Summer Solstice

Long days and short nights.  The garden over flows.  This is all part of the summertime.  Today as I celebrate the Summer Solstice I have taken some time to meditate on the change of the seasons.  


Our garden is doing better than we could have hoped.  We have had a few setbacks but not bad for city folks.  We will enjoy a feast tonight of a great big green salad with tomatoes out of the garden.  I can't wait.  I wanted to take a walk or go sit at the park but the smoke in the air here is much to bad for me to enjoy the outdoors.  


I could not go out so I did some research.  Let's look at the science of the event itself. 

Why does the summer solstice happen?

The seasons of the year are caused by the 23.5° tilt of the earth's axis. Because the earth is rotating like a top or gyroscope, the North Pole points in a fixed direction continuously -- towards a point in space near the North Star. But the earth is also revolving around the sun. During half of the year, the southern hemisphere is more exposed to the sun than is the northern hemisphere. During the rest of the year, the reverse is true. At noontime in the Northern Hemisphere the sun appears high in the sky during summertime, and low during winter. The time of the year when the sun reaches its maximum elevation occurs on the summer solstice -- the day with the greatest number of daylight hours. It typically occurs on, or within a day or two of, JUN-21 -- the first day of summer. The lowest elevation occurs about DEC-21 and is the winter solstice -- the first day of winter, when the night time hours reach their maximum.

So now we know the how, but why is this an important day?

 Pagans are in awe of the incredible strength of the sun and the divine powers that create life. For Pagans this spoke in the Wheel of the Year is a significant point. The Goddess took over the earth from the horned God at the beginning of spring and she is now at the height of her power and fertility. For some Pagans the Summer Solstice marks the marriage of the God and Goddess and see their union as the force that creates the harvest's fruits.

This is a time to celebrate growth and life but for Pagans, who see balance in the world and are deeply aware of the ongoing shifting of the seasons it is also time to acknowledge that the sun will now begin to decline once more towards winter.

Did you feel it?  Today at 1:16PM EDT the seasons changed. For me following this path means being sensitive to the seasons and nature around me.  Helping my husband in the garden, taking a walk, or just taking the time to stop and smell the roses, have all been part of this journey.  Feeling the energy in nature and having a healthy respect for it. It is amazing what you "see" when you take the time to clean your mind of all the clutter we encounter daily. 


I hope you have had the time today to meditate on the beauty and power in the change of seasons. 

References

http://www.religioustolerance.org/summer_solstice.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_solstice
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/summersolstice.shtmlhttp://www.chiff.com/a/summer-solstice.htm

Accomplishment

So I was asked what my greatest accomplishment was and I could not answer. I have spent the weekend wondering what I have done that could be elevated to the level of "Greatest Accomplishment."   Why is this bothering me so much?  It was a silly question from a forum I participate in.  Yet I have been left wondering why I can't answer this one question.  I must have accomplished something at least remotely great in my 38 years of life, I can't think of a single thing. 

My kids are not my greatest accomplishment because I am not done raising them.  I don't have a career.  I have played background fiddle my whole life, making everyone else shine.  I am support staff.  As for accomplishing anything great... Well I just don't see it.

So what is an accomplishment?  What level of thing must you do for it to be the greatest of all in your life?

I know people who have accomplished great things.  Getting a college degree is a great thing.  Overcoming great odds and loosing 100+lbs is a great thing.  Running a triathlon is a great thing. I have seen people overcome devastating illnesses, pay off their debt and survive in the face of extreme adversity.  Great things one and all!  

Now if it were cool factor I could find stuff.  I was an Associate Director (1st AD) for a zombie movie, no one has ever seen.  I sang on stage when I was young.  I have given birth twice and had a part in raising a child with special needs.  None of this is a great accomplishment but all very cool things in which I have been lucky to have played my part. 

Maybe I will never see my own greatest accomplishment.  I am not sure that is a bad thing, but it does make me a bit sad.  Everyone hopes to pass down something great to their children. It will have to be enough for me to know that I made them feel safe and loved. Enough that I made the people around me better for being in their lives.  None of this may ever raise my accomplishments to the level of great, somehow that will have to be enough. 

 

Excited about this years celebration of Spring!!

Firming up plans for my Equinox celebrations. One big huge salad for everyone for dinner, eggs for painting and then to bury, Trying to decide if I want to make a cake or bread. Also I have some pretty flower fabric to use for an alter cloth. Some candles and we can't forget flowers!

This time around I am not going to be going it alone. I am excited to have a friend and fellow follower to join in my ritual. I have starting cleaning today because the next few days are going to be busy. I can't wait. Spring is coming!! - Bright Blessings

A re-commitment upon the reawakening

I have been my own worst enemy when it comes to doing my rituals.  I believe being solitary has not been a great decision in the past; however, be that as it may, I have made a re-commitment to myself to get back on the wagon and bring this part of my life to the forefront.

I am currently planning my menu for Imbolc and setting aside time for my ritual.  This is a time for new beginnings for my family so this could not have been better timing.

Tony is starting a new job, Brittany a new semester, and Caleb a new grade (5) I have a renewed commitment to my faith and my weight loss.  I am eager to begin again with the awaking of the earth from her cold winter slumber.    

Imbolc, (pronounced "IM-bulk" or "EM-bowlk"), also called Oimealg, ("IM-mol'g), by the Druids, is the festival of the lactating sheep. It is derived from the Gaelic word "oimelc" which means "ewes milk". Herd animals have either given birth to the first offspring of the year or their wombs are swollen and the milk of life is flowing into their teats and udders. It is the time of Blessing of the seeds and consecration of agricultural tools. It marks the center point of the dark half of the year. It is the festival of the Maiden, for from this day to March 21st, it is her season to prepare for growth and renewal. Brighid's snake emerges from the womb of the Earth Mother to test the weather, (the origin of Ground Hog Day), and in many places the first Crocus flowers began to spring forth from the frozen earth. 

http://www.paganspace.net/profiles/blogs/solitary-imbolc-ritual

The brightest blessings of Imbolc to you and yours!