin D about now, so by all means, soak it up from sunrise to sunset, if you can. Just remember to stay well-hydrated and lather up with the sunscreen while you’re at it.

Earthy Vibes

While you’ve got the  earthy vibe going, be sure to give a listen to Tammi Kapitanski, our June podcast guest for “Women Who Howl at the Moon.” Tammi is the proprietress of Remedy Within, a massage therapy and spiritual gift shop. She knows her gemstones, tarot, and reiki and was a delight to talk to. She considers herself a practicing witch and has a good deal of natural knowledge to share with us.

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Posted by on in SageWoman Blogs

Listen.
I am the heart of summer,
the dance of sunlight
across open water,
the height of passion,
the flourishing of the earth,
the flowering,
and ripening,
and returning to seed.
My heart overflows with gratitude.
I know the magic
of bright flower,
golden kernel,
plump berry,
rich ground.
The symphony of savoring
and what it feels like to
dance sunlight into wine.

b2ap3_thumbnail_summer-melon-muse-with-pink-lilies.jpg
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It's a Cosmic Thing: The Summer Solstice

I arrived a little late to the party—the party of the B-52's summer classic, "Cosmic Thing." In June of 1990, I had just graduated Madison Area Technical college with a commercial art degree. I was saving up dough to head out West and explore my possibilities in California. In the backroom of the small custom frame shop while measuring and precision-cutting mounting board, I rifled through the store owner's CD stash to inspire me while I worked. The bright, inviting colors of "Cosmic Thing" immediately caught my eye, and I already knew I dug the B-52's. From then on, I was hooked. It is the quintessential hot season record, where every single song on the album is a must-listen to.

My partner and I recently acquired a mint condition vinyl of it, and I have to say, these songs stand the test of time. From the title track encouraging you to "shake your honey buns," to the zen utopian ballad of "Topaz," you do indeed feel compelled to shake it and sing along. The dystopian panic of, "Channel Z," still feels incredibly pertinent today, compellingly shouted/sung by frontman Fred Schneider. The harmonies of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson have never sounded more lovely, and drummer Keith Strickland really stepped up to help write most of this amazing tuneage.

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Blessings From the East: Prayer to Honor the Summer

For summer festivals such as the Summer Solstice on June 21, you should honor the deities who gift us with such plenty. Light yellow and green candles at your altar and on the feast table and offer this appeal:

 

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