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Saturday, June 21, 2008

Summer Solstice 2008


The Summer Solstice is the time when the sun is in its glory in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the longest day of the year and the shortest night. The summer solstice falls on June 21st or 22nd every year. In terms of the position of the sun relative to Earth, the summer solstice in eastern US is at 7:59 p.m. Historically, the summer solstice was called Midsummer because it occurs about halfway through the European growing season.

Midsummer Night had a focus for lovers and nature, the forest and the perception of magic in the shortest night of the year. It was a time for a maiden to discover her future husband’s identity. It was a time of bonfires and celebration. Maidens decorated their hair with flowers and young men jumped through the flames. It was a joyous time with firelight on all the hills and peaks of England. Dancing and music and gaiety were the order of the day and night.

Linking people to the land and the stars, solstice celebrations are often considered to be pagan. Certainly they have pagan roots, as we all do. It is a grand time to celebrate the season of summer and reflect on growth within ourselves and growth around us.

Christians celebrate the solstice too, particularly in agrarian societies. We plant seeds in soil and nurture them to provide us with food and sustenance. You do not have to be pagan to celebrate the solstice. God made Earth and sun and set our planet into orbit. The solstice is a day of special notice in the annual cycle of planetary movement.

Listen to the gifts of Creation all around you. Give thanks with a grateful heart that you are able to celebrate and appreciate God’s bounty. Be mindful of the slight changes in the wind and temperature. Notice life in abundance. Take time and pay special attention to how the day feels and notice the night as it comes around you. Cherish the moment and be thankful.

The Summer Solstice is an excellent time to pay attention to harmony and healing in your life. It is a time to nurture the seeds we have planted in our souls. What seeds in your spirit are coming to full season now? Are you mindful of the abundance of energy around you?

A Summer Solstice Prayer
God of Creation, let the light of
this Summer Solstice glow in our
hearts and homes.

Bless our hearts and
minds with creativity and fire our
imaginations.

We give thanks for gardens that nourish
us.

We pray the fires of compassion and
creation will eliminate hunger and
poverty, war and hatred.

Let the light of the Solstice stir us to
enthusiastic and healing responses to all
around us.

Grant comfort where it is needed.

Grant peace to all of creation.

May we embrace the fire of God’s passion and allow the light
around us to become the light within us

As we share the love of God with all the people of creation.

The Christ of the Cosmos shines throughout all the
universe and we give thanks.

AMEN June, 2008, bydpb



1 comment:

Unknown said...

Hi - Great post with an excellent prayer... thanks. The Blogosphere needs more places like this - Scott