Stonehenge and the Summer Solstice

Marching across the European landscape, scores of megalithic stone observatories have survived the ravages of time, still serving to admit the first precious rays of either the Winter or Summer Solstice Sun.
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The most famous of these was old when the Romans saw it for the first time; but even then, the Celts attributed the construction of Stonehenge to an ancient race, much older than them. Until the mid 1960's, archaeologists had no idea that the stone circle was 5000 years old, (older even than The Great Pyramid), but radio carbon dating has forced them to abandon all previous theories about how architectural advances had been exported to the 'barbaric' northern lands from the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
And while the solstice may blanket an entire Hemisphere at a time, the task of providing a receptacle for a single shaft of light to strike one specific spot on one particular day,year after year, is a task of mind bending complexity: it requires precise knowledge, not just of the path of the sun and the moment of transit,but awareness of your exact position on the surface of the planet.

Long ago rituals took place at Stonehenge, on the plain of Salisbury, by the Druid Priests. Today, contemporary Druids, along with thousands of other Witches, Neo-Pagans and tourists alike, gather at Stonehenge during the Summer Solstice to watch the sun rise over the heel stone and claim their connection with the Earth, the Sun and the ancient Pagan ancestors.

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Only one heel stone stands now, but it is believed that at one time there was another, and that at the precise moment, the sun would rise between the two stones. This makes sense when we think about the symbolism of Jachin and Boaz, the Twin Pillars, positive and negative, etc. Add to this theory, the fact that on this very day in Egypt, that the sun rises between two of the three Great Pyramids in the Valley of the Kings; and you have a very convincing argument for there having been two heel stones.

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To this day, we can only guess at what this great megalithic Temple site was really used for. The more skeptical among us, view it as a giant calender system; however, those of us with more magickal minds see it as an incredible source of power, which is connected through ley lines to many of the other Great Megalithic Power Spots on Earth...and one has to wonder, to a greater specific energy source. One that connects the Earth to the Heavens, and Man to the Gods.

Even for those of us who are nowhere near such ancient and magickal sites such as Stonehenge, the Midsummer Solstice is still a time of great power as the Sun has reached its zenith, and will now begin its slow descent back to the Winter Solstice.

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The ancients saw the Summer Solstice as the cosmic wedding of Heaven and Earth. The Goddess manifests as Mother Earth and the God as the Sun King. This is seen as the Divine Heiros Gamos, or the Alchemical union of positive and negative that creates energy/life to continue the great cycle. Even for us modern and urban Folk, there is still much to be celebrated at this time.

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While we may not be tied to the Earth by the agricultural cycles in the same way as our ancestors, the energies that govern them, and this world, are indeed very much alive and at work in our day to day contemporary lifestyles. All one must do is consider the natural and yearly events that take place to this very day.

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June is the month of the school year ending, Graduations, Father's day, vacations and weddings; it is a great shifting of seasonal gears. Let's just take a quick peek into the more subtle meanings of some of these events.

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The most obvious, yet very secular celebration of Father's Day. I think it is quite ironic, and certainly no accident, that Father's Day aligns itself each year with the Summer Solstice. Granted, it may be off by a day or two in either direction...but for the most part, we honor our genetic Fathers at the same time as the ancients, and the current Neo-Pagans honor our Cosmic and Divine Father, and our Sun. We do this in very similar ways as our predecessors, with family gatherings, fires/BBQs, great feasts, and usually plenty of sunshine and outdoor activities.

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Not too far away, seemingly on the cusp of the two months, is the American holiday of Independence, celebrated with more cookouts and fireworks...all very Solar oriented celebrations.

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I saved the best example for last. It is by no accident that June is the most popular months for Weddings and Handfastings. This is the time of the yearly cycle when the Lord and the Lady, the Sun and the Earth solidify their grand union in marriage.

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Weddings have so much symbolism involved in them, that truly see it as a shame that people toss away these 'archaic' customs without truly examining or understanding their meanings. A wedding is probably the closest celebratory connection that we have to the ancient Beltane and Midsummer celebrations that we continue to celebrate.

