Celebrate the Summer Solstice

Celebrate the Summer Solstice

On June 20th when the Sun moves into Cancer in the Northern Latitudes, we celebrate the Summer Solstice. it is one of the eight great spokes on the Celtic Wheel of the Seasons. The Solstice (meaning sun stands still) is universally recognized in all cultures as an important turning point—it is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere the Summer Solstice will be celebrated at the Winter Solstice in the North.

I have often written about the Fae (people of Fairie) and their role as protectors of the natural world. Since Summer Solstice was the time when encounters with the Fae were most possible, I felt called to write about such encounters. Now is the time to understand the ways that our colonizing cultures have contributed to the global crisis of climate change, loss of our Rainforests which destroys our most precious source of oxygen, destruction of habitat and animal species extinction. The brutal invasion over many generations of the conquering powers, motivated by greed, has led to destroying the land, the spiritual traditions and the lives of the people who lived there. This arrogance and ignorance combined, ultimately led to the loss of the immense wisdom of these peoples who lived in a reciprocal relationship with nature. 

I’d like to highlight the importance of these Indigenous folk, throughout the world, who are finally being given a voice and platforms for expressing their values and their wisdom about living cooperatively with each other and the land they cherished. One such platform is SAND (Science and Nonduality) founded by Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo, who just offered a week-long summit called The Eternal Song, Zaya and Maurizio are also the filmmakers that brought us The Wisdom of Trauma. I listened to the heartfelt and incredibly articulate interviews with a vast array of representatives of those who come from colonized cultures, those that fled war, famine, and cruelty as well as those who still struggle on in the countries created by the invaders such as our own Native Americans.

Here is what I learned (at least the highlights). 1) Patriarchal cultures such as ours emphasize individualism and separation, and promote comparison which ultimately pits people against a rival, instead of promoting the reliance on community cooperation. 2) Those in control operate by promoting fear to keep folks distrustful of anyone who appears different from the perceived ‘norm’ leading to untold violence. 3) Divide and conquer is alive and well. However, those who have lost their land and culture are now beginning to find their way back to each other and there is much we can do to help.

It is time to gather good people no matter what color, creed or position, and join with Indigenous people who are speaking out. In this quest, we can bring balance back to the Earth; to protect, restore, and conserve threatened forests, estuaries, and wild life. It is useful for our nervous systems, since stress is the leading cause of all major illness, to take time out from the hypervigilant urgency we all have felt since time became linear which was around the Industrial Revolution when clocks became a way to judge productivity. It is time to learn how to live with the natural cycles of Nature, spend days in wild areas, or National Parks or anywhere you can actually feel the healing energy of plants and trees, breathe deeply the clean air, and see the beauty all around you.

In honor of the Summer Solstice, be present to all life, listen to the courageous voices of Indigenous and displaced people from all over the planet, witness their experience and chose to love all of our planetary citizens including plants and animals. 

I pray every day that LOVE will prevail everywhere for every living thing

Blessings, Linda