Its Summer SoLstiCe!
What the heck does this mean and what to do ?
Well the Year has 8 pitstops along the way for pause, reflection and celebration and intention setting that coincide with the seasons ! Always life giving to pause, reflect and reorient to gratitude!I do believe our healing and awakening is affecting and serving all beings as we are simultaneously being served by that process of others who open and realize before us .
The 4th threshold of each year is Summer Solstice June 21 ...
Time to give thanks to the sun being and the plants spirits ... dance around in ecstatic joy with all of creation that has grown up around us!!! Proving to us that life keeps growing... life force is still strong and vital and living us !
Some say Summer Solstice begins summer , other traditions believe it marks mid summer. Either way the suns light stays with us for the longest duration on this day and certainly you can feel the fullness of summers ripening ! All the quickening and seed planting of spring has ripened into bloom.
Whether this is your garden , your work , or the emotional and soul growth you have been focusing on, there is a clarity and a shift happening this day. I like to pay attention to what is happening in my heart , my mind and my life at this time. I have noticed The solstice can illuminate things that are ready to "die " or be released and bring what is not serving us into a fullness of experience for us to get really clear what needs to be let go of, this is not always comfortable but certainly great for those stubborn ones that snuck by our spring cleaning moments earlier in the year!
Summer Solstice reminds us that nothing lasts forever . Whenever soemthing is completed we must let it go. Summer Soltice helps us to feel the fullness the sense of completion. Because the things we love dont last forever we love them all the more while they are here . As we all know - letting go of things or loved ones is never easy! Letting go of something doesnt mean getting rid of it . When we let go , we allow change and growth into some thing different .
Solstice Traditionally was a fire ceremony ! The fire reminds us of the heat of the sun, the life force and ever changing and transformation of life on earth!
It is also the time of honoring our father the seed planter and protector . As we have honored our mothers at the cross quarters of Beltane. The balance is made her at Solstice .
What do I do for solstice - each solstice my day starts with a prayer fire - setting intentions by feeding the fire after voicing each of my prayers outloud with words songs and music! Than I dance ,this is my way of listing and quieting my mind,as well as bringing action to my intentions . This can be dancing with the elements, an ancient choreographed temple dance or the return to my child self to jump leap and twirl in the wind . No matter- just moving and participating with the summers light. Sometimes I dance alone on the land or in community or a circle of sisters it varies year to year - but dancing is always my most favorite way to celebrate and pray my hearts intentions at the Solstice!
What you can do At Home to pause and celebrate the fullness of light and the acceptance of change at Solstic? Try a lil fire ceremony of your own ; this can me 15 minutes or as long as you want to go :
-Set the time for your sacred date to pause and feel the gifts of this seasonal threshold .
- Make a circle big enough to sit/ dance in alone or with loved one ones, this can be with stones or ribbon or in a circle of trees etc.
- If you have been in my classes - Do the body prayer ( calling to the wisdom of heaven , earth , past and future)
- Set a candle or lil fire container in the center to light and feed
- Gather foods and incense to feed the fire, fire loves chocolate! and jellybeans and popcorn! and seeds!
- Bring any instruments to your fire - shakers , drums etc
- as you light the fire - get busy with music making cheering the light and heat to ignite ! If it is a candle - still take this time to encourage and connect with the flame!
- Once the fire is steady, meditate - take time to just feel- 5- 15 minutes meditate in silence to just reflect and feel the wisdom of this season, what life has illuminated for you through people and experiences .
- When this is complete speak or dance your prays outloud of gratitude of what has come into your awareness and life in full bloom.
- Speak your prayers of intention and release for your life , family and our planet
-Feed the fire with your offerings after each prayer and intention spoken.
- Sing!-Once you have come to completion I always like to end with a song any thing will do - a simple OM or a song something everyone knows or just have a lil drum jam as one last raising up of energy to offer to the solstice vortex to send these prayers on there way !
- Close with the Body prayer - this would be the time to close with your body prayer
- Close the Fire -It is traditional to let your fire burn into the ground - here in Co. with the fire hazzards I usually put my fire out with earth and water ! to be safe .
The very important final step ! Carry the glow of the light, your clarity and blessing force of the fire and prayers to transmitt to all those you encounter throughout your day .
Happy Solstice ...
May the Sun's brilliance glow gently into you
May the ripe fertile life force send your dreams and intention into action
May that which you released find right relationship and peace in your life .
May you find deep nourishment and inspiration in crossing over Summers Threshold 2011 .
Love to you .
Ix
We will Dance at Alchemy Tues night at 6:45 pm and 8:30 pm in celebration of Solstice ! Join us if you are in the area of Boulder , Co
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