21 JUNE – SUMMER SOLSTICE
The Summer Solstice, 21st June, is a magical time. During this longest day of the year we celebrate the energising energy of the Sun. It’s a lucky time for weddings: the time when the ancient Celts celebrated the ‘wedding of Heaven and Earth’. After a wedding comes the honeymoon and linked with these traditions is the belief that this is the best time of the year to harvest honey from beehives. Pagans called the midsummer moon the ‘honey moon’ relating to honey wine that was used in wedding ceremonies held at the time of the summer solstice.
The sun is at its highest and after the solstice days will get shorter until were reach the winter solstice, or Yule. This is a good time to reflect on what the summer season means to you. It is a season of growth as we watch seeds that were planted in the spring now bloom into flower and the earth is filled with colour. The Sun is associated with health, optimism and happiness. The solstice is a good day for spiritual and emotional cleansing and renewal.
Some believe that on Midsummer’s night, fairies and elves will come out and show themselves. It’s a time when spirits are more likely to be felt. Bonfires would be lit throughout Ireland and England to ward off evil spirits. Other customs included decorating the house with plants with wreaths of plants with special magical properties on this night. These include: roses, St. John’s wort, rue and vervain and all red, orange and golden flowers.
Cycle of the Wheel: The Oak King has been ruling from midwinter to midsummer. The Holly King will rule from the summer solstice to midwinter. These twin Gods will fight for the favour of the Goddess on this day and the Oak King will be defeated and will withdraw to Caer Arianrhod, the Castle of the ever-turning Silver Wheel (or the Wheel of the Stars) for half a year. In this, the enchanted realm of the Goddess Arianrhod, the Oak King will rest and recoup his energies before he once again confronts and defeats his twin at midwinter.
Arianrhod means ‘silver wheel’ and Caer Arianrhod, the castle is the Aurora Borealis. Arianrhod is the goddess of the astral skies and goddess of reincarnation.
MEAN SAMHRAIDH – pronounced Myawn sour-ee or Alban Heruin (the Light of the Shore)
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year. The Sun reaches its zenith and this day is also called Midsummer’s Day. The Solstices, like the Fire Festivals were a time when it was thought the veil between the material and spiritual world was at its thinnest, when the natural and supernatural could easily merge. Fairy lore is full of tales when creatures of the otherworld come to life on mid-Summer’s eve and ancient Celts suddenly found themselves having stepped through a portal into the Otherworld.
This day was sacred to the White Mare Goddess in Ireland who was also known as Rhiannon in Wales.
The Summer Solstice, 21st June, is a magical time. During this longest day of the year we celebrate the energising energy of the Sun. It’s a lucky time for weddings: the time when the ancient Celts celebrated the ‘wedding of Heaven and Earth’. After a wedding comes the honeymoon and linked with these traditions is the belief that this is the best time of the year to harvest honey from beehives. Pagans called the midsummer moon the ‘honey moon’ relating to honey wine that was used in wedding ceremonies held at the time of the summer solstice.
The sun is at its highest and after the solstice days will get shorter until were reach the winter solstice, or Yule. This is a good time to reflect on what the summer season means to you. It is a season of growth as we watch seeds that were planted in the spring now bloom into flower and the earth is filled with colour. The Sun is associated with health, optimism and happiness. The solstice is a good day for spiritual and emotional cleansing and renewal.
Some believe that on Midsummer’s night, fairies and elves will come out and show themselves. It’s a time when spirits are more likely to be felt. Bonfires would be lit throughout Ireland and England to ward off evil spirits. Other customs included decorating the house with plants with wreaths of plants with special magical properties on this night. These include: roses, St. John’s wort, rue and vervain and all red, orange and golden flowers.
Cycle of the Wheel: The Oak King has been ruling from midwinter to midsummer. The Holly King will rule from the summer solstice to midwinter. These twin Gods will fight for the favour of the Goddess on this day and the Oak King will be defeated and will withdraw to Caer Arianrhod, the Castle of the ever-turning Silver Wheel (or the Wheel of the Stars) for half a year. In this, the enchanted realm of the Goddess Arianrhod, the Oak King will rest and recoup his energies before he once again confronts and defeats his twin at midwinter.
Arianrhod means ‘silver wheel’ and Caer Arianrhod, the castle is the Aurora Borealis. Arianrhod is the goddess of the astral skies and goddess of reincarnation.
MEAN SAMHRAIDH – pronounced Myawn sour-ee or Alban Heruin (the Light of the Shore)
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year. The Sun reaches its zenith and this day is also called Midsummer’s Day. The Solstices, like the Fire Festivals were a time when it was thought the veil between the material and spiritual world was at its thinnest, when the natural and supernatural could easily merge. Fairy lore is full of tales when creatures of the otherworld come to life on mid-Summer’s eve and ancient Celts suddenly found themselves having stepped through a portal into the Otherworld.
This day was sacred to the White Mare Goddess in Ireland who was also known as Rhiannon in Wales.