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From the wearing of white, the wreaths of flowers in the women's hair, to Bride's veil and garter, each of these customs find their origins in this ancient celebration of the marriage of the Earth and the Sun. It is no wonder that the ancients saw this as the most favorable time to marry.

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To this day, especially in many of the European countries, true Pagan weddings are still celebrated at this special time of year, following many of the old traditions, such as jumping over the fiery coals with your betrothed.

The sacred symbolism of the bonfire is seen in many of our more modern early Summer celebrations, (BBQs, campfires, fireworks), however most people never stop to think of its ancient significance.

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From time immemorial bonfires (many times made with the nine sacred trees),

were used to celebrate the Sun at its height of power, and to purify the homes, people and cattle for the coming season. Along with these giant bonfires, which could be seen for many miles away; the ancient Europeans also would strap hay straw to wagon wheels and send them alight down a hill. In some places, if the wheel made it all the way to the stream without going out, it meant a good year for the livestock or the harvest

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Today, the idea is postulated that the ancients did this as a form of sympathetic magick to keep the Sun from plunging into the darkness of Winter; however, I think that the ancients understood this cycle much better than that.

I think that instead of petitioning the Sun to stay, the ancients were instead using this time of heightened power to channel for other magickal and mundane purposes. An ancient race descended from people/creatures intelligent enough to create Stonehenge obviously knew that the Sun's cycle was necessary for their very survival. After all- if the Sun did not began to wane in strength, the crops would not fruit and there would be no harvest!

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No, I think that the ancients knew much more about the Earth, the Sun and their cycles, than we modern people can even begin to fathom. This is why we are to this day, flocking to these monumental creations in awe and wonderment, and attempting to take with us a small measure of the power that these people understood so well.

Every year, people continue to gather at these, and many other similar sites, in order to celebrate in the ancient ways of those who came before. There are still the great bonfires and the fire dances, there are the wedding celebrations and the giant Maypoles erected for both Beltane and Midsummer.

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Women in flowing garments and flower garlands adorning their hair dance the ancient spiral dance. The spiral is a symbol that has long been associated with the Solstices and creation by the patterns of Sacred Geometry. Indeed, it is the very symbol of creation itself. It has been placed within the rings of the trees, the Planet's orbits, our fingerprints and our own DNA. The spiral is one of the Creator's calling cards. This is why the ancients danced the spiral dance around the Maypole, following the Sun's spiraling movement. People joined hands weaving through the streets, winding into a decreasing spiral, into the middle, then unwinding it back out again. This mimics the Sun's path as it moves from the contraction at the center of the spiral at the Winter Solstice to the expansion of the Summer Solstice, and back again.

No matter whether you call it St. John's Day, Litha or Midsummer, this truly is a celebration of the primal creative force of the God at the peak of His powers, and the Goddess in Her manifestation as the Mother- fertile and blooming with abundance, as the seed of God quickens within Her. This is a powerful and dynamic Sabbat, as the powers of the union of the God and Goddess reach their peak at this the Summer Solstice.

Midsummer Solstice Correspondences

Names* Midsummer, Summer Solstice, Litha, St. John's Day,Festa Junia, Enyovden

Sonnenwende, Alban Hefin, Midsommarstang, San Juan, Many more.

Season* Summer

Time* Noon

Direction* South

Moon Phase* Full

Zodiac* Cancer

Tide* Reaping Tide

Colors* Red, Yellow, Orange, Gold

Flowers* Honeysuckle, Marigold, Sun Flower, Rose, Lavender

Animals* Bumblebee, White Bull, Deer, Cow, Eagle, Horse, Snake, Robin/Wren

Mythological Creatures* Faeries, Phoenix, Dragons, Salamanders, Djin,

Minotaur, Satyr, Unicorns,

Plants*Oak/Holly, Mistletoe, Male Fern, Bay Laurel

Herbs* St. John's Wort, Heliotrope, Chamomile, Rosemary,Vervain,Lemon Verbena

Incenses* Copal, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Galagal, Lemon

Oils* Sweet Orange, Melissa, Heliotrope, Honeysuckle, Neroli, Sandalwood

Stones* Amber, Diamond, Tiger's Eye, Topaz, Carnelian, Red Jasper, Lapis Lazui

Decorations* Sun Wheels, Blades, Greenery, Bonfires, MayPole (Northern Europe)

