I was born on the Summer Solstice. I have the essence of summer in my soul. I aspire to both the fickle, communicative Gemini and the home-bodied, shy Cancer, being born on the cusp of these two signs. My love for the sun is my energetic force of inspiration and compassion, of strength and respect and of warmth and endless possibilities!
The Summer Solstice is a time to celebrate the longest day of light in both our lives and the conscious light within ourselves. Light is one of the most significant, opposing forces in the Universe and has been celebrated by every ancient culture from the Mayans and Druids to the Egyptians and Romans. Every culture has built monuments of great glory and spiritual worship to honor this great climax, the emblazoning power of the Summer Solstice. From Stonehenge to the Great Sphinx and Pyramids to the Ajanta Caves of India and Ohio Native Indian's Serpent Mound. Everyone of these "structures to the sun" have offered just a glimpse into how sacred the sun is to us.
The Summer Solstice is the time of greatest Yang energy, when the earth is at the peak of its most powerful and giving mood! Bountiful fruits and vegetables, beautiful scented flowers and the beginning of beach season, all make June my most treasured time of year!
Found in France, at the end of the 19th century, The Coligny-Calendar is a compilation of pre-Christian Celtic systems of timekeeping, including the Gaulish Coligny calendar, used by Celtic countries to define the beginning and length of the day, the week, the month, the seasons, quarter days, and festivals. The Gaulish Coligny calendar is possibly the oldest Celtic solar/lunar ritual calendar. Evidence has shown that it was made under the auspices of the Druids as it shows the Druidical belief in lucky and unlucky days. Each month is divided into a good half (marked "MAT" or auspicious) and a bad half (marked :ANM" inauspicious). The Summer Solstice is celebrated all over the world.
Litha
The Summer Solstice was considered Litha or Midsummer, celebrated on June 20th or 21st. It is the summer solstice at its peak. Symbolically, this day represents solar power and strength and is celebrated when the sun reaches its zenith. Both the zenith in the sky as well as its final climax of the sun's journey around the calendar in one year.
Historically, it is the time to celebrate the return/ascension to the Great Father-King-Spirit. It is a time to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness in the individual and the return to wholeness in which the Sun-Son, Mother-Goddess and Father-God become one great unified light of life and abundance. As the Solstice sun rises on its day of greatest power to kiss the landscape, it draws up with it the power of nature and its most fruitful tools of flowers, herbs, standing stones, crystals, fruits and vegetables.
When: June 20th or June 21st
Season: Summer Solstice
Represents: Peak of Power, Fire, Full Potential, Culmination
Virtues: Self Power
Symbols: Fairies, Fire, Sun, Wheel
Gemstone: Fairy Quartz Carnelian Chalcopyrite, Fluorite Labradorite, Moonstone, rainbow obsidian, Sunstone
Color: Green, Orange, Yellow
Essential Oils: Chamomile, Clary Sage, Cypress, Geranium, Grapefruit, Lemon, Orange, Peppermint, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Thyme
Remedies: Bee Pollen, Bilberry, Calendula Flower, Burdock Root, Calendula Flower, Catnip, Chamomile, Chamomile Flower, Eye Bright, Echinacea Purpurea, Elder Flower, False Unicorn Root, Fennel Seed, Fenugreek Seed, Goldenseal, Lemon Balm. Oatstraw, Red Raspberry Leaf, White Willow Bark
Flowers: Black-Eyed Susan, Butterfly Bush, Coneflower, Garden Phlox, Lavender, Moonbeam Coreopsis, Russian Sage, Salvia, Shasta Daisy, Speedwell, Stella de Oro, Yarrow
Element: Fire
Direction: South
Life Event: Self Empowerment, Strength
Lunar: Moon of Horses or Strawberry Moon
Andrew Pacholyk MS L.Ac
http://www.peacefulmind.com
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