Summer Solstice

Sacred Earth Prayer Circle June 19, 2012

Tomorrow is the Summer Solstice here in the Northern hemisphere, Winter solstice for those of you below the equator, depending where you live it may already be the Solstice.

Cultures around the world have for as long as man observed the sun have celebrated the Solstices and what they meant to them. The sun was often worshiped as the giver of life, so today I wish to take you on a journey to celebrate life, ready ourselves for the many kinds of celebrations or rituals each may have. 

The word solstice means “sun stands still” in Latin. Summer Solstice is the day that the sun is highest in the sky and the shadows are the shortest. It is the longest day and shortest night of the year. Some traditions begin the solstice at sunset the previous day, some at sunrise of the day and some at noon on the solstice. Some last but three hours and others up to 72 hours. The Sun is seen around the world and has been used to keep track of time and seasons. Ancient peoples marked the event by light through key holes in rocks and the placing of rocks to help those that followed to know the day.

Tonight is also the New Moon, and so tomorrow will be the first day of the moon cycle as it appears to grow daily as its shadow diminishes. It is considered by many a time of new beginnings. So is the Summer Solstice, and in many cultures it was a day to wed or handfast, or join couples in a union.

Let us take this small path away from the road. Though the trees we can barely see the early morning sky. It is just beginning to brighten, the stars beginning to fade. We can feel the dampness of the morning misty fog that surrounds us as we near the river. Only a few birds are waking, there is mostly silence as we quietly walk down the sandy path between the leafy trees and bushes. A rabbit family scurries into the brush when they see us approach. The leaves are full of dew and so now are our clothes as we brush against them. No one is talking. As humans, we have forgotten how to walk silently through the woods, so even though we are trying not to make noise, some do, and that is ok. Finally, we come to the shore along the river. This morning it is so still we can barely see any movement in the water.  The shore is white sand, and right now the sky has made it look purple. The sun will be rising down river soon. Those who have brought packs and drums set them down and we take off shoes and walk out into the cool and very clear water with a sandy bottom to stand in a circle, but all facing the sunrise. It is getting brighter. We each silently say a prayer. 

One voice softly begins, “Today we honor you Grandfather Sun; we thank you for your light; we are grateful for the growing season and for the long days that we may get much done. We ask for your help to heal the people, to heal the Earth, and give us the knowledge we need to move forward to help each other as well as our selves. Help us remember all that has been forgotten about the natural world we live in. Today we ask for peace, for joy and the wisdom to appreciate the lives we have been given, living in this time of great change and possibilities as the humans awaken and remember we are ONE.” 

As the sun beams slowly move across the water toward us, through the trees, illuminating our silhouettes, joining us together with the entire natural world. Together we whisper, “We are One.” We repeat this again, a bit louder, and again louder still. Our chant becomes a steady hum, a soothing vibration. We are all connected. Each having our own gifts, yet each of those gifts are needed by the whole. Do not fall into the fear of this being the year of doomsday, but rather a year when humans awaken to the fact all energy is connected to the web of life here on Earth and perhaps the Universe and beyond. No matter what your cultural heritage is, the spiritual path you follow, the color of your skin or where you are on this planet, what each of us does, affects the whole. Let our feet beat the sound of our heart beats, the splashes send out ripples to the shore and down the stream to where it flows into the ocean. May our prayers go as far as the waters and sunbeams travel. As the sun rises higher we move to the shore, where we begin a small fire and we each offer some words to send out into the Universe; words of gratitude, love, peace, and beauty. 

An early morning canoe paddles by and we ask if they would like to join us, we have coffee, tea and water for all as well as each has brought some gifts of food to share throughout this day. Our circle grows, and grows as more people feel drawn to the energy of Love. Some stay a while then move on with the river. So goes the day, with Noon and Sunset prayers, we continue all through the night with a drumming circle until sunrise the following morning. May these thoughts continue and the prayers be heard, may you feel the connection and please give a prayer, a song, a poem, a gift to be shared with all who read this as well as generations past, present and in the future. Please add them below.  All are connected here in this circle, there is no time, no space between us, and we are ONE.  May the world be blessed with awakening to the connected consciousness and the power it holds.