Foods* Honey, Cinnamon, Summer Squashes, Tomatoes, Strawberries, Ginger,

Watermelon, Lemonade, Lemon Squares,Chili & Corn Bread, Garlic

Teas* Anise, Chai, Mint, Lemon Balm, Orange

Some Early Midsummer Tidings To Share With You

Midsummer is almost upon us. It is known as the Marriage between the God and the Goddess, (or the Sun and the Earth); and it is also one of the three most potent times of the year for Magickal wokings and Divination; the other two being Beltane and Samhain. Read on to learn more about this very special Pagan Holy Day!

Directly opposite of Yule, on the Wheel of the Year, is our Pagan Holy Day called Midsummer, the Summer Solstice or Litha, and in Christian times was known as St. John's Day. Midsummer is celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere between June 20th and 26th. (The festivities can actually go on for a week in some places!) This is the longest day of the year, and the day when we honor our God (as represented by the Sun) as He makes His ascent into the highest point of the Heavens before begining His great decline towards His death (Winter). He was called by many names in every religion and land on Earth. To the Greeks He was Helios and then Apollo, to the Celts he was Lugh, to the Egyptians He was Ra and to the Christians He was Jesus Christ. He is also known to many of us modern Neo-Pagans and Wiccans as the Oak King, who rules over the light half of the year. In some cultures He, (the Sun) was even a She; such as the case of the Japanese Sun Goddess Amaterasu.

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At this time in the cycle the Mother Goddess (the Earth) is now heavily pregnant with the Divine Child, who will be born at the Winter Solstice, 6 months from now. This Divine Child will be the rebirth of Her Dead Consort, who will be slain by His brother the Holly King (who represents the the dark half of the year) on this night to symbolize the death of the Sun's reign of power on the Earth. The child growing in Her belly represents the bounty ripening on the trees and in the fields at Midsummer. This is the peak of the year. This is the height of not only the the growing season, but also of the waxing energy cycle of the year.

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Couples living in the Old Ways often would wait until after they had a baby on the way before they wed. Because fertility was such an important factor in the marriages of country folks, because they needed children to work the farm, business or carry on the family line- that often the young couple needed to prove their ability to bear children before entering into a marriage. Otherwise, the marriage would not be considered to be blessed by the Gods. (Thank Goddess that such things are not a criteria for 'wholeness in marriage' in these days of infertility and overpopulation!) This Pagan tradition is the reason why the Goddess is pregnant at Beltane and the couple is not married until Midsummer. If a couple who was Hand fasted at Beltane the previous year, had prospered during their "Year and a Day" trial period of marriage- they would usually be Hand fasted again the next Midsummer's in a more formal and binding ceremony to proclaim their commitment to each other and the family.

Because Midsummer is a cross quarter point of the year, it is a time of great power, magick and a time when the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest. This is why it is considered an auspicious time for divinations, harvesting magickal and medicinal herbs and for Otherworldly Faerie and Spirit contact. The Faeries are said to rise from the hills and mounds on this night, because of this time in between times. These Faeries are not always light and fluff- the stuff of story books and New Age Bookstores. They can be mischievous and at times quite frightening. When working with them one must remember that they are not of this realm, and they do not operate by the same morality or laws as us who live on this plane.

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If you would like to make contact or even friends with these Nature Spirits, you might like to make a Faerie Altar or Shrine in a secluded outdoor area. Preferably in your backyard, or somewhere on your own property; that way you can begin to attune with the Faeries and Land Devas that share your space with you. A Faerie Shrine can be something as simple as a flat rock to leave offerings on, or even a small birdhouse, decorated with growing flowers, and complete with a tiny nest. Faeries are known to enjoy small trinkets and nature objects like shells, rocks and crystals. They also like offerings of bread and honey. After leaving the food out overnight, toss it into the yard for the birds or animals to eat.
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Midsummer's Eve and Morning is also the time to harvest many Spring and early Summer herbs, and also to gather branches for making wands, staffs and stangs. It is best to preceed this gathering with a moment of asking permission to partake of the plant's bounty. Many Magickal Folks like to draw a circle in the Earth around the plant, to symbolically concentrate the energy before cutting into the plant. Then you harvest the greenery with your boline, or another sacred knife used only for this purpose. Afterwards, it is nice to leave a small offering as a token of appreciation and an energy exchange. The best thanks would be a nice long watering, and maybe some fertilizer; however, any small coins, trinkets or even bits of food or a libation are good too. Many times when I have been unprepared, I will leave a strand of my hair on a branch for the birds, and spit at the roots. (The spit is in lieu of water and also is a physical energy exchange from me to the plant.) When gathering branches to use for Wands, it is traditional to use branches from a 'virgin' tree, that is one who has not yet born fruit.

