Summer time Solstice | Naming the Days

In the present day is the Summer time Solstice marking the start of summer season. It’s a time to rejoice mild, the longest day of the 12 months within the northern hemisphere. Within the excerpt beneath from his Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim, Catholic priest Edward Hays displays upon the importance of today after which presents a ritual for the solstice fireplace.

Summer time Solstice Celebration

“Within the northern hemisphere the season of summer season begins on about June 21 and extends to about September 23. The extreme rays of the solar attain the northernmost tip of our planet on the June summer season solstice. And since the northern half of our planet tilts absolutely towards the solar, the hours of daylight are the longest on today and the midnights the shortest. From our vantage level, it seems that the solar stops on the peak of its northward journey. For a number of days it lingers at this level after which slowly seems to maneuver southward.

“Our historic ancestors, who lived in concord with the solar and the moon, knew inside their bones the sacredness of such instances. The eve of June 21, or midsummer’s eve, was an evening of magic and feasting. Deep inside our our bodies the recollections of these solar feasts are nonetheless alive. We’re kids of the solar, the daystar that makes all life attainable, as we journey within the icy darkness of frozen house. It is just becoming that we rejoice this turning level of our planet, even when we’ve a extra refined information of the Earth, solar, moon, and planets than did our ancestors.

“It was believed that on midsummer’s eve, the partitions separating the worlds of the spirits and people grew to become as skinny as tissue paper. The spirits of discipline and forest, of river and stream — all of the inhabitants of that interior world — have been free to move forwards and backwards between these partitions and play amongst people. It was a pageant of fireplace, celebrating the total drive of the sun-star. It was a time for feasting, a summer season Christmas for play and pretending.

“Summertime permits us alternatives for celebrations outdoors — preferrred for a hearth feast. Whether or not you rejoice the solstice alone or with household or mates, you’re in communion with all peoples, historic and trendy, who’re touched by the magic of the feast and who gratefully honor the blazing present of the solar.”

Rituals & Ceremonies

Ritual of the Summer time Solstice Fireplace
a hearth or a easy candle flame could also be used

“Holy is this fireplace of midsummer’s eve, and holy are you, O God.
Out of your burning coronary heart you drew forth a fiery ball
and flung it into house.
Your laughter shook the empty cosmos and echoed many times
till the darkness of house resounded together with your love and with fireplace.
You reached in once more and drew forth fireplace and seeded it like yeast
in every atom, plant and animal, every chook, fish, man, and girl.
And also you gave us a particular star, our solar, aflame with a life-evoking vitality
to make our planet inexperienced and fertile,
sun-soaked in your love.

“As we rejoice this solstice feast,
open our eyes to the numerous wonders
and to the sparks of fire-life that you’ve planted in every of us.
Might this holy and magical evening
be aglow with star-fire and God-light
as we as soon as once more start the sacred season of summer season.
Amen.

“NOTE: In historic instances to bop about or to leap over the solstice fireplace was mentioned to be a remedy for illness, a prevention towards snake bites, and a deep blessing.”