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The traditional colors of this holiday are the reds, oranges yellows and golds of fire and the sun. The ancient Celts used to make giant Solar Wheels and set them ablaze while sending them down a hill. A more modern variation on this, to make with the children, would be to make Solar Wheels out of Ivy or other malleable branches and vines. First make the wreath and then the cross in the center. These can be hung outside with yellow, orange and red ribbons. For the littlest participants, a paper plate makes a great surface for these Solar Disks, and you could use paint and glitter along with ribbons instead of the more cumbersome wreath weaving. You can also take two sticks and tie them into a cross. Then, punch two tiny holes on either side of the sticks in a few key spots, and use yarn to attach them to the paper plate. That way, you can still have the 'Nature' effect along with the easy creation. Or, just keep it super simple and use paint or popsicle sticks! Either way, the turn out pretty and the kids love them.

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This is a traditional time for creating and empowering Amulets, Talismans, and other Charms for use during the year. I also like to use the high waxing energies of this day to bless and empower my crystals in a Sun Bath. You do this in exactly the same way you cleanse and empower them in a Moon Bath, except this is done throughout the day, instead of the night. Three days in the Sun is even better than 1; but remember to bring them in at night, as they are supposed to be absorbing pure Solar energy. Traditional crystals to use for rituals or workings on this Sabbat are Amber, Carnelian, Citrine, Red Jasper, Pyrite, and any other gemstones with Solar correspondences.

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This night is a great night for a bonfire (or a BBQ). As you sing or chant some jaunty Midsummer tune in thanks of the God and Goddess, throw a mixture of purifying herbs (such as lavender or sage) onto the fire for a purification smudge. Then catch fireflies in glass jars and spend some time divining with Tarot, Runes or scrying in inky water. Spend time with family and friends eating good food and enjoying some good drinks and music. Don't forget to kick off your shoes and dance in the grass till the dawn...or whenever your old bones begin to tire! (LOL) Remember on this day that you are celebrating with people from all over the Northern Hemisphere in the tradition of the ancients.

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So eat, drink and be merry!

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In the next few days up until the Solstice I will have some more fun stuff to share with you. I have some great information on how people of different parts of the world have celebrated this day, and some fabulous photos; as well as some specific Midsummer spells, projects and workings to share with you. Do any of you all have any special plans for the Sabbat? If you do, I would love to hear about them, or even how you may have celebrated in the years past. Until then, enjoy!

Hey Ya'll- I'm Back In Blogging Action!

Hey There Blog Buddies~ I am sooo happy to say that I am back in Blogging action! A big ol' WOO HOO!!! is in order! Living in the Dark Ages this past month sure has been a drag - but I was so overjoyed to see that many of you left me little comments and continued to send me e-mails during my absence. I even got a cuple of new readers. Welcome! You Guys are the greatest. Thanks!

Well, the Kids and I have been busy. Summer is a week away...and we can't wait! It is starting to feel real now, despite the constant hover of the 'June Gloom' that we get a yearly dose of here in Southern California. It always amuses me when we have out of towners come during this month and be so completely surprised that it isn't sunny here in June! It has something to do with the Marine Layer, and the incoming warm air. Oh well- it miraculously clears up around July 1st and we have beautiful weather all the way until Christmas. (Well, almost.)

But, I put up our new swimming pool last weekend. That, and a good nightly dose of BBQ has been helping me 'get in the mood'. :) It won't really feel like Summer until we get to hit up our special spot at Seaside Lagoon. We practically live there until Labor Day! It is a truly awesome place for Families & Kids.

There is a gigantic salt water lagoon,(that is sometimes heated, sometimes not). There is a large shallow area for the little ones, with fountains and jumping off spots. Then across the rope is a 10 foot deep swimming area complete with 4 water slides. There is a big Pirate Ship Play Area in the sand, swings, BBQ's, picnic benches and little tiki umbrellas. It is also nice because there is grass as well as sand, and a nice concrete sidewalk that winds through the whole place. The big bonus is that the 'snack shack' is really an order window on the back side of Ruby's 50's Diner. So we can get the bomb burgers and shakes. (Or Banana Splits, RB Floats & Hawaiian Burgers!) Mmmm. All of this...AND a harbor & ocean view. In fact, the only thing separating us from the ocean is a fence and a break wall! This is the BEST place to be (for us!) in the Summer. Every town should have a Seaside Lagoon!

I have been going there since I was a kid; and my 96 y/o Nana had been swimming there since the 1930's when it was the world's largest indoor swimming pool, had tightrope performances and a Boardwalk Roller coaster!!! Unfortunately all of that burnt down in a big fire in the 1950's. What we swim in now was rebuilt in the 60's. So this place has HISTORY and is like home to us.

It's really too bad that the city keeps fighting every year to close it down and (as the Joni song goes...) "Pave Paradise, and put up a parking lot." It looks as if they are finally getting there blasted wish...and this may be our last Summer at Seaside Lagoon. Big Business wins out. They have a 'gimmick'. They want to rebuild the Lagoon, but have said that if they do not have the funds, (which OF COURSE THEY WONT!) that in 2010 they are going to scrap the project (and the Lagoon ) in favor of a hotel next door, and use the Lagoon site for parking. I was about to write, "Can You believe it!?!"...but of course You can. Unfortunately this is an all too common occurrence. But...those of us who love the Lagoon will continue to fight for it's survival. Year after year.

On to better things.

Mr. Bump & Miss Red both took their Karate tests yesterday, and did fabulously. JD will now be going up to a Yellow Belt Black Stripe, and Makayla to a Yellow Belt. Of course Mama is proud of her Babies.

Tomorrow JD will be receiving an award at a school assembly, (for what we do not yet know) and on the 18th of June he will be graduating from his Kindergarten class in a little ceremony & sing-a-long. There of course is no big 'to-do' for the Big Kids, (except what Mom does for us on our own)...but Miss Red will be finishing up Third Grade, with a wonderful report card and a nearly perfect attendance record. Unfortunately she lost her perfect attendance record last month when we attended our Nana's funeral. but her attitude about it was great. She said, "Mom, I can get a perfect attendance again next year- but I won't get another opportunity to say goodbye to Nana." What a Kid!

I have been doing well myself. Been quite busy with school work. I am learning alot and loving every minute of it! Soon I will have some more stuff to share with you. I can't seem to get my Strega Paper completely finished, because I keep coming across better and more detailed information that I wan't to include. The paper was only supposed to be a page and a half...but that isn't nearly enough to talk about all of the wonderful things involved in such a beautiful religion and culture! I am such a dork. I probably will have the framework for a book by the time I am done!

And, I am nearly complete with my Louisiana VooDou Paper as well. Again- Sooooo much great information! I cannot wait to share some of it with you. My next project is about Asatru, also called Odinism. If any of you have any leads on especially informative websites or blogs...I am always ears. And I am still collecting information on Brujeria and Curanderias, even though I am not writing a paper on it at this time. So again, any help is always appreciated. I did come across an interesting Blog called the Curious Curanderia , if any of you are into that kind of stuff. She has some great information and some super rituals/spells. (And Thank You Spotted Wolf for your lead on the VooDoo Blog.)

Glad to be back Blogging again, and able to talk with all of You great Folks again! And as always, I send the best to You and Yours, an hope everyone is enjoying their beginning of Summer as well. I will be talking to Ya'll sooner than later.

(I have a couple of fun Pagan Parenting Projects that we did during my Blogging Break. Well, one is Pagan related...the other is more of a cooking/dinner idea that we did. I will get them up when I get a chance. Gotta go recycle right now.)